chemo report [View all]
I've had two treatments (of four of this kind; then I get four more of something else), so I'm halfway through what I hope is the worst. This chemo is not at all like the chemo I had six years ago--that was a breeze. This one has me totally knocked on my ass. The treatments are three weeks apart, and I'm not much better two weeks in than I am at a week in.
Today I went for blood work and told the nurse how bad I was feeling--exhausted to the point that I literally spend my time between bed and the recliner, with bathroom breaks and a shower when I can stand up long enough. My nausea has me retching until my abdominal muscles hurt, and the diarrhea, while not constant, is green (and I don't remember when I ate anything green). My mouth is full of thrush and painful sores along the side of my tongue and the inside of my cheeks, and I sleep at least 16 hours out of every 24. When I'm awake, all I can do is watch TV and bitch.
The nurse asked me if I had time for an intravenous fluid infusion, and I said yes, even though I'm drinking so much water my urine is colorless. She said sometimes getting it right into the blood vessels makes patients feel better. Three fucking hours.
And it's wonderful! I went from the chemo suite to the grocery store and bought peppers and sweet sausages (which I've been craving but hated to ask my poor husband to make), which I'm frying up right now with onions and a little garlic. I also bought ingredients for chili, which--assuming my power holds out--I'll make later today and we can eat for the next week.
Has anybody else had this reaction to IV fluids? They said I could come back for another infusion if I needed it, but not how many I can have--if there is a limit. I mean, it's just fluids, and I have a port, so no big deal, right?
I haven't felt this good since before surgery. I wonder how long it will last.
Oh, and they prescrbed for the nausea and thrush, too, but those don't seem worth the trouble now.
= new reply since forum marked as read
