I haven't been on here cus to be honest,didn't have the energy to type. Could barely breath.
Let's back track. Had chemo on the 12th. Only took less than 2hours so that was good. I ended up hiring a driver which was also good cus I was kinda light headed after wards. That night was fine.
Woke up the next day and felt totally knocked down. NO energy, trouble breathing ,which was the worst. Kept hoping it would get better. It didn't. Heart racing ,oxygen levels below normal and my face looked swollen to me. My buddies here told me " You look like shit," so guess I looked lke how I felt.
I'm doing a new kind of chemo, new in the last three years. It's called Alimta. Same side effects as other chemos -fatigue, low cell counts, mouth sores, nausea and shortness of breath. I had the shortness of breath and double in spades.
I have spent the last week mostly sleeping. I go downstairs for a meal and then right back to bed... down for the night , lights out at 5:30.
I get dressed in stages. Jeans, lay down for a little nap. Shirt on, lay down for a little nap. Took me all morning just to get dressed. Good thing there was no fire drill here.
OKay, yesterday it was back to the doc to get checked. I had gained 3 lbs just in fluid retention.. fluid around the lungs, my face all puffy. My red cell counts had dropped. Got a shot for that. About the fluid. Was sure the doc would send me to get that fluid drained , but she didn't. Instead she put me on a diuretic, potassium and an antibiotic.
Here's the deal. If those meds don't bring down the fluid problems by next Thursday then she will put me in the hospital. Yee gads, don't want that. We all need to group together and focus on me not going in the hospital.
How did I do on the diuretic? Up and to the bathroom every 15 minutes and leg cramps that were so bad I wanted to scream,but didn't. Tough upper lip and all that.
My face doesn't look as puffy today so hopefully this routine is working. Will keep you posted.
Books read? I always have a book with me. Finished off Carrie Fisher's " Wishful Drinking" at the docs. Very funny. She raves about her mother but is downright mean when talking about Eddie Fisher. I lost some respect for her over the cheap shots she took at him.
Okay, time for a bathroom run again. So now you know with this odd ball typepad and the slow backspace key it took me bout 15 minutes to write this.
Family update before I log off.. Son Tod had some meeting in LA last night so stayed over night and is coming to visit me today. Can't wait. Haven't seen him in months.
My Karen had more surgery, is coming along fine and radiation will start within 2 weeks.
Thanks for stopping here.
~Jan
Wish you a speedy recov, Jan!
Posted by: Mike Barer | February 23, 2009 at 12:59 PM
Jan,
It just never seems to end. I'm so sorry for all the pain you are going thru. I have seen you go thru this so many times now, from when I first started caring for your mom. ( Sure miss her ) But you are one tough lady, and make it thru , til the next round hits. I hope the new chemo will work, even tho the side affects sound horrible.
Know your in my thoughts and prayers !!
Love, Jude
Posted by: Jude | February 21, 2009 at 09:09 PM