As I posted in the two previous posts, lots of tests, trouble on the home front, and I did not handle things well. I really thought after crappy Wednesday, I could carry on as the brave strong woman I am. Nope, did not happen.
Tuesday as usual I had chemo. No big problems Tuesday or Wednesday. Thursday I was nauseated, but not bad enough to throw up. As my mother used to say, "I'm 5 minutes before vomiting." This week instead of diarrhea, I was constipated. So I was getting the cramping but no action. The nausea has continued up to this very minute. The pills take the edge off, but the nausea never really goes away.
I have had no energy all week. I just sit in the recliner and watch idiot daytime TV. Or I sleep. Chemo brain will not let me read much more than the comics in the paper. Add to that I have eaten very little this week. Chemo nose and taste buds have kicked into overtime. Just about everything smells awful, and I sometimes gag looking at food shows. I know, I am a mess. I'll tell you just how bad I am, my go to food chocolate tastes wrong.
Friday friends came to take me to lunch. I chose Chinese, for some reason that always tastes good. Well, it wasn't bad, but it wasn't right. I just picked at my lunch and brought it home to Marty for his supper. At least my friends and I had a good visit.
The Blue Angels are in town for Fleet Week. They fly over the house at least once a day (they are using Oakland Airport for home base, which is less than 10 minutes away.) Marty and I wanted to go to one of the marinas and watch the real air show. Well, I did well to dress yesterday. No sitting on the shore and watching the show. I can't go today either.
I am tired, puny, and whiney. I don't feel bad, I just don't feel good. My get up and go has got up and gone.
Showing posts with label nauseated. Show all posts
Showing posts with label nauseated. Show all posts
Sunday, October 11, 2015
Friday, October 2, 2015
Once again a health update
I have some good news and some bad news. Let's do the bad first and reward ourselves with the good.
Throw back Thursday almost was throw up Thursday. Again the Thursday after chemo I was sick. Yes that awful word diarrhea entered my life starting at 4:30 in the morning and was not controlled until around 10:30. Of course there was great nausea to go with it. As I have said before, I do have a cast iron stomach and rarely throw up. Yesterday I wanted to throw up hoping to feel better. No such luck. The nausea pills sort of made me more comfortable. And I was so terribly tired.
For lunch I had maybe a quarter cup of applesauce and some water. I had nothing for supper. I slept from 11:30 until 9:15 that night. The only reason I woke up was because my alarm went off to take my meds. I stayed up a couple of hours and then went back to bed. I slept 10 more hours.
Today I feel much better and was able to eat some peanut butter and a chocolate chip cookie for lunch. For supper I am going to try grilled cheese and tomato soup, the perfect comfort food. I think this is going to be a way of life again.
Chemo side effects are accumulative and I have been doing this type since January. As yucky as yesterday and the other Thursday were, I will take this. It isn't as awful as last year at this time. We must hope it says at this level.
Now for a little good news. Last year early Fall I was told I couldn't go to church. I was too sick and too many germs to jump on me from bulletins, chairs, friends. This week(because it is now flu and cold season) I asked when to stop going to church and the lovely Dr. Kuan said keep going as I feel able. Just no hugging or kisses. So FCC friends, I will be there hit and miss and we can elbow bump or wave to each other.
Overall doing well. Not thrilled with Thursdays now, but I've been through much much worse. I can do this as long as all my friends, family continue their prayers. YAY Prayer Warriors!!!
Throw back Thursday almost was throw up Thursday. Again the Thursday after chemo I was sick. Yes that awful word diarrhea entered my life starting at 4:30 in the morning and was not controlled until around 10:30. Of course there was great nausea to go with it. As I have said before, I do have a cast iron stomach and rarely throw up. Yesterday I wanted to throw up hoping to feel better. No such luck. The nausea pills sort of made me more comfortable. And I was so terribly tired.
For lunch I had maybe a quarter cup of applesauce and some water. I had nothing for supper. I slept from 11:30 until 9:15 that night. The only reason I woke up was because my alarm went off to take my meds. I stayed up a couple of hours and then went back to bed. I slept 10 more hours.
Today I feel much better and was able to eat some peanut butter and a chocolate chip cookie for lunch. For supper I am going to try grilled cheese and tomato soup, the perfect comfort food. I think this is going to be a way of life again.
Chemo side effects are accumulative and I have been doing this type since January. As yucky as yesterday and the other Thursday were, I will take this. It isn't as awful as last year at this time. We must hope it says at this level.
Now for a little good news. Last year early Fall I was told I couldn't go to church. I was too sick and too many germs to jump on me from bulletins, chairs, friends. This week(because it is now flu and cold season) I asked when to stop going to church and the lovely Dr. Kuan said keep going as I feel able. Just no hugging or kisses. So FCC friends, I will be there hit and miss and we can elbow bump or wave to each other.
Overall doing well. Not thrilled with Thursdays now, but I've been through much much worse. I can do this as long as all my friends, family continue their prayers. YAY Prayer Warriors!!!
Saturday, September 26, 2015
No Chemo Week
A week ago as I blogged I was one sick chicken. Things improved, but for an off week, not much. I still have light nausea, very tired, no energy to do anything. I take the nausea pill and it helps. But food has not interested me this week.
Chemo nose and taste buds are back with a vengeance. Some foods smell so awful I think I will throw up. And then I taste something and it is just wrong. Sometimes it tastes really bad, and sometimes it is just is a little off. Marty keeps cooking stuff to tempt me. I have even cooked. Didn't even really like what I cooked. The really sad part, sometimes this is food I have raved about in the last couple of weeks. Some days no problem, some days trouble. Peanut butter and Honey Nut Cheerios still taste fine to me. Cold milk is good. Some nights a little wine, some nights I pour mine in Marty's glass. Every meal is an adventure.
What did I do this week if I am so tired? Well this was Erik's off week and I did the laundry. Not a big deal for most folks but it is for me. I dusted the apartment Friday, we have guests coming today and tomorrow. Marty is doing the floors and heavy hard stuff. After my little bit of cleaning I was done for the day. Some days just showering, dressing, and walking take all my energy and I am done before noon, in the chair resting.
Monday I see my oncologist and will have lab work. Tuesday I see my primary care doctor and then have chemo. If I feel like it my chauffer of the day Kirsten is taking me to lunch.
So in summary, I am tired, nauseated, have low energy. This is normal for my condition. I still am much healthier than I was in December. In fact to be so sick I am really doing well. I just have to accept I can't do everything I want to do.
Chemo nose and taste buds are back with a vengeance. Some foods smell so awful I think I will throw up. And then I taste something and it is just wrong. Sometimes it tastes really bad, and sometimes it is just is a little off. Marty keeps cooking stuff to tempt me. I have even cooked. Didn't even really like what I cooked. The really sad part, sometimes this is food I have raved about in the last couple of weeks. Some days no problem, some days trouble. Peanut butter and Honey Nut Cheerios still taste fine to me. Cold milk is good. Some nights a little wine, some nights I pour mine in Marty's glass. Every meal is an adventure.
What did I do this week if I am so tired? Well this was Erik's off week and I did the laundry. Not a big deal for most folks but it is for me. I dusted the apartment Friday, we have guests coming today and tomorrow. Marty is doing the floors and heavy hard stuff. After my little bit of cleaning I was done for the day. Some days just showering, dressing, and walking take all my energy and I am done before noon, in the chair resting.
Monday I see my oncologist and will have lab work. Tuesday I see my primary care doctor and then have chemo. If I feel like it my chauffer of the day Kirsten is taking me to lunch.
So in summary, I am tired, nauseated, have low energy. This is normal for my condition. I still am much healthier than I was in December. In fact to be so sick I am really doing well. I just have to accept I can't do everything I want to do.
Friday, September 18, 2015
Oh Hell, I said it out loud, then . . .
I keep saying don't tempt fate, don't say it out loud. But I did, I said several times how great I feel, how nice not to have real icky side effects. Yesterday it bit me in the butt.
I felt fine when I got up. I ate breakfast, made the bed and started my walk. (I walk in the house because I am too wobbly to walk alone on the sidewalks. Thanks goodness I was home when all hell broke loose.) Marty was taking a shower and 15 minutes into my walk suddenly I have severe cramping. We are a one bathroom home.
I kicked Marty out of the bathroom and try to live through the cramping. I was also very nauseated. And then I broke out in a sweat. Sweat was pouring down my body just to add to the discomfort of diarrhea and nausea. I took meds for nausea and diarrhea. I looked in the mirror and I was white as a sheet. Let's just say I looked like death eating a cracker.
Finally the meds kicked in and I was not so uncomfortable. The nausea was not gone, but was bearable. I slept off and on all day. I was exhausted. I couldn't stand the thought of food and only had broth for supper and a little water. I took meds again before bedtime and slept fairly well.
This morning I feel better, but still have some nausea. I have taken my meds and plan to sit in the chair and sleep most of the day. This is all was normal for chemo. But it really threw me for a loop. Denial had cropped up in my life. I was thinking I could sail through this type of chemo with minor side effects forever.
I just hope this is just a one time awfulness and I go back to my side effects of minor nausea and tiredness. This episode scared me and scared Marty. He was to give a presentation and was worried about leaving me. I sent him on. I was sick but not as sick as last fall. And I knew if I texted him to come home he would come running. Plus I always have the Kaiser Advice Nurse and 911.
So friends, I don't know what time will bring. Next week is a chemo off week. Maybe things will settle down. Keep your fingers crossed and keep those prayers going. Also thank you for letting me vent to you.
I felt fine when I got up. I ate breakfast, made the bed and started my walk. (I walk in the house because I am too wobbly to walk alone on the sidewalks. Thanks goodness I was home when all hell broke loose.) Marty was taking a shower and 15 minutes into my walk suddenly I have severe cramping. We are a one bathroom home.
I kicked Marty out of the bathroom and try to live through the cramping. I was also very nauseated. And then I broke out in a sweat. Sweat was pouring down my body just to add to the discomfort of diarrhea and nausea. I took meds for nausea and diarrhea. I looked in the mirror and I was white as a sheet. Let's just say I looked like death eating a cracker.
Finally the meds kicked in and I was not so uncomfortable. The nausea was not gone, but was bearable. I slept off and on all day. I was exhausted. I couldn't stand the thought of food and only had broth for supper and a little water. I took meds again before bedtime and slept fairly well.
This morning I feel better, but still have some nausea. I have taken my meds and plan to sit in the chair and sleep most of the day. This is all was normal for chemo. But it really threw me for a loop. Denial had cropped up in my life. I was thinking I could sail through this type of chemo with minor side effects forever.
I just hope this is just a one time awfulness and I go back to my side effects of minor nausea and tiredness. This episode scared me and scared Marty. He was to give a presentation and was worried about leaving me. I sent him on. I was sick but not as sick as last fall. And I knew if I texted him to come home he would come running. Plus I always have the Kaiser Advice Nurse and 911.
So friends, I don't know what time will bring. Next week is a chemo off week. Maybe things will settle down. Keep your fingers crossed and keep those prayers going. Also thank you for letting me vent to you.
Friday, November 7, 2014
Chemo, round 2
I am not going to give you all the gory details of chemo. What happens to me, won't necessarily happen to some one else. Very few do chemo without some side effects, and each time something different can/will happen.
The process is not that bad. First I am given a huge amount of anti nausea medicine. Then I am hooked up to different IVs and sit in a nice recliner and doze, check email, read, whatever I want, gradually I just get tired. Then they hooked me to the take home chemo grenade and we go home.
That night, Tuesday, I was so nauseated, and I threw up several times. That stunned Marty and me, I rarely throw up. So it was an ugly night. The next day my stomach was calmer, but still upset. I took medicines and they sort of helped. I slept most of the day.
Thursday we went back to Kaiser to have the take home chemo removed. They were concerned with the vomiting and nausea, so they gave me an IV bag to hydrate me and then a powerful anti nausea IV. That helped, but was not a cure all.
Today I have slept most of the day. I am not as nauseated, and no Code Brown yet. That is the next big worry. I hope tomorrow will be closer to normal and I will feel like eating. Not much but soup being eaten so far. I need more calories than that.
It has been a rough few days, but maybe not as awful as last time. We will see how things progress. This is more than a 3 or 4 day problem.
Your prayers are greatly appreciated. Please add prayers for all suffering from cancer. There are a lot of us out there. I just heard a friend's cancer is back and has spread. Prayers for unknown patients will help.
The process is not that bad. First I am given a huge amount of anti nausea medicine. Then I am hooked up to different IVs and sit in a nice recliner and doze, check email, read, whatever I want, gradually I just get tired. Then they hooked me to the take home chemo grenade and we go home.
That night, Tuesday, I was so nauseated, and I threw up several times. That stunned Marty and me, I rarely throw up. So it was an ugly night. The next day my stomach was calmer, but still upset. I took medicines and they sort of helped. I slept most of the day.
Thursday we went back to Kaiser to have the take home chemo removed. They were concerned with the vomiting and nausea, so they gave me an IV bag to hydrate me and then a powerful anti nausea IV. That helped, but was not a cure all.
Today I have slept most of the day. I am not as nauseated, and no Code Brown yet. That is the next big worry. I hope tomorrow will be closer to normal and I will feel like eating. Not much but soup being eaten so far. I need more calories than that.
It has been a rough few days, but maybe not as awful as last time. We will see how things progress. This is more than a 3 or 4 day problem.
Your prayers are greatly appreciated. Please add prayers for all suffering from cancer. There are a lot of us out there. I just heard a friend's cancer is back and has spread. Prayers for unknown patients will help.
Thursday, October 16, 2014
Chemo Day, not bad, yet awful
The process of being given the chemo is not terrible. You sit in a recliner and they keep hooking up different bags of fluids and medicines over a 5 hour period. Before that they gave me a huge amount of nausea medicine. I had two chemo cocktails at the hospital and they started my take home one. It is hooked into the port in my shoulder. There is a little grenade shaped ball that hangs down and sends the medicine into me.
I told them I can't sit long without ice for the back pain. So they gave me some ice packs, but not often. So the back was a big problem. The reason they couldn't put ice on me is a side effect of one of the many chemo medications. I will be very sensitive to cold. Ice on my back will cause the muscles to cramp. I am not to drink anything that is cold or has ice in it. My throat will have spasms and I could choke. I must wear gloves because any metal will feel so cold it would feel like a burn. Even taking something out of the refrigerator could cause a problem.
When I got home I was tired just being up so long and hurting. I napped and then it was supper time. UGH! The smell was awful. The very same home made soup Marty had made for me and I had loved the night before. I was so nauseated. I made myself eat the broth and skipped the noodles and chicken.
I was very upset last night, I didn't expect to be tired and nauseated so soon. Maybe it was just me, maybe the chemo. Whatever it is I walked around the apartment carrying a wastebasket with a plastic liner in it. And I will continue that for a long time I am sure. I have a barf bag in my purse, just in case.
I don't feel very funny today. I feel teary and sad. I want to waller in the unfairness of this. I want to kick and scream. I will pull it together. But Marty and today's chauffer Kirsten said I am allowed to absorb all that is happening and just feel it. Maybe tomorrow I will be perkier.
I told them I can't sit long without ice for the back pain. So they gave me some ice packs, but not often. So the back was a big problem. The reason they couldn't put ice on me is a side effect of one of the many chemo medications. I will be very sensitive to cold. Ice on my back will cause the muscles to cramp. I am not to drink anything that is cold or has ice in it. My throat will have spasms and I could choke. I must wear gloves because any metal will feel so cold it would feel like a burn. Even taking something out of the refrigerator could cause a problem.
When I got home I was tired just being up so long and hurting. I napped and then it was supper time. UGH! The smell was awful. The very same home made soup Marty had made for me and I had loved the night before. I was so nauseated. I made myself eat the broth and skipped the noodles and chicken.
I was very upset last night, I didn't expect to be tired and nauseated so soon. Maybe it was just me, maybe the chemo. Whatever it is I walked around the apartment carrying a wastebasket with a plastic liner in it. And I will continue that for a long time I am sure. I have a barf bag in my purse, just in case.
I don't feel very funny today. I feel teary and sad. I want to waller in the unfairness of this. I want to kick and scream. I will pull it together. But Marty and today's chauffer Kirsten said I am allowed to absorb all that is happening and just feel it. Maybe tomorrow I will be perkier.
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