One down, one to go

Almost there.

Almost done.

I had my second-to-last chemo treatment (Bleomycin push) yesterday. Hard to believe that it's almost over.

My stomach is starting to make its way back to normal. Not sure how long I'll need to stay on the Nexium for acid reflux...

I may have said it before, but I don't recommend chemo for anyone, unless it's to save your life. Here's a few things I won't miss when I'm done with chemo:

- Having a gag reflex every time I try to spit after brushing my teeth
- The nauseating smell of microwave buttered popcorn in the chemo room
- Having to manage 7-10 meds at once (practice for growing old, I suppose)
- Reporting on the state of my bowel movements
- Waiting for chemo orders from the doctor 2 hours after my blood draw is finished
- Taking an IV pole to the bathroom
- Taking two benadryl (diphenhydramine) capsules at once before the Bleo push (I would make a poor drug addict)
- Looking like the Sta-Puff Marshmallow Man from all the steroids
- Not being able to drink water because my taste buds are burned up (at least I didn't get the mouth sores that were predicted)
- Narcoleptic tendencies (4 hour naps, anyone?)
- Running the lint roller over my scalp after showering to catch the hair follicles that are falling out
- Nurse Sarah, the Human Hovercraft :)
- Tiring out after working a half day at a desk job
- Sitting around the house when you're too tired to work but can't sleep either
- Sitting in a vinyl barcolounger with an IV drip for 5 hours at a time
- Seeing how much modern medicine costs (from the insurance forms)
- Having bad gas (worse than usual, I mean)
- Avoiding the sun like Dracula
- Having to mop my head after eating anything remotely spicy
- The drive to the "Cancer Box" (Missouri Cancer Associates building)

I'm sure I'll think of some more things later.