Radiation - round 2

First up today was a fun filled class on everything you ever wanted to know about radiation treatment. This class was very informative, and the technician taking the class was much more efficient - both with her time AND what she was saying!  45 minutes later, I definitely had a much better understanding of what was going to happen over the next 5 weeks. Unfortunately, no one talked or asked questions, so no funny dumb-ass stories to report.

Next up was my radiation session.  Because the class finished early, I was now 45 minutes early.  I handed over my appointment slip, and the receptionist said hey, we have no one waiting at the moment, we might as well take you straight in.  So I quickly changed into my sexy hospital pants and followed her into the room.

Ok, so that's not me  :)  But it's the best picture I could find of the basic idea of what I'm getting each day.  A few differences - 

(1) I'm not sure I look that happy on the table

(2) I have a wedge placed under my knees (for comfort) and another one for my ankles (to stop me moving my legs)

(3) I have to hold onto grips above my head

(4) My top half is slightly more exposed - all the way to the bra line!

But the rest of it is pretty much the same.  They use the lights to match up the tattoos and markings on me to get me into the right position, and then the circular 'thingy' moves around my pelvis in a circle, stopping every now and then to zap me.

15 minutes later, I was done and heading home.  We're in the middle of a snow storm at the moment, so getting this all done slightly earlier than schedule was a bonus - I got home just as the weather took a turn for the worse, so thankfully I didn't have to drive in nasty weather!

So, how am I feeling?  I've had two rounds now.  I've been feeling under the weather most of the weekend - mostly just nauseated, loss of appetite, and the occassional 'hot' feeling (not ready to admit its a hot flush yet). Plus I feel 'crampy' like I'm going to get my period, even though I know I'm not.  The cramps bug me the most.  The information I've been given says it usually takes up to the second week before you feel side effects, so I'm not sure why I'm feeling gross already.  Unless its the antibiotics making me feel like this.  Thankfully I have one more day of them and I'm done.  Of course, I do start chemo tomorrow, so I guess I'll go back to feeling awful again.  Fun stuff.  But I'm trying to remain positive.  23 more rounds of the zapping machine to go.  5 rounds of chemo.  I've got this in the bag!