11 down 19 to go

Crazy to think that 20 days ago I had no idea what I was getting myself into and now here I am 11 treatments in and it's flying by! 

While you never really know if you are making the right choice, it's just stuff you gotta do and then you live with the consequences right? 

Radiation started Thurs Nov 14, 2024. Day 1 and day 2 were a bit surreal. Kinda an out of body experience. They gave me a very warm welcome, explained everything to me and then we got right to it. This is the mask that was made for my face, molded from mine and they strap me into it every day. 

Each day I come in, I am assigned to the room called "Tranquility", they verify it's me a few different times and then I lay down on this table. I put my head into the back of the mask, they position the top of the mask over my face and they lock it down onto place. It's secured to the table so I don't move. It's kind of a trip because it definitely feels like I'm being strapped down to the table. But my body is not and it's just fine. Most days there is music playing above in the room in general so I try to focus on that, close my eyes and just let the machine do it's thing. This machine below moves around my head. It goes for about 10 minutes, moving around, making weird sounds, and then it's done. 

This part of the machine is normally above me and has that glass on it, so I can see myself when it starts and all I can see are my eyes and the mask, and it's kinda freeky. I def resemble Jason in this mask. Also, there are so weird lights shinning down on the mask so it illuminates in a weird way because it's white. I do love that this part of the machine has stickers on it, I'm sure it's meant to help distract people from what's going on. 

It's all becoming somewhat routine now. I'm trying to wake up early enough to get a 30 minute walk on the treadmill in, shower, take the kids to school and then be there by 8:30! Lucky for me, the hospital is only about a 7 minute drive so it's super easy. The Radiology department has it's own parking lot so there are always spaces to park. 

Before I started the process they told me that the main effects of the treatment would be being nauseous and being tired. Maybe some hair loss. So far I've only been sick a few times. The first time was very surprising, came out of the blue, walking through Target, two days after I started. Then the same week I had a pretty bad morning with it. But I have to remember it passes. I have some chewable pills I'm taking to help. I think that when my stomach is empty is when I am feeling that, so I try to keep a little something in my stomach at all times! I can definitely feel the being tired part. Come 5pm and I'm ready for a nap. This time change isn't helping either. But so far, so good. I've had tons of people texting, calling, sending gifts. I always feel like I have such an amazing village who cares about me and checks in on me. I appreciate each one of them so much. Even just a simple text asking how it's going, reminds me that people care and are good! 

I feel like the end of December will be here before I know it and my treatments will be done! Good news on the cortisol levels! I took a test last week to check my levels since I started meds 6 weeks ago! My levels have dropped from 739 to 400! Although 400 is still really high, we are trending in the right direction and I will take that as a big win!!!! I was at about 400 when I had surgery 2 years ago at the peak of my Cushings with all the symptoms, so I know I have a ways to go, but knowing that taking meds for 6 weeks has dropped my levels makes me very happy and hopeful that between the meds and this radiation, it going to work!