Fun on steroids

I think the steroids they give me in the first IV on treatment days make the following day much more tolerable than it probably should be. I say that because by mid-morning last Thursday (the first day of round two) all the leg pains I had experienced the previous three days were gone. I slept very well Thursday night in a hotel a stone’s throw from the oncology center. We were able have breakfast at the hotel among the European tourists enjoying a Santa Monica holiday. We nodded and smiled at the families speaking German or French as we headed to the most remote table we could find. We walked over to the treatment Friday morning. The rest of the treatment went uneventfully. Back at home Saturday morning I woke up feeling uncharacteristically energized. I did some laundry and caught up on a few light chores, feeling as if there were nothing wrong with me at all. Ah, drugs!

By Saturday evening my energy level descended and by Sunday morning I felt cruddy again. That feeling lasted two and a half days. Same flu-like symptoms as before, same fatigue, a headache (new for me) but without the novelty or angst I felt the first time I went through the side effects of chemo. By midweek I was back online doing some work and feeling more useful and human. It’s been ridiculously hot this week, as it has in many places around the country. Thank God for air conditioning.

My FMLA leave (Family Medical Leave Act – https://www.dol.gov/general/topic/benefits-leave/fmla) was finally approved this week, which allows me to take intermittent time off for treatments, doctor visits, tests and days that I’m feeling ill. This is a real help because it protects my job and my medical insurance during the coming months. While this is unpaid leave, I can also apply for California state disability insurance (https://www.edd.ca.gov/Disability/Disability_Insurance.htm) to help with those unpaid days. If you ever need to take FMLA leave, be careful to work with your HR department to fill out the forms carefully. My claim was denied at first because I left something blank that seemed logical to leave blank, but no. All is well now, thanks to HR and to some great and helpful friends that had to navigate this maze themselves recently.

I chatted online with another friend from work this week. You see, I have this feeling that despite everything that’s going on I wish I could physically be at my office at work. I feel like an important part of my life is missing. My friend said that he and his wife have had those feelings before after being away from work for awhile. It’s good to know I’m not the only one who feels like that. I’ll get back to work as soon as it’s safe to do so.

Thanks to everyone who has sent me their prayers, best wishes, help and kindness. It’s always a joy to hear from you.