April 15-April 20

In an effort to keep everyone updated, I will continue to update this post throughout the week.

I will follow a 7 days on, 7 days off plan for chemo.  Meaning, in addition to going in for an infusion, I take 3 pills in the am and again at night. 

April 16: I’m in day 2 and already feeling side effects.  Certain foods give me a tingly, zingy feeling in my mouth. (From a pineapple to oatmeal).  And I have an oven mitt on top of the fridge to grab cold items and I need to be patient as the water gets to a room temp before touching . It feels like I’m touching frost bite or something. 

As for rest, I have a 1 and a 2 year old. Who would have thought I would have missed a desk job!  My mom is still staying with us.  Steve and Rose live close by to help and my friends and family are all on stand by.  

  

April 17, Day 3:  The nausea is setting in this morning. I just ate some toast and took some anti-nausea meds.  I am supposed to take these 20 minutes before the chemo pills anyways.  The port still hurts but that is supposed to get better in a few days, so I’m viewing it as short term pain. Although it really restricts my activity with the kids.  This sucks and I’m feeling weak.  I don’t want to do this.  

Rose brought over some sea bands, hope these help with the nausea. 

Im going to call the dr today because  of constipation. That’s the crazy thing, both side effects are constipation and diarrhea. So if it’s not one, it’s the other. 

My mom stayed another day, so That is good.  Cecilia has a dr appt this morning.  That’s the crazy thing with all this. Life doesn’t  slow down for the sick.  If   anything, it speeds up.

  

April 18, day 4

I made it through the night!  I was dry heaving before going to sleep and didn’t think I was going to get the three chemo pills down last night, but I did. I think I have to sensitive of a stomach to handle this.  

Nikki commentary: we go through our neighborhood Panera drive thru quite a bit. And the person at the drive thru knows us well, so we talk and catch up (as quickly as you can at a drive up window).  So I was sitting in the passenger seat, and we pulled up and she asked Scott what he did to me. (I apparently looked as good as I felt!) and I just said that I was under the weather. So she gets our food and she says, seriously, what is wrong? Do you have the flu? And I responded, “no,I have  cancer.” She was shocked, so I felt I should add something, so I said “I just started chemo and it’s making sick.  But I’m going to be ok.” 

April 19,  day 5

Oh my, I felt the best all day than I have all week. Between my anti nausea meds, ginger ale, jolly ranchers and sea bands and such, I made it through the day. My port is feeling better so I can hold my head up.  

Biggest complaint of the day, stomach cramps.  Holy hell. Double me over stomach cramps.  But if my stomach was empty, no cramping, so I only ate breakfast, small snacks and dinner. So tomorrow I’m going to call to see what I should be eating. 

April 20, Day 6

Today was the first day I was on my own with the kids on chemo. And it was a good day. 

I felt the best that I have since I had the port put in last Tuesday and since I started chemo last Wednesday.  I think I have the naseau under control and I have a call into my dr about the stomach cramps.  Long story of the back and forth but I have taken for granted great nurses at my other dr offices.  Shout outs to my OB and my internist. 

Scott even had to work late (hell, he is on a call now for work) Which means I did bath and bed all by myself. 

Nikki commentary: Malinda called to check in on me and I told her about the success of the day and she asked me if I felt good about it, because it was a huge accomplishment.  And, I was proud to give my kids a normal day. But The thing is, I never needed to prove to anyone that I was super woman. I have always had a “survival mode” kind of attitude. 

And when I dance, it’s because I’m happy and I love dancing!  And tomorrow there will be dancing and a new post.  Because there are only 11 more pills and 24 hours and I made it through 1/12 chemo cycles!!

© Nicole Szymonik and This Is the Pause Button, 2015. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this blog’s author and/or owner is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to Nicole Szymonik and This Is The Pause Button with appropriate and specific direction to the original content.