Crafting with Chemo

Since I have plenty of time on my hands these days, I thought I would be able to get a ton of crafts completed during the treatment phase of my journey.  Well, that isn't exactly what is happening.   

I have very little energy or interest to sew. I can stand in my sewing room and select some fabric and maybe get it pressed, but after about 5 minutes, that's it - I'm done.  I have no strength for cutting, pinning, sewing, etc.

On top of that,  I can only do certain crafts at certain times after a chemo treatment.  For the first 3 or 4 days after chemo, I am leeching chemo chemicals from my body via my pores and perspiration (among other things), which means that knitting is out as well as anything that won't be fully laundered prior to listing or gifting for the short-term.  Likely just as well, as those first few days after a treatment are pretty rough. 

On the plus side, I have been able to revisit an old project that I have had on the go for 14+ years. I actually started it when my mom was first diagnosed with her brain tumor.  This project is a cross-stitch quilt square kit and it will be thoroughly laundered once I eventually get it done. 

I am now half-way through chemo, and have finished my four rounds of the "red devil" cocktail.  I will be moving on to a different drug for the next four rounds starting on December 22.  I am told that this new regime is a little less difficult in terms of nausea, but worse for bone and muscle aches.  Plus there is a chance of neuropathy (tingling and numbness in hands, fingers and feet).  I am really hoping that I don't get that side effect as it will make it even more difficult to work on craft projects.

But all of this torture is short-term.  Six months from now everything will be back on track.