Philippians 4:13
I’ve been chemo-ed. I’ve been rad-zapped.
Little cells are under attack. Some are being killed by radiation. Many are being prevented from dividing and growing by two chemo drugs. The good ones will die with the bad ones. Cells that have short lives and are replaced often under normal circumstances won’t be replaced. That’s why chemo patients get mouth sores and loose hair. Those cells have a short live/die/replace cycle. Mouth has the shortest cycle, so mouth sores is the first side effect to show up. I have a special mouthwash that should help with them. Listerine has been sent to the back of the cupboard. Hair cells have a somewhat slower regeneration cycle, so I should escape with only slight hair loss – none noticeable to the untrained eye.
Radiation:
No issues. There probably won’t be any during the first two weeks. Then the burn begins to build . . .
Chemo:
Lots of action today!
Anti Nausea Med: It’s a steroid. Besides abating nausea that could come from the other drugs, its anti-inflammatory property is making the ol’ arthritic hip happy. It also could amp up your energy. Nurse L told of a woman who was up running her vacuum at one in the morning. Ugh. Earlier I felt sleepy, but now I do feel a bit hyped – blogging will do that . . .
Chemo drug #1 was sent into me over a 10-minute period. It was a lovely pale purple color. Still is. Mixed with B vitamin yellow, diluted by lots of water, my pee is now pale tan.
Chemo drug #2 comes in a pouch and is fed into a rather amazing little pump. 151 ml of solution is being pumped at the rate of 1.6 ml/hour. Do the math – it takes 94 hours and change to finish. That will be Saturday, about noon. Plenty of time to catch the boys’ opening ball game!
Feelings – physical and other:
Feeling just a little sludgey. The closest thing I’ve ever felt to this (waaaay back in the day) is a mild hangover. I keep thinking I should go walk it off. But the pump keeps pumping.
No nausea issues. May have felt an occasional oopsy feeling – but barely worth mentioning.
Drinking water seems to reduce the sludgey feeling.
I have NOT lost my appetite. Today, at least, I have had to apply the same portion control rules as any other day, with the goal to have 10 pounds gone at the end of this. I am giggling, wondering if I will not lose any of my urge to eat more than I should. I guess in these circumstances that’s a good thing . . .
Good news – I’m cleared to do as much of my workout as I want. The PICC line and the little pump are of sturdy construction and there really isn’t anything I can do to ‘break’ them. I had thought I had trashed the PICC line insertion site by over-using my arm – but as it turns out, not. Phew. Lift that sack of cat litter. But watch out! Don’t sweat on the insertion site.
So, to you faithful readers who have read the whole thing here, Thank you! Thank you for caring and praying and sending good thoughts. I wish I could hug each one of you. You are warming my heart, and making me smile.
God bless us, every one!
Tiny Tim/Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol
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