Complications.....

Well, I made it through the first week through day 8 and then everything fell apart. I have lost 10 pounds this week. I am very nauseous, and of course nothing tastes good. Two days in a row of feeling really really crappy made me call the oncologist today. They want me to come in tomorrow. The weight loss is a concern, but I don't have major diarrhea, just have it once in awhile, and the color of urine is clear. They want to do blood work as my number of white cell counts were down the very first day of chemo last week. I'm glad they are going to look at things and hopefully, I will have some answers by the evening. They want me to drink FOUR protein shakes a day so I'm trying to do that. Haven't made it to four yet...sigh....They taste like chalk to me.

I had a 3:30 appointment over in South Bend, and we happened to be under a winter storm watch, it was snowing hard and travel was hazardous. We heard that the 20 bypass to South Bend was difficult to travel on today with blowing snow and winds, so fortunately there was another way to go. Once we got to the hospital, I settled into an infusion chair, bloodwork was drawn, and the IV started. I asked a lot of questions about how awful my stomach is doing, about mouth sores, about random pains. I talked to the dietitian, and she was kind, saying you eat what you can when you can. Everybody is saying the appetite WILL get better, and the fatigue WILL get better. Don't beat yourself up over not eating enough, you just have to keep trying a variety of foods, that sometimes your tastes will change from week to week. She gave me lots of coupons for the high protein shakes...I don't like them much, just something else that doesn't taste good, but I will try to drink them at least one in the morning, and one at night.

Blood work came back about a good as could be expected. The Neulasta injector shot did its job, and white cell counts were very good. Good news! While I was getting fluids, I had a great conversation comparing notes with another patient. She had such a good attitude. I can't tell you how depressing it is to just sit around all day and rest. That's all I feel like doing. I sure thought after nine days, I would be coming out of the woods and feeling better. Still not able to work at all at school, but hope to maybe the end of next week for a day or two. I won't push it. If I'm still this exhausted, I won't even try. The sun is out but it's 10 degrees today, so I will pass on trying to walk around the apartment complex.

While I was getting my IV, we found out that they completely closed all four lanes of the US 20 bypass, so we had to perilously make our way home once I was done with the IV and bloodwork, a total of 5 hours coming home by way of the back roads. By this time it was getting dark, and South Bend was getting lake effect snow. The roads were terrible, but we made it back safe and sound thanks to Eldy's excellent, careful driving.  Whew!

Today is Day 8 after chemo, so I guess I should be grateful that it seems to be working in other ways. Breast swelling is going down, that's a good sign, we'll keep hoping it's doing what it's supposed to be doing. Thank you for hanging in there with me...

                                        Love, Jeannie