Throwing Down the Gauntlet

Tomorrow I have Herceptin infusion. It will have been THREE WEEKS since my last one. YAY me!! I am enjoying not having to go every week. I am feeling a LITTLE anxious about going tomorrow, but nothing near that "Thursday Phobia" I had when I was undergoing the chemo cocktail and the weekly infusion of H. Very happy to not be afraid of any day.

Dr. Newman, my radiation oncologist, had referred me to a Lymphedema specialist, therapist. She has like this 10 week waiting list!! However, I got a call yesterday that she had had a cancellation, could I come in Wednesday at 9 am? You bet!! So Ruben -- my faithful sidekick -- and I went there this AM. She was quite nice and we had some fun with her and I was prescribed a compression sleeve and a gauntlet. (Thus the name of the post. After all, don't you just love that - a gauntlet, I do.) I have some new and exciting information to process, some new procedures to manage lymphedema, which, admittedly, I have really NOT had much of a problem with, but which will likely be exacerbated by radiation and I now am equipped to deal with it for life.

Unfortunately, when I went to pick up the sleeve and gauntlet they only had the sleeve I need in stock. I'll have to wait a while for them to get the gauntlet in stock.

Okay, it's probably just me - this whole delight in having a "gauntlet" - it's the romance of such an old word, don't you know. Can you not see me in "lady of the manor" clothing with absolutely Robin Hood clothing??? Only clean. With indoor plumbing, central heat and air, all the modern amenities...

My hair is definitely coming in!!! I can see color now where before it was like baby fuzz, and it definitely is growing. The upside of having no hair - I haven't had to shampoo, condition, or even comb my hair AT ALL for months now. Plus - the bonus of it is much cooler!!!

At the lymphedema therapist's this morning it was really quite warm. I was able to take off my hat and headband and feel a bit cooler. Ruben and Marilyn had to keep their hair on. Well, you better find humor where you can, people!!!

I am actually feeling really quite good!! I can taste again, I am actually hungry again as opposed to merely obsessed with the idea of food, I do get fatigued, but - oh well!

I am so blessed, so grateful for the blessings and I am happy to greet each day.

I wish the same for each of you - only without having to go through this mess!!!!