SIDE EFFECTS OF CHEMO

Well, about a week ago I said I was going to talk about the side effects I have been having since the chemotherapy infusion. So, here it goes.



I think I remember seeing a list of about 25 different possible side effects and I have experienced about 23 out of the 25. Needless to say, as the time approaches for me to return to the Chemo chair for another infusion I am certainly beginning to feel like the stereotype of the ol' donkey sitting on his hind end with his feet outstretched as if to say, "I am not going anywhere". We all know that I have to go. I don't have to look forward to it, but there is certainly no other alternative at this time. God will get me there and home again when it is time, that I am sure of.



Now, about that long list. Day one, right after chemo; we stopped at Wal-Mart to pick up some things for dinner and my meds for coping with any side-effects. Joe and I went in, he went to the left to get food and I went to the right to get meds. I noticed right away that they had replaced my steadfast, sturdy legs with rubbery, jellyfish legs. It felt like they were going to leave me right there in the store. How dare they abandon me! Okay, so SIDE EFFECT #1: RUBBERY LEGS OR WEAKNESS IN LEGS. SIDE EFFECT #2: INSOMNIA. I only managed to sleep about 6 hours between Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday morning. I was so tired and crabby it was crazy! I didn't expect that but it happened. Then I crashed Friday afternoon and night. SIDE EFFECT #3: IRRITABILITY. That is probably due to insomnia and having to stay in the bed and just lay down for days. SIDE EFFECT #4: NAUSEA & VOMITTING. Again, I did not expect this one because it did not hit me until Saturday morning. We had a Bible Study at our house that morning and it came on suddenly during the study. I excused myself to the bathroom and felt MUCH better after I returned to the table. Hahaha. SIDE EFFECT #5: HEADACHES. Major head pain here. Not looking forward to that again. SIDE EFFECT #6: SORE FEET. My feet have gotten very tender since treatment. It is like the bottoms are blistered. My big fuzzy slippers are going to get worn out now because they feel AWESOME on my feet and I wear them a lot. SIDE EFFECT #7: BLISTERED HANDS. I am not quite sure about this one but it is annoying that is for sure. I don't even think this was on the list of side effects that I saw. It just happened. My tops of my hands turned red all across my knuckles and fingers after about the first few days and since about two days ago, the blisters went away and now I am left with shedding the dead skin from the blistering. That is so gross. I am shedding like a lizzard. Today I was talking to God and said, "You are healing my dry skin from the past aren't you?" I was thinking that He is going to shed all that damaged skin on my hands and they would end up pretty and young looking again. Time will tell. In the meantime, if you shake my hand or hug me, we may just get stuck together like velcro cause I am sticky. Sorry, but the hand lotion is just not helping. Now I know how my bearded dragon feels. I also know I am not going to be putting pantyhose on any time soon. SIDE EFFECT #8: MOUTH SORES. This is one of the more common or at least more talked about side effects that I have had. If you have ever burnt your tongue on hot food or coffee, that is how my mouth feels all the time. I can't eat ANY spices. It is so bad that Ranch Dressing even hurts it. I eat mashed potatoes, shakes, chicken and Arby's Roast Beef with only the melted cheddar on it. NO SAUCE. Breakfast does well too. This is getting better but still present as of today. I don't know if it happens again after chemo next Tuesday. I certainly am hoping that most of my symptoms are not repeating ones. SIDE EFFECT #9: CRACKING, CHAFFED SKIN. This happened on my thighs and mid-section, my sides and my back. They are dark red stripes all over these areas as well as the backs of my ankles. Yuck. The ones on my lower extremities are painful and swell. They also bust open. SIDE EFFECT #10: BALDNESS. Another common effect depending on the Chemo meds used. I look like DOPEY on drugs now! I made every person in my house pull out some hair. It was a requirement for living with me. Just kidding. I would not MAKE them but they all did it. The poor 11-year-old said, "Okay, that was totally gross and I don't ever wanna do that again!" I said, "But now you can say you did it!" SIDE EFFECT #11: BONE PAIN OR ACHES. This is another hard side effect and one of the most debilitating ones. The pain is immense and lots of medicine is needed to control it. SIDE EFFECT #12: NOSE BLEEDS OR BLOOD IN SINUSES. Yes,well my nose drove me nuts for 2 weeks. It was dried blood constantly in the sinuses. Not a pleasant ordeal either. SIDE EFFECT #13: LOW GRADE FEVER. My temp was around 99.9. It was enough to add to the discomfort. I am supposed to call the doctor at 100.4. It did not get that high fortunately. SIDE EFFECT #14: SHORTNESS OF BREATH. Man, I get flat worn out. I feel like I should call a CAB to go from the bedroom to the kitchen sometimes. SIDE EFFECT #15: FATIGUE. I can go and go for about 4 hours and then I just need to lay down and rest. SIDE EFFECT #16: SWELLING, WATER RETENTION. I blow up like a water balloon. The doctor gave me some Feurosimide to help control it. I have to do a low-sodium intake which rubs me the wrong way. SIDE EFFECT #17: DIARRHEA. That is all I will say. SIDE EFFECT #18: FORGETFULNESS AND INABILITY TO CONCENTRATE. Yes, I have something to blame it on now. HA! Jesus loves me though. I sometimes forget why I was going in another room. I am constantly losing my phone. It makes me want to go buy a RETRO-Style, Corded phone. SIDE EFFECT #19: NUMBNESS & TINGLING IN EXTREMITIES. Just a minor inconvenience with no major pain along with it. SIDE EFFECT #20: LOWERED SEX DRIVE. Hey, that is listed in the side effects. I would not know WHY someone who has all of the previous, 19 side effects would have this one too. WHO WOULD FIGURE? Hmmm. SIDE EFFECT #21: APPETITE AND TASTE. There is a metallic taste along with the fact that my mouth hurts too bad to eat sometimes. SIDE EFFECT #22: BLOTCHY FINGERNAILS, BRITTLENESS. The nailbeds are changing colors now and my nails break off very easily. SIDE EFFECT #23: SORE THROAT. This came when the mouth sores came and I decided that I probably just had sores in my throat too.

I think that about covers it. Now I can go and eat my Chicken and Mashed Potatoes. YUM! YUM!