Chemo - Part Three

I apologize that it's taken me a while to write something.  I've been a little busy being nauseated.  Well, I think they lied!! I'm sure they didn't mean to lie when they said the side effects are worse than the nausea.  I'm sure that's true with other people.  Just not me - just not after the third treatment.  You know that feeling when you're REALLY sick and you've already vomited all there is in your stomach, then your stomach can't get the message to your throat that there's nothing left....well, you get the picture. I don't want to make you have to run to the bathroom.  :)  That was my world for six days straight after chemo part three.  This week has been better, I have been able to eat.  I don't care for the fact I'm getting weaker.  I can't carry my granddaughter around.  That's a bummer.  Thankfully, I can still sit and hold her.  But I am truly blessed.  I have such caring, loving family and friends around me.  Most of all, I have their prayers lifting me up daily.  I absolutely could not do without that!!  Tomorrow will be the fourth chemo treatment, then I will be one third of the way through this journey!!  Yay!!  That will be four down and eight to go!!  I can do this!!

Chemo - Part Deux

SIDE EFFECTS!?!  I'll get to that in a minute.  This chemo/visit went very smooth.  I waited a short while before the blood test to make sure I could take the chemo.  Again, as I sat there, I was struck by the words swirling around me - terminal, inoperable, a dad on the phone with his son telling him the cancer had returned, all such sad words.  I just prayed for those people.  Then they called me back to talk with the doctor.  He said my blood work looked good, so we could proceed.  Then he made a statement, "The side effects of this regimen are considerably more and will probably bother you more than the nausea."  Okay, I was ready - all prayed up and had a ton of people praying for me!  I was then called back to the chemo area.  The nurses there are so precious and caring!  I got all settled into my "nest" with my books and phone, I even watched TV for awhile.  When I took out the Build-a-bear Braedyn and Baecca made for me, the nurse loved it and had to show all the other nurses.  When you squeeze his paw, it's Braedyn's voice recorded saying, "I love you, Nana!"  It goes with me to every treatment.  Everything went well, and it took about 3 hours.  Then they put the pump in for the second medication for me to wear home for 2 days.  I was fine for about 2 hours.  Then the side effects hit!  My legs began to feel like they were covered with bugs.  You know when your legs go to sleep and that tingling when they wake up?  It was like that magnified 10 times!  Then it spread to all my body below the waist and my hands!  This comes and goes, but after a rough night of pain in my legs, I still can't sit up in a chair without my legs tingling!  The worst part is when I swallow.  My esophagus is hurting and making it feel like I'm swallowing sand and grit!  He said these side effects would go away after about two days.  I'm so thankful it's only these kinds of side effects!  They could be so much worse!!  Thank you for thoughts and prayers! I'm blessed!!