Monday, March 23, 2009

Ow (Radio Remix)

I am so uncomfortable. The overall body soreness/pummeling feeling seems to have ebbed a little quicker than last time - though it's not gone. I'm exhausted and just . . . uncomfortable. Not in pain too much (tho a bit in the lower back), but still . . . can't get comfortable. The ride home on the metro was fun today. Stupid metro was backed up - I passed on my first train, but the second was just as packed. I didn't feel like waiting another 5 minutes, so I took it. Now I'm home being uncomforable. And itchy. My feet have started itching. Sigh. Not as badly as my hands were last week, but maybe that's just because I've (thus far) been able to resist scratching. I'm really hoping it's just the power of suggestion, and not actual neuropathy in my feet. Fingers crossed! My hands have had about the same level of itching for the past 5 or 6 days or so. It would be nice for it to go away. Stupid neuropathy. I'm not even sure I'm spelling that right. Ah. I am.

Well, I plan on eating dinner (mac & cheese I made yesterday), and then maybe going to bed. My plan would be perfect if it weren't for that big pile of clothes waiting to be folded on my bed . . . .

Friday, March 20, 2009

Taxol #2

Well, I had my second Taxol treatment yesterday. I don't seem to have had as much of a reaction this time as last time. So far, at least. My face got a little red & warm, but not really itchy. I haven't taken a Benadryl, but I did rub some hydrocortisone cream on my face. I think I got just as drunk off the Bendryl drip yesterday as I did the prior time.

What I'm really hoping doesn't come back is the itchiness I started getting in my hands last Friday (just a week ago). My hands just started itching randomly & nothing would help. At first I thought "I just need some lotion." Well, I slathered my hands with lotion & they still itched. Turns out that's a manifestation of the neuropathy that can happen with Taxol. And this is something that can be permanent! Argh. My doctor told me to take vitamin B-6, which can provide some protection to the nerves. She also gave me a prescription of an anti-seizure medication that helps dull the firing nerves. The itching had started going away before my appointment, so I'm just hoping it stays away. B/c man! That itching! Drives me crazy!!

Today I also went for an acupuncture appointment. It was interesting. I'm not sure what I was expecting, but it was different! She did what's called 'cupping', where she takes these glass cups & lights something inside them, then puts it on your skin over the needle (I think). The flame eats up the oxygen, so you wind up with a vacuum & it sucks your skin into the cup, so it stays. My big hope is that it'll help with the soreness that should be coming on tomorrow night. Hope hope! I really don't want to hurt like that again!

And in good news: Progress is being made! So hooray! I get to stay on the biweekly program. Which means my definite last chemo will be 4/16. 2 more to go! Yay! And hey, maybe there won't be much for my surgeon to take out.

I have also signed up for the 3-day walk here in DC in October! Keep an eye out for my fundraising letter! And if you'd like to join my team & walk with me, drop me a line & let me know!

Sunday, March 08, 2009

Ow

For the first time since I started chemo, I'm really unhappy & uncomfortable. I had the first round of Taxol on Thursday, which was interesting, b/c they gave me a drip of Benadryl before the chemo (along with another drip of some other allergy medication, I forget what it was called). Well, I was druuuuunk off the Benadryl. I was slurring my words & my two friends who came had a great time laughing at me. I'm just happy that I didn't fall over when I went to the bathroom. I mean, I had the IV stand on wheels to lean on, but still . . . plus we were in the corner next to the loudest chemo patient ever. She and her friend watched 2 or 3 hours of various judge shows (Judge Judy, Judge Joe Brown, etc.). Apparently her friend claimed that these were "real" court shows. Not like, uh, the People's Court or something? I don't know, but I'm glad I had my Benadryl drip b/c it meant I slept through a lot of their noisiness. There were also several phone calls to or about Pam. Poor Pam, having such noisy friends. I do hope I'm not next to her next time. Or that they at least give me plenty of Benadryl. I'm more annoyed as I think of it. I mean, we're all having infusions, and you've got your tv on high volume? Now, granted, the tvs there have the speakers on the sides, so the people next door are likely to hear your tv better than you are, but still! That's why I don't even watch my tv there.

So last night I started having some aches. When they said a side effect of the Taxol was achiness, I guess I was thinking more along the lines of joint pain. This, though, feels like I did a boot camp workout & then got beat up. I'm very uncomfortable. And I have an enormous bruise on my arm from the Neulasta shot! So when my doctor said don't be a hero, take your drugs, she wasn't kidding. So I've taken some Oxycodone and am waiting for it to kick in. I have to call her & get a new prescription. The one I took is leftover from my surgery. I should have gone ahead & gotten a new one! Man. Well, as soon as it kicks in, I'll probably go to sleep. Here's hoping!