I’m three days out from my seventh chemotherapy treatment today (third round of Taxol). I’m pretty proud of myself because I attended a cookout yesterday afternoon, grocery shopped this morning, then cleaned out the refrigerator and freezer this afternoon.
I don’t feel fantastic — I have a lot of sharp pain in my joints, but I am trying to power through it because sitting in bed all day is really pretty depressing. I don’t want to do that.
Turns out, they were right.
Taxol isn’t NEARLY as bad as Adriamycin/Cytoxan (aka the red devil) treatments. With the Taxol treatments, I take steroids which help prevent an allergic reaction to the actual chemo. My oncologist had prescribed a steroid to take – five pills the night before and five pills the morning of chemo.
During my infusion, they gave me more steroids, Benedryl and anti-nausea meds. After I had gotten the steroid, I was talking with another lady who said something about how she had to take steroid pills. I told her I did as well. The chemo nurse overheard that. Turns out, she didn’t know the doctor had prescribed those pills, so I didn’t need the IV steroids she had given me. I’m still waiting for the big bulging muscles to pop out as a result of this overdose.
I knew it had been awhile, but I didn’t realize that it has really been more than two weeks since I last posted.
I’m either feeling terrible (for several days) or terribly busy (trying to cram everything I possibly can into the days I feel good).
When I’m not sleeping off the chemo, I’m trying to keep up with work, home, kids, grocery shopping, LOTS of end-of-school activities — a normal life. It is just a hectic time.
Do you know this person?
Chemo Round 3 begins tomorrow.
The not feeling well part lasted a lot longer than I would prefer last time. I’m really hoping I can get through the yucky feeling a bit faster this round.
Ever heard of chemo brain? Well, it is something you read about on a lot of message boards. I’ve even read some actual articles about it. Basically, people who are going through chemo can have short-term memory loss.
I know, I know…it’s been awhile since I posted. To be real honest, I just haven’t felt very good. Not terrible, but not good. The fatigue and nausea has lasted longer this time around. But enough complaining. Let me tell you what happened last Tuesday…
First, this gal was the mastermind behind Tuesday. She was, as always, thoughtful and amazing in taking something that pretty much sucks (losing your hair) and making it into something that was a celebration of another step taken forward. She is the best. Seriously.