This time, chemo brought side effects almost immediately. Nothing new, so I was prepared for almost everything. Most of the side effects are less than they were last round except the pressure on my heart. Family and friends have carried me through with prayers, visits, notes of encouragement, and delicious meals. I am so thankful for the people God has placed in my life to help me through this really hard time. An appointment with the oncologist gave options to scale back treatment because of the toll the side effects are taking on my body and decisions must be made by 9/23.
Please continue to pray for side effects to wane. Please pray for my heart to withstand the pressure and for the wisdom in decision making. Pray for my family to be comforted as they watch me endure from near and far.
"Lord, I have heard of your fame; I stand in awe of your deeds, O Lord. Renew them in our day, in our time make them known" - Habakkuk 3:2
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the more detailed version...
The evening of chemo#2 I started feeling a little yucky and it only increased from there. Nausea was a little less this time with more of just a general feeling of yuckiness. I was able to eat normally that first night. Saturday brought more yuck and it started being challenging to eat, but I wanted to get some food in before the mouth sores hit, so I was diligent about getting food down even if it didn't sound appealing. So thankful the mouth sores NEVER CAME! Woohoo! But I did establish a good pattern of eating a 5-bite meal almost every hour that has lasted. I can do anything for a few bites - even if it doesn't taste good or the texture is offensive. Even my loss of taste was slightly different: sweet did not completely go away and I had more of the feeling like I burned my tongue. I am still really thankful that I do not have metallic taste 24/7 that some patients have.
We met with the oncologist on Wednesday and she asked IF I could continue. I didn't know I had a choice. I hate what is happening. This poisoning my body to try to kill it, then doing what we can after to try to keep it alive - it's so taxing physically and emotionally. She said she assumes one of my four treatments meds is responsible for my worst side effect that is really working my body. I am receiving two chemotherapy drugs and two targeted therapies (immunotherapy) that address a specific protein on my cancer cells. She is willing to skip one targeted therapy if it enables me to continue the course with the other three drugs. This will be a hard decision I have to make before the next treatment on 9/25. GOOD NEWS! In a basic exam, she could not find the lump that started this whole mess! Yay. (This does not change the course of treatment but is encouraging. There will be no imaging to see what is going on yet.)
I was quite dehydrated, so the doctor sent me straight away for IV hydration on Wednesday (and told me to keep my hydration appointment for Friday). About 15 minutes into the infusion, I felt SO much better. I am so thankful for the help they can give and need to be better about asking for it instead of just enduring.
Thursday morning I felt good enough to leave home, but had little energy so my FIL Jim picked me up along with the wheelchair my dear friends Beth & Leah left at the house "just in case" and I was able to do his morning walk with him. The older people walking at the park seemed confused by the older man pushing the younger woman in the wheelchair. ha. I was SO thankful to get out of the house, though I could not have done it without the chair. So also SO thankful that the Lord sent the chair I didn't ask for but have used almost everyday.
Several nights, I have been wide awake for a few hours between 2-6am (side effect). I chose to listen to the Bible - partly because the guy's voice can put you to sleep, partly because I've read it so many times I can fall in and out of sleep with it and not be lost. (In the daytime I do this with old movies.) I am thankful for the Word of God washing over me as I travel down this road.
I thought I could get to bible study Friday morning, but the silly side effects keep knocking me down, so I did not make it. My hydration felt like too much and left me feeling miserable for the evening. My poor body.
Well, chemo #2: One week down, two to go.
Next chemo infusion: Thursday 9/25.
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