Actually doing pretty good this week. They didn't give me one of the chemo drugs because it causes high blood pressure and my blood pressure is up to 140/90. first time in my life it's been high. But that is also the drug that made me the most nauseated, beause i've had very little of that this week. Still pretty tired, but otherwise feeling almost like myself.
Only 2 more rounds of chemo to go. Less than a month and i'll be done! woohoo! With chemo anyway. We'll see where we go from there.
Friday, February 27, 2009
Tuesday, February 17, 2009
An answer to an email
Someone new to having cancer sent me an email asking about my chemo. I though I would post the answer here too. Maybe it will help someone else that is "freaking out" over starting chemo. I know I was.
I haven't been on the cancer boards too much because they haven't been helping me at this point. They have been just one more thing reminding me I have cancer and it hasn't helped me. They were very helpful at the begining when I had lots of questions, but right now I am just trying to get through this with my life as normal as possible. Which this week is very normal. Last week about all I could do was lay on my couch and feel sorry for myself. Yesterday I cleaned my downstairs and was able to steam clean my carpets. Stanley steamer will be here this morning to clean my couch and loveseat. Woohoo! Can't wait. They are so dirty.
My first few chemos were pretty much a piece of cake. Except for the oxyiplatin (sp?). It about killed me. I had throad spasms, couldn't touch anything remotely cold, couldn't even drink anything cool, hands hurt...couldn't deal with that. So after 2 treatments they gave me two weeks off to recuperate and then they started me on camptosar instead. It seems to be working just as well without the side effects. The only thing it does is my hair is thinning greatly. After 7 treatments I probably have less than half the hair I started with and I lose more with each treatment. I only have 3 to go, so I don't think I'll be completely bald, but close to it.
Chemo week is worse for me than the off week. Are your treatments every other week? Typically at this point, like I said the first few were a piece of cake. They accumulate and get worse - at least they did for me. Now I'm pretty sure that on Moday (chemo day) and Tuesday I'll feel pretty much ok, maybe a little tired. Wednesday I'll be tired and by the afternoon I'll be nauseated. Have to remember to take pills at the first sign and keep something in my stomach; white toast or plain saltine crackers work wonders. I've only throw up about 3 times in all the weeks, so that's not much of an issue for me. Thursday I won't really be sick, I'll just have absolutely NO energy whatsoever. I'll sleep a good portion of the day, and when i'm not sleeping i'll be laying on the couch just staring at whatever because I don't have the energy to do anything else. On Friday I'll have more energy, but still be really tired. Saturday is almost normal for me. Then on Sunday without fail I get diareaah. But 2 immodium is all it takes for that.
And then comes my non chemo week. That week I'm pretty close to being my normal self. I can pretty much ignore the fact I'm sick. I get tired a bit easier than normal but besides that no problems.
I haven't been on the cancer boards too much because they haven't been helping me at this point. They have been just one more thing reminding me I have cancer and it hasn't helped me. They were very helpful at the begining when I had lots of questions, but right now I am just trying to get through this with my life as normal as possible. Which this week is very normal. Last week about all I could do was lay on my couch and feel sorry for myself. Yesterday I cleaned my downstairs and was able to steam clean my carpets. Stanley steamer will be here this morning to clean my couch and loveseat. Woohoo! Can't wait. They are so dirty.
My first few chemos were pretty much a piece of cake. Except for the oxyiplatin (sp?). It about killed me. I had throad spasms, couldn't touch anything remotely cold, couldn't even drink anything cool, hands hurt...couldn't deal with that. So after 2 treatments they gave me two weeks off to recuperate and then they started me on camptosar instead. It seems to be working just as well without the side effects. The only thing it does is my hair is thinning greatly. After 7 treatments I probably have less than half the hair I started with and I lose more with each treatment. I only have 3 to go, so I don't think I'll be completely bald, but close to it.
Chemo week is worse for me than the off week. Are your treatments every other week? Typically at this point, like I said the first few were a piece of cake. They accumulate and get worse - at least they did for me. Now I'm pretty sure that on Moday (chemo day) and Tuesday I'll feel pretty much ok, maybe a little tired. Wednesday I'll be tired and by the afternoon I'll be nauseated. Have to remember to take pills at the first sign and keep something in my stomach; white toast or plain saltine crackers work wonders. I've only throw up about 3 times in all the weeks, so that's not much of an issue for me. Thursday I won't really be sick, I'll just have absolutely NO energy whatsoever. I'll sleep a good portion of the day, and when i'm not sleeping i'll be laying on the couch just staring at whatever because I don't have the energy to do anything else. On Friday I'll have more energy, but still be really tired. Saturday is almost normal for me. Then on Sunday without fail I get diareaah. But 2 immodium is all it takes for that.
And then comes my non chemo week. That week I'm pretty close to being my normal self. I can pretty much ignore the fact I'm sick. I get tired a bit easier than normal but besides that no problems.
Tuesday, February 10, 2009
9 down, 3 to go
Had my 9th chemo yesterday. Only 3 to go. Still wondering if I'm going to have any hair when this is all over. Falling out fast now. Dave - you may get the chance to shave it yet! Feeling pretty good today. Hoping it'll keep up and I can go play in my sewing room. Mark took me to Joann Fabric on the way home from Hilton Head on Sunday. Woohoo! I got some beautiful yellow broadcloth and a pale green broadcloth to make new blouses out of. I like making them first out of broadcloth because it's inexpensive and if it doesn't turn out right or fit right who cares? I'm out $6 and know what to do when I make the next one out of more expensive material.
Feeling pretty good today. Only slept until 8:30. Was pretty nauseated last night but the nausea pills seemed to help some. I don't have a lot of energy today, but I don't feel the need to go lay down and sleep all day. I put dinner (beautiful pork butt that was on sale at bi-lo) in the crock pot, so all mark will have to do is make a salad to go with it. Mmmmmm.
Time to go sew. I'll try to update this later in the week and let you know how this treatment is going.
God Bless you all and thank you for your continued prayers. They mean more to me than you know!
Feeling pretty good today. Only slept until 8:30. Was pretty nauseated last night but the nausea pills seemed to help some. I don't have a lot of energy today, but I don't feel the need to go lay down and sleep all day. I put dinner (beautiful pork butt that was on sale at bi-lo) in the crock pot, so all mark will have to do is make a salad to go with it. Mmmmmm.
Time to go sew. I'll try to update this later in the week and let you know how this treatment is going.
God Bless you all and thank you for your continued prayers. They mean more to me than you know!
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