I finished the first RICE chemotherapy protocol on November 7th, and now 13 days later, I still feel a bit fatigued at times. Again, nothing dramatic, at times just a bit lethargic.
And I am feeling it in the gym. My weights program is the same as when I started chemo (Sept. 6th, 2 and a half months ago!), but my cardiovascular capacity is way off. And I don’t need any sophisticated test to figure it out. I get winded a lot quicker then before the RICE therapy. With the RCHOP therapy – the previous chemo protocol – by the time the two weeks had passed between the CHOP’s, I was back to normal on the bike and ellyptical trainer. Not with the RICE.
I presume my red blood cell count is down and that’s the cause. On Wednesday I will see the lymphoma guru, Dr. Zelenetz, and find out for sure. Seeing him is part of the schedule for RICE. We meet, he tells me I’m OK (hopefully) and I get the Rituxin treatment (The R in RICE) after the meeting. Then Thursday is Turkey Day. On Saturday, back into Sloan Kettering for the ICE part of RICE, identical to RICE #1 and takes about 48 hours. I will get out Monday afternoon or evening.
As with RICE #1, for RICE #2 one of the staff will take a picture of me (in those spiffy hospital clothes), and I’ll put it on the laptop, and then post it to this journal. Why not? It’s tedious sitting around a hospital with constantly running IV’s and posting a picture from a hospital bed gives me a feeling of technological accomplishment (even though it’s very easy). Sounds idiotic (and it is) but also true.
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