Well, the new treatment went off without a hitch. I started Taxol last Thursday. I was very anxious to get this started because I had read so many scary stories about it. Everything from excruciating pain to finger nails coming off. Believe me, I was not looking forward to this.
Thursday came and I was thinking of different things to ask the doctor, so I didn't turn into one of those people I had been reading about. I didn't want my nails coming off and I certainly didn't want to be laid up in bed for weeks at a time because of the awful pain. When I brought my concerns up to my doctor, he thought I was a total loon. He told me to take the vitamin B6 and the Glutamine powder like his nurse had suggested. He said this would help with any tingling I should have. I could care less about tingling. I wanted to know about pain! He then told me anything I already had for pain should work just fine. So, there it was. He wasn't concerned, so neither was I.
When I went back to the treatment room I got comfortable and relaxed. They did all the normal stuff to me, but this time adding Benedryl to the mix of medicine they were putting in my veins. Mike and I watched TV, ate some lunch, and waited. It took about 3 1/2 hours or so for the IV of chemo to empty. Then we were off.
Normally when I come home from a treatment I am tired and a little ill. Not this time. No, I felt like normal. I felt like it was any other day. I tried to take a nap, but I couldn't. I tried to be lazy and rest, but I didn't need it. I felt fine.
The following day I took off work as normal. I use it as a recoup day. I wanted to rest and take naps like I was used to, but my body didn't care. It wanted to be up. I started to feel like I needed to go to work or give myself something to do, but I made myself give in and just laid around. When the afternoon came, I went back to the oncology office to get my post chemo and flu shots. After that, it was back to the house to twiddle my thumbs.
I guess it was Sunday when I started noticing a change. I started feeling it in my knees and in my ankles. My doctor had told me that any pain I may have will take 2-3 days to hit. I was expecting back and shoulder pain, but not knee pain. It was tolerable, but annoying. I was taken back to high school and running. It felt the same as if I had been running on concrete for miles, with shin splints and sprang ankles. Again, not too terrible, but very annoying. At times, I felt like I had lost the ability to walk.
I soaked my legs in a hot bath and Mike rubbed them for me. This worked. I felt so much better, but then the pain was especially bad at night. I kept stretching out my legs, but I couldn't sleep.
This went on for a few days. It's gone now, but now my fingers are starting to tingle. I had stopped the Glutamine powder because I wanted to see if there was a difference. Until now, I hadn't seen one... also, that stuff is nasty. I mixed with orange juice. It's bad enough to make me never want to drink orange juice again.
I've also been put on an anti-depressant. No, I am not depressed, I have real bad night sweats or hot flashes. So bad that I will wake up in a pool of water. If I cover up I am too hot, I uncover and I get too cold from being wet. It makes for very restless nights. so, going on a week of no sleep, I finally asked what can be done. They had already told me to stop caffeine, chocolate and spicy foods, but that was not working. So, they gave me an anti depressant. They told me it helps most women with their hot flashes and they wanted me to try it. Good news? It takes a month for it to work. Better news? It's addicting and when they are ready for me to get off it, I have to be weened.
So, only 3 more treatments. Then no more chemo and no more silly addicting pill that is not at all helping me right now. I will be spending the next post chemo week in Florida! Hopefully the pain isn't any worse than this time. I would like to enjoy my Mickey Mouse time.
Thursday, October 28, 2010
Friday, October 22, 2010
Changes...
I started a new treatment yesterday. Taxol. So far, so good. I'm not near as tired as I had been from my last chemo sessions. The only sife effects from this one are tingling in the fingers and toes, joint pain, and chills. Sounds a lot better than what I was dealing with when I was doing what is referred to as the "Red Devil". I haven't really noticed anything strange yet. I've been taking a B6 vitamine twice a day and started taking Glutimine powder to help with any tinggling that I may get.
Today I decided to call the doctor to get something taken care of. For the past few months I have been dealing with sever hot flashes, mostly at night. I've been dealing with them the best I can, but here lately they have been getting worse. I'll be sleeping, then wake up drenched in sweat. My pillow will be soaked, as well as my side of the bed. It never fails and has become an every night thing.
About a week ago, I asked the physician's assistant what she thought I should do. She told me to stop caffeen, spicy foods, and chocolate. Well, chocolate isn't a big deal, but for someone who has a glass or two of tea every day and puts hot sause on EVERYTHING, this was going to be difficult. I did it. For a week, I stopped it all, and I even started taking something called Evening Primrose Oil. This did not work, in fact, I think it made it worse.
Last night I decided to sleep on the couch because I thought it would be so much cooler in the living room. I slept in a bigger room, with a thin blanket, under a big fan. I, like every night, woke up in a flood of water. It woke me at 2:00, and I never went back to bed. I couldn't. I was too hot, then too cold, too wet, and too uncomfortable. Again, dealing with this over and over and over again.
I called the doctor today and needed to know what else I could possibly do. It's getting rediculous. Welcome menopause iss all I can think of. The nurse called me back, and they decided to put me on an anti depressant. They said it works for hot flashes, but there will be a problem with addiction, so I'll have to be weened off. Fun! When I went to pick it up this afternoon, the pharmasist told me not to expect a change any time soon. Give it a month. Seriously? I guess I've gone this long. Another month of no sleep can't be too bad.
Today I decided to call the doctor to get something taken care of. For the past few months I have been dealing with sever hot flashes, mostly at night. I've been dealing with them the best I can, but here lately they have been getting worse. I'll be sleeping, then wake up drenched in sweat. My pillow will be soaked, as well as my side of the bed. It never fails and has become an every night thing.
About a week ago, I asked the physician's assistant what she thought I should do. She told me to stop caffeen, spicy foods, and chocolate. Well, chocolate isn't a big deal, but for someone who has a glass or two of tea every day and puts hot sause on EVERYTHING, this was going to be difficult. I did it. For a week, I stopped it all, and I even started taking something called Evening Primrose Oil. This did not work, in fact, I think it made it worse.
Last night I decided to sleep on the couch because I thought it would be so much cooler in the living room. I slept in a bigger room, with a thin blanket, under a big fan. I, like every night, woke up in a flood of water. It woke me at 2:00, and I never went back to bed. I couldn't. I was too hot, then too cold, too wet, and too uncomfortable. Again, dealing with this over and over and over again.
I called the doctor today and needed to know what else I could possibly do. It's getting rediculous. Welcome menopause iss all I can think of. The nurse called me back, and they decided to put me on an anti depressant. They said it works for hot flashes, but there will be a problem with addiction, so I'll have to be weened off. Fun! When I went to pick it up this afternoon, the pharmasist told me not to expect a change any time soon. Give it a month. Seriously? I guess I've gone this long. Another month of no sleep can't be too bad.
Tuesday, October 19, 2010
People May Surprise You
One thing I have noticed since I have been sick, is how surprising people are. I have never been one to be fond of strangers. I am usually pretty to myself and will not talk to anyone I do not know. Not for any particular reason, I just never see a point in doing so. However, lately I have gone against that. I am approached on a weekly basis by all types of strangers. I'll be wearing one of my hats with a pink ribbon on it, and men and women will come up to me and just start talking. "It's a sisterhood" I've been told so many times. They tell me of their stories, stories of their friends, or stories of members of their family. I can listen to people for hours talk about their struggles. Complete strangers. It's so touching.
What is even more surprising than that is how supportive my students are. I teach middle school, and teenagers are usually so self absorbed that I didn't think they cared too much about anything other than themselves. I was wrong. Since my students have found out I was sick (the second week of school), so many of them have brought me gifts and cards. So thoughtful. I never would have thought or expected it. Not from kids that I have been hearing horror stories about for years. I have noticed that they are also very protective over me. They are always checking to make sure I am doing okay, they yell at their friends if they get too close to me or touch anything on my desk, they tell each other to make sure they are using hand sanitizer, and they make a point to stop by the nurse for the slightest little sniffle. I was afraid to let my students know anything was wrong because I thought they would treat me weird or take advantage, but they have been great.
It's the little things that make me happy. The little talks to strangers and friends, and the little cards, pictures, and gifts from my students. They make such a cruddy experience, not so bad. I start a new regimen this week. If I just think about everyone I have encountered, these next few months will hopefully go by quickly and it wont be as bad as I think.
What is even more surprising than that is how supportive my students are. I teach middle school, and teenagers are usually so self absorbed that I didn't think they cared too much about anything other than themselves. I was wrong. Since my students have found out I was sick (the second week of school), so many of them have brought me gifts and cards. So thoughtful. I never would have thought or expected it. Not from kids that I have been hearing horror stories about for years. I have noticed that they are also very protective over me. They are always checking to make sure I am doing okay, they yell at their friends if they get too close to me or touch anything on my desk, they tell each other to make sure they are using hand sanitizer, and they make a point to stop by the nurse for the slightest little sniffle. I was afraid to let my students know anything was wrong because I thought they would treat me weird or take advantage, but they have been great.
It's the little things that make me happy. The little talks to strangers and friends, and the little cards, pictures, and gifts from my students. They make such a cruddy experience, not so bad. I start a new regimen this week. If I just think about everyone I have encountered, these next few months will hopefully go by quickly and it wont be as bad as I think.
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)