It is Day 5 since my second chemo. Oh boy that was a tough one. My body is a lot weaker than the first round of chemo. Aside from the usual nausea, vomitting, fatigue, loss of appetite, I also experienced sensitivity to scent, drinking tap water was not appealing plus headache and chest pains. I'm wondering, how I will survive the next four cycles of chemo? Wish me luck.
My sentivity to smell was so bad I had to ask Mark to stop wearing perfume (which I normally love). I found the smell/taste of cooked, fried, sauteed food disgusting. My diet the first three days consisted of bananas, crackers and smoothies. Drinking plain water was nauseating and have been drinking Gatorade which tasted better than water. Mark made salad this week with green and regular onions and I could not stand it. It was not fun at all. I spent most of the first four days sleeping and getting the much needed rest.
Sleeping is another problem. I felt chest pains and headaches when I slept the last couple of days, side effects of the medicine Neulasta that helped increase my white blood cells. My head/scalp is more sensitive than before. I wear the hats to ease the pain but sometimes I have to take it off because it feels uncomfortable or I'm hot. Like before I also sweat a lot at night, another side effect. :( Last night it felt like I slept well but I woke up in the middle of the night and my head hurt. It didn't feel like a regular headache but it felt more like my head was so sensitive and tender. It was not fun.
More hair's coming off my head. I'm starting to see bald patches on the side :( It's a fact that I've learned to accept since Friday last week. I'm even thinking of asking Mark to shave it all off once and for all, but my head is so tender.
Mark told the kids about my hair and the six cycles of chemo I'm having. The chemo meds results to hair loss. Mark told them I'll be sick, requested that they give me the space I need and to be kind to me as well.
The kids were surprised it wasn't my real hair. Josh took it in stride and acts as if nothing happened. Jason's a bit different. He couldn't look at me straight in the eye the first couple of days. And when he saw me for the first time wearing a head cover, all he asked was why I'm wearing it. I explained to him my head hurt and I need something to ease the pain. I'm happy to say Jason's now comfortable with my new "look". The kids have been giving me non-stop hugs and kisses plus the "I love yous" that I desperately need these days.
Everyone in our household has been giving me the space and rest I need. The kids know not to bug me when I'm sleeping, my mother's been a big help around the house (taking care of the kids, cooking, laundry, etc), and Mark's been very supportive as usual.
Those four days were long and hard. I tried to look at it one day or one step at a time. I'd be happy if one hour passed and I didn't throw up or feel nauseous. But today is Day 5 and I look forward to a nausea-free or to a better day. I'm trying to eat more because I need all the nutrients that I can get. I feel stronger than the past few days, it looks promising. :)
As the saying goes, when the going gets tough, the tough gets going... and with four more chemos to go I just have to try harder.
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