1 week

Member

12 years ago

This time last week I was writting a little ditty about chocolate and chemo. What a week its been since then. So last monday I had my first chemo treatment. Breezed through the process with no allergic affects which the pharmacist was happy about as I can't have phenergan as I have a anaphylaxis reaction to and have generally spent most of my life avoiding anti-hystamines. 5 hours later I'm home thinking this is pretty cruisy I am going to be one of the lucky ones and even had a burst of energy and cleared the coffee table of paperwork (I only moved it to the dinner table - but it was the thought that counted).

I wandered of to work the next 2 days feeling ok. Well after a long day of interviewing on the Wednesday I crashed that night and pretty much woke up to find it was Friday and getting out of bed was not achievable. I didn't just hit the proverbial brick wall I also fell under it with it collapsing on top of me.

Fast forward and its Sunday. Achievement for the day was I made it to the shower after 4 days cause I was starting to pong. Have to say it was hard work getting dried and dressed after it but at least I smelt good again.

My taste buds are wonky, my mouth is slothing skin, I'm shaky and weak, my bones feel like they are going through the blender, I have ulcers in my throat but I still have my hair :-). Well at least for another 7 days or so I'm told.

Being the eternal optimist or just plain stubborn I will be getting up in the morning to go to work. I may only make it for a few hours but for me thats normality and I desperately need some normality.

In this day an age the fact that the treatment is so much awful than the illness defies logic. I understand the procress as I have a scientist's brain but geez I have had to spend the week telling my brain I have to be this sick so that I can be healthy again. Then I explain to my brain I was actually quite healthy up until a week ago. Pfft my brain and I have some interesting conversations at times lol.

Anyway I know this is a journey of stamina not speed so I figure I will probably have quite a few more debates with myself until this particular phase is over.

My mum is a breast cancer survivor and I will be to but god its bloody hard work but I will take the achievements as they happen and celebrate that today I am clean, jarmies changed, moved from the bed to the couch and enjoying some cooling and soothing orange jelly.

Happy mother's day

Published 12 years ago

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Joined March 29, 2014

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19 Comments

Robyn_W
Member
12 years ago
Well down Tess.I love your attitude! This really is an experience isn't it?Good days, bad days,but we get there in the end .Take care.Cheers Robynxox
tess44
Member
12 years ago
Thank you everyone for your lovely and supportive comments. On the plus side I did get to work today and even though walking up 1 flight of stairs was more intimidating than climbing Mt Everest I made it to my office and had a really productive day. I am now home on my chemo couch enjoying the support of all you lovely ladies :-)
tess44
Member
12 years ago
Hi Mita

All good. This site is great for stimulating conversation from our blogs. Its a safe place for us all to record our journey and gain from those who have been through the process already, going through it with us or just at the start of the roller coaster. I'm glad that my blog enabled you to get some valuable information and insight from Deanne and others. Its horrible that after going through your heart problems that you now have to go through this roller coaster but hopefully here you will always feels supported and cared about.

Theresa
Mita
Member
12 years ago
Thanks again, Robyn. Two more entries for my resource book!

And, Donna, good tip about how easy it is to get dehydrated. Now I know why I keep coming across advice to consistently drink 8 glasses of water per day.
Mita
Member
12 years ago
Thanks again, Robyn. Two more entries for my resource book!

And, Donna, good tip about how easy it is to get dehydrated. Now I know why I keep coming across advice to consistently drink 8 glasses of water per day.
mgndam1603
Member
12 years ago
I was like you and I wondered what hit me, I worked up to my 2nd chemo but I was just not able to after that. I found that I had basically 3 good days, about 7 bad ones and then moved onto the rest being average. The fatigue and bone pains were the killers for me.

Just be careful on the sleep as you will dehydrate, my husband left me to sleep thinking it was best ahh no, I ended up in hospital.

Take care it does eventlually finish and become just a distant memory.

Donna
Robyn_W
Member
12 years ago
I'm sure we are not taking over Tess's blog.It often happens like this.For your mouth,Biotene toothpaste and mouthwash from the chemist.A bit pricey but it's great.For,your skin,MooGoo cream.I got given my first tube at RPA in Sydney,which is where I had my chemo.I just kept on buying it.You can use it all over ,from your face to your feet ! As for constipation,nausea etc.the hospital will give you all that when you have your chemo.And walk,walk,walk. :):):)xoxRobyn
Hazel_M
Member
12 years ago
I finished my chemo in early March, what you described is exactly how I felt for the last 3 treatments (Docetaxol). I kept reading that I should be walking and exercising, however, I couldn't get out of bed either. I started to feel that maybe I was a weaker person or a sook because I could just not function as well as I thought other people were coping. In hindsight, I understand that everybody is so different that there is no standard way of coping. You are so right in taking the achievements as they come and enjoying the good days. During the process we all do what we can to get through, you will too. Taking one day at a time is the best thing to do, best wishes to you,

Hazel xx
Sarah54
Member
12 years ago
I look forward to it as taste buds re appear although I cannot eat any red meat as it's the only thing that still tastes disgusting. But as I move to round 5 and in my week 3 again of round 4 I find my bones ache dreadfull, I can walk but it takes me ages to get going and I am just wiped out, I also get mentally very down as I prepare for the next round. thank god I only have 2 more to go.

Tess you can ask to come off the steroids as I did after round 2 and take Olanzapine instead. It does mean day 2 you are very tired but on steroids I was racing around for days without any sleep but never crashed as I just could not sleep. It was mentally very concerning as I started to halucinate and pyanoid.

All the best for Round 2
Robyn_W
Member
12 years ago
Mita,try to remember,that chemo is done in cycles.Usually,every 3 weeks.For the first 3or 4 days after chemo,you feel pretty good,because of the medicine they give you.Then for about another 4 or 5 days,you usually feel pretty tired.This is when you may have mouth ulcers, rash,constipation etc.Nothing that usually can't be fixed by medication.Then days 9 to 14 you FEEL good,but you have to stay away from crowds,public transport etc.cause your immunity is at it's lowest.The 3 rd week,you feel back to normal,and can rush around and catch up with everything and everyone!!!Then it all starts again.Once you get into the routine,it's not too bad.At least that's how it was for me.Cheers Robyn