Well, this recovery week was the only one where I had to ask Lucas to help get breakfast because I had such a hard time getting going in the morning. Fortunately, Lucas and Liam were very helpful (and successful) in getting themselves their own breakfasts with no spilling or fights.
In prior recovery weeks, I felt well enough to go into the office by Wednesday and was usually feeling ok also on Tuesday. This recovery week I couldn't function very well Tuesday morning.
After meeting with the nurse on Tuesday and reviewing my blood test results, she explained why I was so knocked out. While the impact to the white blood cells on the treatment regimen is immediate and significant, the effect on the red blood count is more gradual, so by the 4th cycle, my red blood count had reached sufficiently low to make me feel wiped out and dizzy when standing. Nice. By weekend again I started to perk up.
So how bad was chemo? On a scale of 1-10, with 10 being worst, I feel that most times I was a 4, some days 5, and 6, but still not too many of those days. This was on the drugs with the worse side effects. So if anyone is fearful of chemo, it is not easy, but you can and do get through it. In my case I was very fortunate since I had support that allowed me to nap when I needed it, and to be in my bed by 8:00pm or even 7:00pm if that is how I felt. I didn't need to exhaust myself doing groceries or cooking. I think if you don't have support that picture might be very different.
Now I need to mentally prepare myself for cycle 1 of 12 - with a different chemo drug. The side effects of this one is not supposed to be as harsh as the first. Well I'll certainly letting you know about that.
Stay tuned.
In prior recovery weeks, I felt well enough to go into the office by Wednesday and was usually feeling ok also on Tuesday. This recovery week I couldn't function very well Tuesday morning.
After meeting with the nurse on Tuesday and reviewing my blood test results, she explained why I was so knocked out. While the impact to the white blood cells on the treatment regimen is immediate and significant, the effect on the red blood count is more gradual, so by the 4th cycle, my red blood count had reached sufficiently low to make me feel wiped out and dizzy when standing. Nice. By weekend again I started to perk up.
So how bad was chemo? On a scale of 1-10, with 10 being worst, I feel that most times I was a 4, some days 5, and 6, but still not too many of those days. This was on the drugs with the worse side effects. So if anyone is fearful of chemo, it is not easy, but you can and do get through it. In my case I was very fortunate since I had support that allowed me to nap when I needed it, and to be in my bed by 8:00pm or even 7:00pm if that is how I felt. I didn't need to exhaust myself doing groceries or cooking. I think if you don't have support that picture might be very different.
Now I need to mentally prepare myself for cycle 1 of 12 - with a different chemo drug. The side effects of this one is not supposed to be as harsh as the first. Well I'll certainly letting you know about that.
Stay tuned.
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