This last week has been a new experience regarding the whole Cancer deal. I was scheduled for a treatment March 4, but I was able to delay it a week so I could go to the Red Wings game with my college girls. (My first game ever!)
So chemo changed to March 11. No big deal, or so I tell myself. While at the game both of the boys came down with a tummy virus. (They were not with us. They were at grammy and papa's)It involved the dreaded diarrhea and Jack even threw up. Poor babies. No fevers and they were playing just fine. i'd call the doctor if it persisted or if they got a fever. I didn't think much of it in terms of me and making sure I was okay. I washed my hands as normal etc.
Tuesday night before the scheduled chemo, diarrhea hits me. Not horrific and I wasn't really concerned because this happened last time before my big chemo day. I figured it was nerves. I have learned that I make myself sick anticipating these visits. I don't mean to, it just happens. It's called anticipatory nausea.
I meet with the doctor, which precedes treatment every three weeks. I let the doctor and nurse know what is happening with me, but also let them know the boys have been sick as well. The nurse was a little leary of me taking treatment, but my counts were safe so we went ahead. I felt nauseous the whole time I was there. I had fruit and hummus for lunch. I never did feel right. I had diarrhea a few times during treatment, but once again nothing horrific.
I left still feeling a bit nauseous, but it didn't seem any more than usual. Mom and I stopped at a few shops on the way home and even stopped for some pie at Crane's in Holland. It was delicious.
I finally get back home and still just didn't feel right. John and I fed the boys, bathed them. Just our normal night. Then suddenly I am getting sick. I spewed up all I had eaten that day. Tons of water and that delicious apple pie! What a waste of $4.00! Anyway sometimes I puke and then I am ready to go. That seemed to be the case this time. The next morning I got ready for work. I drank water, but didn't eat much because I still had that icky feeling.
I made it through the day! I even went to see a friend who worked on clearing my chakras. Everything seemed pretty pleasant again. A bit nauseous still, but okay. I went and did a short workout, came home to a normal routine, only this time more spewing. Mostly water because I had hardly eaten anything. And unfortunately this is also about the time my dear friend diarrhea enters the scene. Oh, and I am taking anti-nausea meds all this time too.
Friday morning rolls around. I am not good at all, but it is too late to call in sick. Plus I have a super awesome math lesson to do with the kids, I can't be sick. It has to just be a bad reaction to the chemo. Well, no spewing at school, but the other was just too much to handle. Luckily my afternoon teacher had come in early since she had been out three days with stomach flu in her family. So she took over and I high tailed it out of school.
I continued an afternoon of moaning and groaning and spewing at mom and dad's. Finally I called the doctor and she wanted me to go directly to the ER to get a couple bags of fluid. She was afraid I was becoming dehydrated which is very bad for my liver post chemo.
Ugh I HATE the ER 1) nasty people are always in there, 2)it smells 3)they treat me like I am looking for pain meds 4) everytime I leave that say I owe them $50, which I don't and then I have to bother them for months to get it back, that's another story. 5) I have to use a toilet about every ten minutes. I don't like using public toilets for THAT!!
I spent about 4 hours in the ER with my dad, while John worked and mom watched the boys. It was a little reminiscent of last year at this time. Not something I care to relive again. While in the ER waiting room I did run in to my fourth grade teacher. We chatted for a bit before her mom got called back.
I was finally called back. I told them my oncologist sent me to them to get hydration due to all the spewing and diarrhea. I also asked where was the closest bathroom because I knew I would need it. Well, they hooked me up to a hydration bag, which was on the wall! That doesn't let me go use the bathroom! I try to explain, again, that I NEED to use the restroom, like now. So they bring me a commode instead of just giving me a pole with a bag to walk with. This is horrid! I will spare details. I was just about in tears because I felt so bad about what I had to do, but I had to do it! Several times! If I could have been given a portable pole none of that would have had to happen. I guess they are used to that. Ugh. I am not. I was horrified.
After that very unpleasant experience I finally got to leave and go home to squeeze my boys and then sleep. I did not feel a whole lot better Saturday or Sunday, which really stinks because those are days I can cook! The smell of food, the thought of food just made me even sicker. Anyone who knows me knows that must mean I am really sick. I drank mostly water on Saturday and Sunday. Things did not seem to be getting any better and I was so weak I just felt useless. By Monday I was told by he doctor just clear liquids. She also called in more anti-nausea drugs. By Tuesday, I was much, much better. I ate 5 crackers and a bowl of soup for the day. I was a little queasy, but not bad.
I miss my students so I must get back. I am so sad I missed out on our St. Paddy's party so many of them earned in math. Plus I have to be sure they can add and subtract simple fractions. When I left 80% got it. I hope they still do!
This was a long one, but wow. I wasn't sure if I was going to make it this weekend. When I am sick I always pick up around the house, cook or bake, something. Not this time. I just laid there. I couldn't even get interested in Pinterest because I was sure I was going to be dead, so why bother pinning. Plus all the food recipes just made me sicker.
Oh well, new chapter in this new life.