Dear Diary

Growing up, each year somewhere around late January, I would start the entries in my brand new diary (recently received each year as a Chanukah gift from my parents):  "Dear Diary, I am sorry I haven't written in a few days....." I would then proceed to catch my poor, neglected diary up on all the goings-on of recent days.

That's what I feel like right now.  "Dear blog, I am sorry I haven't blogged on you in a while.  I have been really busy," yada yada yada.

In any event, I headed up to NY over the Xmas break.  Good visit, but very tiring.  Didn't get to see everyone I wanted due to various ailments and blizzard.

Since my last blog post, I had another herceptin appointment (the day before New Year's eve day).  Although I had a long wait, it was otherwise uneventful.  Under my "last week, this week or next week" formula, I can somewhat easily remember that my next appointment is next week.

The main thing going on is I finally started taking tamoxifen the other day.  Several people I know who have taken it have complained of severe bone pain.  So I am knocking on wood hoping that won't be a problem; so far, it isn't.  My big fear was stomach upset.  So far, knocking again on my poor table, so good.

Continue to have acid reflux (this was a chemo side effect that just hasn't gone away yet) and sore throat (ditto).  And to be really tired.  (But not chemo fatigue; not even close).  Oh, and I can't concentrate on anything at work or remember almost anything.  My mind has turned into a large-holed colander (I just proved my own point -- it took me 30 seconds to remember the word "colander."  Word recollection is particularly dicey these days.)  It was suggested to me that perhaps it's not the chemo or radiation but hormones (which were thrown into whack by the chemo).  Who knows.  I need to find out what I can do about it.  Because I'm starting to drive myself nuts with it.

Signing off.  Early morning tomorrow (breast cancer spinning class at 8).  Good night, dear blog.