The last three days have been good days for me. I still need a lot of rest, but I feel all in all better. It is sad to have to set up strict social boundaries these days. I’m however reading more about the COVID-19 outbreak than experiencing it since I spend most of my time inside the house. It is of course harder to plan meals and groceries – we have to use what we have and plan well ahead. I’m the one that normally does all the cooking, so this situation is taking its toll on James and Benjamin on the cooking front. But – I think they are doing pretty well and follow my suggestions and instructions from the couch. We were very lucky yesterday when Lois, just a few houses up the street, offered to bring some yummy sweet potato and sausage soup. Thank you so much for making extra with us in mind – even if it took several days to get hold of sweet potatoes from the store. And not only did we get dinner – we got an extra roll of toilet paper and some oranges – how grand!

When I went to the hospital to change the dressing on my PICC line yesterday I really noticed the precautions California is effectuating. Only people with appointments were allowed in – no chaperones or visitors. By the main entrance I was met by a person asking if I had fever, cough or had COVID-19 symptoms. I got a sticker on my jacket as proof of being screened. It said “I Got The Flu Shot” – a bit of irony there I would say. Once inside when checking in I had to answer more questions; if I had been out of the country, been in close contact with any one that had been out of the country, etc. It is very good that this is taken seriously, but this unfortunately means that I most likely will have to go in by myself for my next chemo treatment – and I won’t have James there next to me. It makes me sad to not be able to get his support when there, but we as others need to stick to the rules – and I will be fine by myself.

Even if I have good days now I am as per usual not side effect free, but I’m handling them ok. It is odd that when one side effect is easing up another one sneaks in. When the bitter flavor in my mouth decreased, a numb soreness took over. When the pain in my calfs let go, the burned skin sensation around my incision returned. When the cold sensitivity in my throat reduced the throat got more numb and it’s harder to swallow effortlessly. In fact, the whole right side of my throat, lower right face, ear and up to the top of my head is oddly numb tingling, as are my right index and middle fingers, and the muscle and tendons from those fingers all the way up to my elbow. The tinnitus is more prevalent on the right side as well in fact. I wonder what’s going on, on that right side.

I am trying to not aggravate my right hand too much since using it makes the numbness increase. This is unfortunately limiting me a bit since I’m right handed, and I am not good at letting the left hand take over. Thankfully, resting eases the intensity of the side effects, so I’m still spending some time on the couch. When I sit up for too long and when I talk too much I get light headed and the skin on my head gets really antsy – odd sensation – and I have to lay down to rest. At least I don’t have headaches like I had two weeks ago. The tinnitus is on and off – and yay for off times. I don’t know if it is because it is less prominent, or if I have gotten better at ignoring it. Anyway it has at least not gotten stronger.

Today is a week until next cycle. I hope the side effects ease up even more the coming days. I also hope that I’m done with getting more and more new side effects added on my list – at least for now. Now I will lean back on my new supportive pillow (old-person pillow according to Benjamin – thank you for that…) and watch TV. I will eat some more of the great assortment of dried fruits and nuts that Carol and Deena got me. Thank you! And the salted caramels – mmmmm – Benjamin decided he is going to help me eat those as well.