So it’s been three weeks and I’m finally over the allergies… thank god. I think I’ve gone a full 10 hours without sneezing. Joy!

Had my third round of chemo yesterday and I’m officially in the ‘Roid Rage stage of the cycle. To reduce the side effects of my chemo cocktail, I take 20 MG of a steroid called Decadron at 5 p.m. the night before chemo, and another 20 MG at 11 p.m. Then, when I go to the infusion lab, they run another 100 or so MG through an IV.

The steroids are to prevent nausea (which is a very good thing). But the downside is they make me TOTALLY HYPER, which means I don’t sleep well the night before or the night after. And I’m a pretty manic. And hungry. And I have a headache. So, a sleep-deprived, hungry, head-achy, manic Susan is not a good Susan to be around. My poor mom…she’s getting her taxes done today and I know that has to be preferable to being here in the house with me.

I was telling some of our friends about the medication protocol I have to follow leading up to and immediately after chemo. They were taken aback at the number of meds and the timing, as well as the vitals I had to monitor in the three days after chemo. They asked, “How in the world do you keep it all straight?” My answer — a white board.

It was a bit more complicated in the last cycle, when I was also taking Cipro due to the low white cell count and all the OTC allergy and cough meds. Then I REALLY needed that white board!

Yes, I could get one of those “old lady pill cases” — you know, the big, plastic ones with the little compartments for morning, lunch and nighttime and rows for the seven days of the week. But really? I spent 20 years managing projects in Corporate America, I think I can manage a medication schedule, thank you very much.

After three rounds of chemo, I have been pretty lucky so far with side effects. But I have lost almost all my hair and I now see the resemblance to my dad, who some of my cousins lovingly referred to as “Uncle Baldy.” Yes, Laurie, I’m referring to you! 🙂 My mom assures me that I have a beautifully shaped head, and all I can say is thank god I lost that 120 pounds a few years ago, since I would look like a bowling ball with glasses.

You know, I’m getting used to the bald look. I did break down and get a free wig at the American Cancer Society office, but I need to get together with my stylist since it needs some serious shaping. Right now, it looks like “Cousin It” from the Addams Family. I only intend to use it for business occasions. The rest of the time I’m in caps or bareheaded (but it’s still pretty chilly here in SC, so mostly caps right now). I’ll post photos soon.

As for the other side-effects and complications, I’m happy to report that the $10,000 Neulasta patch did actually do it’s job after all. I think we just didn’t allow enough time for it to go to work, since the first blood tests were taken on Day 7, which for some undisclosed reason (or clerical error) was scheduled four days earlier than normal.

I went back on Day 12 for my true Nadir blood check and my white cell count was back up above 1300 whatevers, which is in the approved range. Plus, my pre-chemo blood tests on Wednesday showed my white cell count was up to 1500 whatevers, which is good. So I’m back on the Neulasta patch today, which will dispense the medication around 4:30 this afternoon.

There was one are of concern that the pre-chemo blood tests showed — my red cell count was slightly below the acceptable range. The PA offered me a choice to have a blood transfusion then, or wait it out and see how I tolerate the post-chemo dip.

I decided to pass on the transfusion for now. Mom has a list of symptoms to watch out for, and instructions to call the Cancer Center immediately if I’m dizzy/lightheaded, severely fatigued, etc. so they can set me up for a blood transfusion. In the meantime, I’m focusing my diet on iron-rich foods like spinach, red meat, legumes and beans and, best of all, dark chocolate. Now that’s a diet I can get behind!

Hope everyone is doing well. Thanks again for your prayers and good karma — I assure you that I feel them and they are lifting me up as I move through this journey. Thanks also to all of you who send texts (in the case of my girl-posse, every day!) and emails. I’ve even gotten a few cards! I am so blessed to be surrounded by such love and support. THANK YOU!

OK, enough with the mushy stuff. Don’t forget to move your clocks ahead one hour on Saturday night in observance of that useless, pointless ritual called “Daylight Savings Time.” UGH.