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Shannon Rinaldo - Journal

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Posted 2018-04-29T22:42:04Z

Quick non-update

After my last radiation and follow up appointment with the radiation oncologist on April 20, Jason drove me home to Lubbock where I've been since. I've been able to get some things done around the house, I got to see Aidan play tennis (I'd never been in town since he started playing), I've been able to see lots of people, I've gone to work most days, and have been able to spend time with my family. I think I'm finally over the post-treatment hangover because the nausea has dissipated, I'm sleeping well, and the fatigue and brain fog are slowly getting better.[...]

Posted 2018-04-19T15:53:18Z

Duck, duck, goose? Nope, just a hallucination!

This morning, like most mornings in the last 4 weeks, I got up at 5 am, got myself ready, met Lois outside, went to the proton center, got strapped to the table, got zapped 3 times, and then released. Afterward, like we've done every Monday and Thursday, we walked to the Mays Clinic to do a blood draw and then back to the car to drive home. This morning was number 19 out of 20, which means tomorrow is "graduation day." I'm so ready! When I discussed the radiation/chemo treatment re-do with the oncology clinic four weeks ago, they said side effects could be more intense in the second go around. Once again, they really need to adjust their language because I was not sufficiently prepared mentally.[...]

Posted 2018-04-12T22:45:50Z

Proton, insurance, and speaking of toilets...

As of tomorrow, I will have 3 weeks of proton therapy in the books with one to go! Overall I feel pretty good most of the time, but I’ve had to severely adjust my sleeping schedule. I try to be finished with the chemo routine and in bed by 8 PM each night so that I can get up before dawn. That’s right, not only will I have male pattern baldness, I’m sleeping like an old person (in bed by 8 and up at 5). It’s so delightful! The first day the appointment was late at night but after that, every appointment has been in the wee hours. Today’s appointment was at 6:30 AM and there’s one next week at 6:00, but they are most frequently at 7 AM. This means that I drag myself out of bed, drink as much coffee as I can, and then go to the proton center where my head is attached to a table so that I lay perfectly still while they shoot a proton beam through my head three separate times from different angles. It’s delightful. I know some people like to be strapped down. I’m just not one of them, so don’t be jealous if you are one of those. It’s not like you think- just trust me on this.[...]