Two weeks (or so) later...

Starting about 10-days post-infusion, I started to feel back to myself again. I did have some oral ulcers starting around 7 days post-infusion, but these were happily all gone after 3 or 4 days, and the burned/metallic taste on my tongue started to dissipate, as well. By 14 days post-infusion wine, coffee, and spicy foods were all tasting nearly normal, which was a great relief. Only other symptom of note was some temperature disregulation, but this was also gone by day 10 or so.

 

Since I was feeling quite well, I was away from the computer, and out and about. I was able to have a normal and full work out with my trainer, Tara S. at Healthworks in Back Bay (she is fantastic!) and then head up to the Adirondacks for a long weekend with my husband, kids, dog, and extended family. We spent the weekend hiking and hunting for dragons in remote areas of the world (or New York state, anyway). No dragons were to be found (my son thought the bears might be scaring them away. Interestingly, the dragons were also scaring the bears away), but we did find some toads and other wild life. It was very nice to spend a few days not being a patient!

 

As for my hair.. It is still on my head! The experts told me to expect it to start thinning and falling out around day 14 or so, and that it would gradually fall out and be entirely gone around the middle of the second cycle. My first goal was to have hair for my daughter's first birthday, day 7 (I did) and then to make it through week 2 with hair. I then crossed my fingers and hoped that I could see my cousins while looking reasonably normal and like myself, which also worked out in my favor. Then, on day 19, my daughter pulled on my hair and a clump came out. I was worried that I would have to shave my head by the end of the day, but today is day 20, and I am losing a few strands here and there, but nothing obvious (I also tend to shed quite a bit even under the best of circumstances). Given the hair pulling incident, I do not expect it to last much longer, but I am relishing every extra day I get!

 

Back for another round on Wednesday. Definitely not looking forward to it, but, on the other hand, at the end of the day, I will be a third of the way done- and that's almost half! Plus, this time around, I have a much better idea of how to handle a bunch of the side effects, so hopefully it will be a bit easier. Eyes on the prize!