I just reread my last post (April 17) and saw that I was whining about not feeling good for two days and then looking forward to what I thought I understood my doctor to say, "less side effects" with Taxotier, which is the chemo I received on April 27. Well...for clarification, the doctor actually said "less nausea side effects" with Taxotier. My ears chose to just hear "less side effects", and that's what I was counting on. On April 27 I had my first dose of Taxotier and my first dose of Herceptin. I came home and felt good. Saturday, I felt good. Sunday, it hit...and lasted for a full week. The doctor was completely accurate when he said "less nausea side effects". In fact, nausea hasn't even been an issue with this chemo. All the other side effects are what knocked me on my back side.
I'll start with a disclaimer...I might be whining a little, but I absolutely realize that I don't have it nearly as bad as many others. I am incredibly blessed! Prayers are being answered, I feel the arms of my Father around me, and I lift up in prayer all those that are suffering physically, emotionally or spiritually.
My body is experiencing side effects from Taxotier very differently from the previous chemotherapy drugs. The major problem was extreme fatigue. One would think "Well if you are tired, just go to sleep". It's not quite that easy. For me, as I was going through this, sleep wasn't restful. I woke up as tired as I was when I went to sleep. I felt a complete lack of motivation, where even taking a shower required major amounts of effort. Here is an example of how the fatigue knocked me down: On day seven after chemo, I was invited by a friend to go to Glen Ivy Spa for her birthday. What a wonderful relaxing day that would be...Well, I could not muster up the energy to even do that. Much to my disappointment, I had to decline. The biggest problem with the fatigue for me is that it messed with my attitude. I got very discouraged for a few days.
Another miserable side effect of the chemo has been an extremely sore mouth, and I can actually taste the chemo. I think that is a constant reminder that it is poison that is being infused into my body to kill those cancer cells. This was a big problem for about 10 days. Thank God I have not gotten actual sores in my mouth (which is a common side effect), but I have had a very sore mouth in general. Probably the third most difficult side effect that I've been dealing with is "neuropathy" in my fingertips. That is numbness and tingling in my fingertips, and sore fingernails beds.
As these symptoms have subsided over the past few days and my strength, stamina, and good attitude are rebuilding, I am gearing up for dose #2 of Taxotier and Herceptin. That crummy feeling is becoming a fading memory already. I am so thankful for the way God made our bodies to quickly repair itself when something goes wrong with it. My strength is good today in all aspects--physical, emotional, and spiritual. I am sitting here with God's Word putting on my armor for battle. We are going to team up with chemotherapy and destroy that cancer!!!
Thank you for standing beside me in this battle. With God on my side and your prayer support, I know we already have this thing conquered.
Please pray for the chemo infusion today--that God will use it to do its job and not harm the rest of my body. Please pray that as I go through the next week that the power of Jesus Christ will be most evident in my life and through that power I will rebuke the discouragement that wants to set in. God is in control and I am so grateful for that!
I promise I won't be such a flake with my blog updates this time--even if I don't feel good:)
God bless you!
Jane
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