This week's health update

Because of traveling and swollen legs I didn't have chemo for two weeks. Tuesday I was back in the chemo cycle.  And chemo kicked my butt this week.  I am not anyways as sick as last winter.  But I had issues that slowed me down.

I never sleep well the night before chemo, just nerves.  I know it doesn't hurt, but I get anxious.  That was one night of broken sleep. Tuesday night the chemo didn't just break my sleep, it did away with it.  This is a minor side effect ( minor except when it happens to me) sleep pattern messed up.  So about 2 hours sleep.  I planned to nap most of Wednesday, that didn't work.  It didn't matter how tired I was, I couldn't go to sleep.  I did sleep Wednesday night. 

I was really tired all week.  Thursday I slept most of the day and early evening.  Friday I napped several times.  Today I am perkier.

Along with the sleep issues and tiredness, I have been nauseated.  No throwing up, just at the point  my mother used to say, "five minutes before vomiting".  I took my pills and they sort of helped.  I had two days I didn't really eat anything.  I was so nauseated I couldn't even eat chocolate!  That was a first.  I made myself eat yesterday, I can't get gaunt again.

There is some good news.  When I finished the second round of  antibiotics, my legs were still swollen.  My doctor put me on a diuretic.  She felt the skin was stretched and holding fluid.  Within in four days I had ankles again.  The diuretic is now to be taken as needed.

I am not real sick, just not as good as I have been.  We will see how this next Tuesday works. 

And another health update

Tuesday was chemo day.  Monday I had lab work done to see if I was healthy enough for chemo.  For the first time in weeks, all the numbers were good.  I would be given the second type of chemo.

Trust me I was worried.  So far I have only been very tired.  Would the second chemo up the side effects?  Would my hair fall out again?  Would I once again be a regular in the ER?  Would I be back to being urppy, weak, full of infections? 

Well after over 24 hours, nothing new.  I am very tired.  But that is way better than other possible side effects.  Oh, my extreme itching is almost gone.  I haven't had to take the medicine for two days.

So doing good, but still need those prayers, please.

Chemo update

The only words that come to mind are urppy, icky, and shitty.  There are many side effects to the 3  chemo drugs I am taking, and several wandered through my body the past week.  I will not identify the side effects (SE from now on).  I don't want anyone borrowing trouble, they will have enough on their own.

It has been ugly but I feel a little better today.  The  big problem is we are afraid things will strike while in the car, standing in line at the lab, anywhere but our home.  Sleep is my friend, if asleep I don't suffer the nausea and other SE.  But the SE will get me out of bed quickly.

I am a little afraid to stay alone now. Cleaning up me and the bathroom is no small task.  And two attacks I could only stand there while I was helped.   Marty has done things that had never crossed our minds I would need.   Not in the wedding vows to hose off your spouse or to shop in the embarrassing part of the drug store.  Not in the marriage vows to dress me and then have to do it all over again in 15 minutes. 

Yesterday friend Kirsten sat with me while Marty was at a meeting. She had agreed to this before this latest SE had hit. I must say she is a wonderful friend.  She cleaned me up, washed the floor and everything I had destroyed, and spot cleaned the carpet.  Then she gathered up cleaning rags, my night shirt and other towels.  Those she took home to launder for me.  If you haven't been there you have no idea what a huge deal this was.  Love you Kirsten.

I know I am getting better.  I had a frozen Milky Way. 

Thanks to all of our friends and new friends with your prayers, cards and likes/comments on Facebook.  I have been blessed with a worldwide support network.  I feel overwhelmed.  Love to you all,

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.