icovellauna's Journal: More update

The Dragon has told me that I haven't said enough about how I'm doing. In fact, it was something like so you're halfway! So how are you? Ok, so, here's how I am. Chemo is a real drag. I get one drug every day that makes me tired, achey, nausous, and sometimes feverish. I get one on Friday that makes me feel like I have the second worst flue I ever had for the next twentyfour hours - tired, aches, pains, low fever, nausea; and the third worst for the next two days. Tuesday I start to feel better. By Tuesday night I feel almost human again, and Wednesday isn't so bad. Wednesday afternoon I get another drug that makes my bones hurt and buzz - that's weird. Also makes me tired, nauseaous, and cranky. I have a bad taste in my mouth - like old galvanized trash cans - most of the time, so food tastes odd at best. This one begins to ease up just in time for Friday. I am still losing hair and weight, slowly but steadily. My skin is so dry you wouldn't believe it, and this in spite of two to three liters of water a day, and moisturizers. My hemoglobin is rising! My doctor's impressed. I credit meditation, visualization, and the prayers of all you wonderful people out there - you know who you are - who are helping me sooo much. Thankyou! Wednesday's and Friday's drugs make the fibro flare within a couple of hours just to make things more interesting. I have no appetite and no energy. My back hurts. (Also a side effect, not an injury) Stress makes all this worse, and chemical exposure makes all this worse. Bad weather makes it worse. But it's working. And that makes it all worthwhile. I don't talk a lot about how I feel because there is't much good to say, except that I'm doing it, I can do it, it's working, and I am blessed to have the opportunity. I do half of what I used to do, and slower. I don't sleep well. I get another drug today the help that - in the hopes that it will help ease the rest of the symptoms. I'll let you know. I still work because the alternative is to sit at home and think about how bad I feel. No thank you! I know what a rat hole that is! So I feel pretty sick most of the time, but it's what I have to do to be well, I am, with the help of my friends, handling it, getting through it, and looking forward to the day in September when I get to stop doing it, and recover from the treatment. Hope you're not sorry you asked. Life is good, and I'm ok.

bones...

[TechnoLust]

I don't know about chemo induced bone aches, but all the bones aches I've ever had have been easily remedied by a stint in a hot tub. Your local YMCA probably has a hot tub, and more than likely has a scholarship program available if you can't pay for a membership. You might also look into getting your insurance to buy you one of those "turn your bathtub into a spa" thingies.

Hot time in the old town tonight!

[icovellauna]

Thanks for the hot idea. I find that the muscle aches respond to hot water and heating pads, but the bone aches don't respond as well. But thanks for the idea, sometimes we over look stuff that could be helpful when we don't feel well, and it helps to be reminded.