I haven’t had a lot of time or energy to write lately,  but I’m still here,  still chugging along.

It seems every cycle adds a little something to the side effects column.

Just before cycle three,  the doctor asked me if I was experiencing neuropathy yet.  Nope,  hadn’t had that issue,  just the cold sensitivity (which lasts a little longer each cycle).

Guess what happened very soon after I got home that cycle? Yep, the neuropathy hit.  Only lasted a few minutes each time and only for a couple of days,  but again,  this one lasts a little longer each cycle.

Cycle four added “first bite syndrome” which is is own kind of fun – but was milder in cycle 5.

Cycle 5 didn’t see new side effects,  but they lasted longer this time.  I needed to keep taking my nausea meds for well over a week. Earlier cycles,  it was 3-5 days.

Work continues to be amazing and working with me and the time off I need. People have donated leave to me, enough so that if I keep working when I can, I won’t have to worry about missing any pay.

I worry that I may get too sick to work much at all the last couple of cycles, but I’m fighting to keep working as much as I can.

In other news,  my roommate and I moved to a two bedroom apartment in the same complex I’ve lived in for 8 years.

They are renovating the apartments and we got one with all new appliances,  wooden floors in the kitchen,  bathrooms and entry way,  new carpeting,  new countertops, etc. One of the best things,  as far as I’m concerned is that it faces east. The apartment I was in for so long faced west.  In an area where is not uncommon to have several days of 100°+ each summer,  that can make for a very hot apartment and high air conditioning costs. So,  now we get morning sun instead of late afternoon sun and already I can tell how much better that’s going to be this summer.  I’m already sitting out on the porch more than I ever did in the old place.

On moving day,  we had a lot of help that I’m grateful for.  I worked as much as I could,  but by lunch I was wiped out and feeling a bit ill. A guy from my work came with a big truck and a dolly.  My daughter and her boyfriend brought another couple and two more young men to help. It was one of the smoothest moves I’ve ever done. It’s been a couple weeks,  and we’re selling in,  still unpacking,  trying to make things more organized and neater than they were before.

Last night, my roommate and I went to military appreciation night at the River Cats (local minor league baseball team). There were other women from the Women Veterans Alliance there, and most of them lead the 7th inning stretch.

I’m trying to be social on my non-chemo weekends. I’m not the most social person, but I need to maintain my relationships and stay connected to the world.