In my own mind.

Today I had my appointment with Dr. Sarriera to discuss my next steps with Revlimid since I didn't have a reaction to the first pill I took last week.  His experimental rabbit.  What I have to do now is starting tomorrow, I will take another Revlimid (2.5 mg).  Then one pill every third day.  Go back to see Abbey on the 23rd (Dr. Sarriera on Spring break!).  Then starting the 24th, I will take one every other day until the 29th.  Starting the 29th, I will take one every day.  He will increase the 2.5 mg to
5 mg my second week of the every day dose.  This is very confusing I know.  They actually made a calendar with this schedule for me to follow.   Again, this all is contingent on me not breaking out in any rashes.  Praying that I am able to get through this experimental desensitizing.  To be continued.

I finally had a shopping outing that last more than an hour.  I had a few shopping trips with Sandy when they were here (which I totally enjoyed) but I wasn't up to much more that an hour.  I just felt that I was ready for more.   So on Sunday, Michelle and I left around 11 and shopped until around 3.  Even hit more than one store (5 to be exact).  The great thing about this shopping trip was that I didn't think about my cancer.  I was able to shop with a smile in my heart for a change.  In my own mind, I was the old me.  Well, up until the last store we went in and a lady asked me if I was doing treatments?  Huh?  Treatments.  Then my real life came back.  She actually wanted to talk about her daughter who had been diagnosed with bladder cancer.  Just had treatments and is getting ready for surgery in a week or so.  Said her daughter refuses to wear hats, scarves etc to hide that she has lost her hair.  Guess my hats, scarves etc give me away.  But I looked at it like this, the lady needed someone to talk to and I was there.  Oh, also told us that she just had to put her husband in a nursing home.  The rest of the day continued to be great.  Michelle and Gery invited us over for hot dogs and hamburgers on the grill.  Such fun and laughter the four of us had.  So grateful we have such wonderful neighbors as Gery and Michelle.  They have helped Bill and me through a lot over the few months.

Speaking of helping us, we will be forever grateful to all of you too for all the prayers, cards, emails, texts, phone calls, reading of my blog, comments on my blog, comments on Facebook, IMs, all the candles lit, all the prayer lists I was added to, books sent, slippers sent, on and on.  These are all things that have helped us get through the last few months also.  I have been called strong but without the caring from each of you, I wouldn't have been so strong.  I know that I will have to live with Multiple Myeloma forever but will push it back in my mind eventually and become even stronger.  I have quilts to make!!!!  And I have a bucket list in my own mind!!!

I referenced "in my own mind" several times because I really like the song by Lyle Lovett "In My Own Mind".  The chorus is something I sing "in my own mind" a lot.  Listen to it if you can.

Quote:

Cancer can change our lives in one split second but it can not take our continuous prayers, our belief to survive or our hope that a cure is near.