One Week Post 1st Chemo Adventure

Lori-S
Lori-S Member Posts: 1,277 Member
edited March 2014 in Colorectal Cancer #1
Yes! I survived a whole week. Today, Monday, is not quite as good as yesterday but, that’s because I think I overdid it yesterday. I woke this morning with a terrible headache that doesn’t seem to want to go away. Plus I actually ate “real” food yesterday so I’m dealing with my hernia not being as happy with solid food as it is with semi-solid/liquid. But, the tip of my tongue seems to be coming back, I can now drink room temperature drinks, the pins and needles in my toes are way less and my nausea is almost totally gone. Clapping wildly!! (I think)

Sunday, pushed myself to get out of the house (first since being unplugged on Weds.) and went to the grocery store to get tomatoes, avocado and cilantro. About half way through the trip I thought to myself “What the heck am I doing? I wanna go home. waaaaah” But, I persevered and made it to the check out. I usually just go through the self checkout but, because I had produce and chemo brain, I didn’t want to take a chance on doing it myself. As I shuffled ( I don’t remember taping pillows to my feet! damn oxy feet … felt like I was walking on marshmallows or pillows) and had just pulled into the checkout line, a woman in a motorized cart zipped in front of me and cut in line. I wanted to cry, yell ‘Hey I have cancer!” or worse … God forgive me … push her out of her cart and call her a very bad name, grrrrrrrr. Good thing I didn’t have the strength to do it. I hardly had the strength to think it. I really didn’t realize how weak and fatigued I was until I got to the store and pushed the cart around for a minute. I should have known as I was having trouble just getting the sliding glass door open to let the dog out. Luckily, a checker dressed as a pirate in honor of Halloween came to my rescue and pulled my cart over to the next lane and checked me out. Woo Hoo!

The scariest part of the whole day???? Now I had to use a knife!!! I got this!!! (pictures of myself as the carnival knife thrower in my head)

Yes, I made it home and now there were vegetables that had to be cut. What the heck was I thinking? Hhhhmmmm (Homer Simpson style) I was thinking of a taco salad. I had braved the freezer by pulling my sweatshirt sleeves down over my hands like a pre-teen/teen girl (aah, reliving my youth)and pulled out some shredded beef I had made in advance. I know, I know, I was warned to get gloves or mittens but, I always used my sleeves as a kid so figured I just do it again. All I needed was to chop up the makings of Pico de Gallo and smash up some avocado. It was a good thing I was actually thinking of eating real food instead of the warmed up protein drinks I was having all week. I was a bit worried about actually using a knife as my fingers seem to only be there intermittently. I washed the veggies in warm water and proceeded to chop … very carefully … whoa. All done and no injuries and all my fingers are still attached!! Ok, Ok so I might have lost the tip of a fingernail but hey I've done that before chemo so not bad. But, there are more vegetables on the floor and counter than on the chopping board. And, I have stuff all over my shirt. I’m a bit of a klutz but, really! Seems I’ve lost some of my manual dexterity but, I sort of expected that as my fingers haven’t been cooperating with typing on the keyboard either.

All in all I’m glad it’s getting better and better. I'm coming outta the fog. I was going to do laundry, Saturday, then Sunday, then today … but hey, tomorrow!
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Comments

  • Crow71
    Crow71 Member Posts: 679 Member
    You are doing so great Lori.
    You are doing so great Lori. I love reading your posts. Keep on rockin.
    Roger
  • pepebcn
    pepebcn Member Posts: 6,331 Member
    Listen I'm Spanish, it took me lots of time to read , and
    understand your long long long post ,next time can it be shorter?.Hahahahahahaha,just a joke.I understand it perfectly ,and I'm glad you feel better despite the problems with the salad , next time start with some boiled potatoes! hahahaha.
    Get fun dear!
  • Lori-S
    Lori-S Member Posts: 1,277 Member
    pepebcn said:

    Listen I'm Spanish, it took me lots of time to read , and
    understand your long long long post ,next time can it be shorter?.Hahahahahahaha,just a joke.I understand it perfectly ,and I'm glad you feel better despite the problems with the salad , next time start with some boiled potatoes! hahahaha.
    Get fun dear!

    Pepe
    Don't go blaming not being able to read on being Spanish LOL

    Hey it took me all day to get that post with my silly fingers!
  • Lori-S
    Lori-S Member Posts: 1,277 Member
    Crow71 said:

    You are doing so great Lori.
    You are doing so great Lori. I love reading your posts. Keep on rockin.
    Roger

    Roger
    Thanks for the support
  • braelee2
    braelee2 Member Posts: 130
    good job.
    I alway take advantage of my off weeks and run around like a wild woman doing everything.Lol, But I must say with everything we go through with this stupid chemo it is so nice to be babied when we are down..
  • AnneCan
    AnneCan Member Posts: 3,673 Member
    You ARE doing great!
    Lori,

    Just like Roger said, you are doing great! I can sympathize with the exhaustion; I have been really tired after my last round of chemo. Even making meals can be too much; kudos to you for grocery shopping + making dinner! Today I was proud of myself; I usually find at meal prep time I am really tired so someone else usually does it. This morning, I put food in the crockpot while I still had (limited) energy. It was short ribs with veggies; delicious! The house smelled good all day. You are doing incredibly well, + you keep us laughing on top of it all.
  • idlehunters
    idlehunters Member Posts: 1,787 Member
    braelee2 said:

    good job.
    I alway take advantage of my off weeks and run around like a wild woman doing everything.Lol, But I must say with everything we go through with this stupid chemo it is so nice to be babied when we are down..

    Hey Lori
    I'm with Roger.... I love yor posts..... Got me laughing.... keep up with that great attitude and you will kick butt... Take care.

    Jennie
  • tootsie1
    tootsie1 Member Posts: 5,044 Member
    Wow
    Oh, dear.

    I tell you what, that lady was RUDE!! I don't care if she is in a motorized cart. That doesn't make her the queen of the world. I'm glad you made it home safely, but next time maybe you should take someone with you?

    *hugs*
    Gail
  • Annabelle41415
    Annabelle41415 Member Posts: 6,742 Member
    Great
    Glad that you are feeling better and that your tongue is coming back. Remember having those awful "cold" sensations and hated it. Hope you got to enjoy eating those vegetables. You will get through this. It seems tough at the time and something that NO one wants to be in a position to be in, especially when you forget about it and you drop something because you forgot. Remembering the time that a whole jar of pickles were dropped on the floor because of forgetting about that side effect - oh my goodness - what a mess. Glad you are getting out too - that helps you feel more normal. Once again, glad you are feeling better.

    Kim
  • Lori-S
    Lori-S Member Posts: 1,277 Member
    tootsie1 said:

    Wow
    Oh, dear.

    I tell you what, that lady was RUDE!! I don't care if she is in a motorized cart. That doesn't make her the queen of the world. I'm glad you made it home safely, but next time maybe you should take someone with you?

    *hugs*
    Gail

    Gail??
    Take someone with me?? You mean like Cousin Guido?? Yes, he could handle those motorized cart people for me. Good idea. ;)
  • mom_2_3
    mom_2_3 Member Posts: 953 Member
    Glad you're feeling better
    I am glad that you are recovering from your chemo treatment. I wouldn't have blamed you for yelling at that lady but I am glad that you didn't. We were in the Dollar Store and my daughter was singing (not overly loud....) a song and we passed an older woman who told me that my little girl had quite a "grating voice." I was taken aback but kept on walking. I was so mad, however, that I remarked to my sister about it in a loud-enough voice for that woman to hear me. Later on I discovered that she had advanced breast cancer and I felt like a complete heel. I found out she attends my brother's church and found a way to apologize to her. Some people can really irritate me (especially at Costco...) but I just try and be more patient now. It's hard!!!
  • jararno
    jararno Member Posts: 186
    Glad You Got Out
    Glad you were feeling well enough to get out! I have had many of those maybe I'll get out tomorrow days! Too bad you had to deal with some crazy b**** in a wheelchair! I've also had a few people cut me off in a store and I seem to feel a little more brazen about telling them off since the cancer diagnosis! ( An Uzi would work well also! )

    Wow! You are brave....actually fixing a meal...I might have cooked only two or three times during my treatment ( well I actually didn't cook much prior to the cancer either )

    Glad you got the veges cut without injury to yourself! I usually avoid sharp objects as much as possible!

    I did find myself trying to get things done on my off weeks, but after awhile my feel better times seemed to be much shorter. Fatigue sneaks up big time!

    Keep up the good spirits...Humor helps!

    I never brought gloves to the grocery...I would grab the frozen food and hurl it into the cart ( just make sure your friend doesn't move the cart like mine did....I was a bit unhappy when I tried to hurl food into my missing cart! )

    Hope you have a great "off" week!

    Barb
  • chicoturner
    chicoturner Member Posts: 282
    Hi Lori, be careful cutting
    Hi Lori, be careful cutting those veggies! I was cutting an onion while doing treatment and ended up in the ER getting stitches in my finger tip! The onion just slipped! When I got to the ER who was working on call.....my GP! She was asking me what could I have been thinking!! Anyway, be careful. I described myself as feeling "fragile" during treatment. Take care and the best to you. Jean
  • LOUSWIFT
    LOUSWIFT Member Posts: 371 Member
    folfox club
    I too have ventured out to do extreme things like shop for food or buy gas for the car. The first time I went to the market I sat in my car about 20 mins building energy to walk from my car into the store and find a cart. Ego prevents me from jumping on a motorized cart (guy thing) why don't you take one? From what I've seen of many people who use those carts it isn't a medical problem, it is more a problem of mass. It would be good for someone to use the carts for who they were intended. It looks like you are adjusting to our chemical world. I wish I had your sense of humor. The number 12 seems so far away when you are approaching treatment number 3. Almost seems like a game show in that we don't know what side effect we add to our winnings this treatment. Worst at least in my case with a reoccurrence there is the possibility I'm just buying time or the clock is ticking and the chemo is more a punishment than a cure. It is the uncertainity of all this that makes me question the wisdom of it. After all chemo failed to make a difference last time for me. Sorry Lori its been a bad couple of days and tomorrow is another hopefully better day. You certainly have endured more than I. I'll try to keep ahead of you on the folfox chemo track and help if I can. My fingers are hurting too but not my feet. hugs Lou
  • Lori-S
    Lori-S Member Posts: 1,277 Member
    LOUSWIFT said:

    folfox club
    I too have ventured out to do extreme things like shop for food or buy gas for the car. The first time I went to the market I sat in my car about 20 mins building energy to walk from my car into the store and find a cart. Ego prevents me from jumping on a motorized cart (guy thing) why don't you take one? From what I've seen of many people who use those carts it isn't a medical problem, it is more a problem of mass. It would be good for someone to use the carts for who they were intended. It looks like you are adjusting to our chemical world. I wish I had your sense of humor. The number 12 seems so far away when you are approaching treatment number 3. Almost seems like a game show in that we don't know what side effect we add to our winnings this treatment. Worst at least in my case with a reoccurrence there is the possibility I'm just buying time or the clock is ticking and the chemo is more a punishment than a cure. It is the uncertainity of all this that makes me question the wisdom of it. After all chemo failed to make a difference last time for me. Sorry Lori its been a bad couple of days and tomorrow is another hopefully better day. You certainly have endured more than I. I'll try to keep ahead of you on the folfox chemo track and help if I can. My fingers are hurting too but not my feet. hugs Lou

    Hey Lou
    Hang in there. I know this is your 2nd time around and that it weighs on you. Even though I was bumped from a IIc to a IIIc, I can't pretend to know how it feels to have a recurrence. You have my support and if you need to PM and talk about it, I'm here. I know it's tough sometimes but, try to keep your attitude on the good side as much as possible. Believe me, I really did want to cry once I was in the store because I thought I had bitten off more than I could chew and would have to admit defeat and call a friend to come and take me home. I know it's not fun and games for you either. Lou, were you NED before this? If so, then that might be what you can focus on when you wonder what this round of chemo treatments will do for you.

    Ya know I just am so darn stubborn about not letting cancer take anymore away from me that I wouldn't even think of riding one of those carts. I'd have to be for all intents and purposes legless ... and don't think I haven't thought that these side effects could do that sometimes. Extreme Grocery Shopping! Hey I really like that concept. I haven't even considered pumping gas yet but, it's coming soon. You are a brave man!

    Hang in there Lou, we are doing this together ... We are this round of the FOLFOX club.
  • Nana b
    Nana b Member Posts: 3,030 Member
    Lori-S said:

    Hey Lou
    Hang in there. I know this is your 2nd time around and that it weighs on you. Even though I was bumped from a IIc to a IIIc, I can't pretend to know how it feels to have a recurrence. You have my support and if you need to PM and talk about it, I'm here. I know it's tough sometimes but, try to keep your attitude on the good side as much as possible. Believe me, I really did want to cry once I was in the store because I thought I had bitten off more than I could chew and would have to admit defeat and call a friend to come and take me home. I know it's not fun and games for you either. Lou, were you NED before this? If so, then that might be what you can focus on when you wonder what this round of chemo treatments will do for you.

    Ya know I just am so darn stubborn about not letting cancer take anymore away from me that I wouldn't even think of riding one of those carts. I'd have to be for all intents and purposes legless ... and don't think I haven't thought that these side effects could do that sometimes. Extreme Grocery Shopping! Hey I really like that concept. I haven't even considered pumping gas yet but, it's coming soon. You are a brave man!

    Hang in there Lou, we are doing this together ... We are this round of the FOLFOX club.

    I was one of the lucky ones,
    I was one of the lucky ones, worked full time, commuted two hours everyday drove another 30 to chemotherapy then drove myself home! Made diner and then got in bed, then number 10 came and kicked my butt! You can do it!


    Wasn't the salad cold for you? I made lots of quesidilas and soup. I will be sending you good vibes and prayers that you may have an easier time!
  • LeesburgKate
    LeesburgKate Member Posts: 10
    Folfox Club
    I can't believe how anxious I am now to check these boards and see how everyone is doing. Lori, a trip to the store alone is still scary to me with this fuzzy brain. Kudos to you for successfully completing it! On Sunday night I broke down and called the onc who insists we should call him with any concern, 24/7. I whined about being on the couch all weekend, my headache, bleeding gums, tongue sores, etc.. Yesterday was my first "build me back up again shot" so we sat down and talked then. He thinks part of my problem is anxiety about taking this treatment (is anyone NOT anxious about taking it??????)and prescribed anxiety meds for me. Can't believe the little drug cache I am building up as I waited hours to even take an aspirin in the past! Have not tried one yet but.............thinking about it. It is supposed to make me calm and happy.............I'd love to see that :>)

    Meals are tough but I am determined not to lose any more weight. I eat what appeals to me whenever. Also find Gatorade helps though I don't like the taste.

    Hang in there Club members, there seems to be several of us who started this about the same time. Next week will be treatment 2 for me and am wondering already what that will bring!Looking forward to new posts.
  • geotina
    geotina Member Posts: 2,111 Member
    Lori:
    I well remember George going thru lots of stuff you describe. I would not let him near a knife, those damn fingers still do not work right. And the cold, it bothered him big time but his biggest enemy was fatigue so just give into the fatigue and let your body rest.

    I remember coming home from the onc with a tote bag with a coverlet and gloves to hang on the frige in it from the oxi manufacturer. I thought how wierd, why hang gloves on the frige, but soon learned George couldn't touch cold stuff. After a while I threw those gloves in the closet, didn't need the name of the manufacturer staring me in the face every time I went in the kitchen.

    Take care - Tina
  • Lori-S
    Lori-S Member Posts: 1,277 Member

    Folfox Club
    I can't believe how anxious I am now to check these boards and see how everyone is doing. Lori, a trip to the store alone is still scary to me with this fuzzy brain. Kudos to you for successfully completing it! On Sunday night I broke down and called the onc who insists we should call him with any concern, 24/7. I whined about being on the couch all weekend, my headache, bleeding gums, tongue sores, etc.. Yesterday was my first "build me back up again shot" so we sat down and talked then. He thinks part of my problem is anxiety about taking this treatment (is anyone NOT anxious about taking it??????)and prescribed anxiety meds for me. Can't believe the little drug cache I am building up as I waited hours to even take an aspirin in the past! Have not tried one yet but.............thinking about it. It is supposed to make me calm and happy.............I'd love to see that :>)

    Meals are tough but I am determined not to lose any more weight. I eat what appeals to me whenever. Also find Gatorade helps though I don't like the taste.

    Hang in there Club members, there seems to be several of us who started this about the same time. Next week will be treatment 2 for me and am wondering already what that will bring!Looking forward to new posts.

    Kate
    Yep, looks like you're one of the members too. My 2nd is next Monday, the 8th and Lou's 3rd is the same day. Woo Hoo (snicker)

    About that pharmacy you're starting. I swear all I ever had in my medicine cabinet was supplements until this. Now I just shake my head and think wow, it looks like my grandmother's cabinet looked to me when I was a kid.

    Hang in there Kate, we can do this together!
  • Lori-S
    Lori-S Member Posts: 1,277 Member
    Nana b said:

    I was one of the lucky ones,
    I was one of the lucky ones, worked full time, commuted two hours everyday drove another 30 to chemotherapy then drove myself home! Made diner and then got in bed, then number 10 came and kicked my butt! You can do it!


    Wasn't the salad cold for you? I made lots of quesidilas and soup. I will be sending you good vibes and prayers that you may have an easier time!

    I'm jealous
    But, I am so happy that you did so well for so long though. I even prepared ahead by changing out supplements and upping my cal/mag and B6 hoping to make it a little easier. Oh well. I made the salad with the meat hot and cheese melted with the veggies room temp and it worked. I wouldn't have dared to try it cold. But, the shards of glass in the throat seem to be gone enough that I can do room temperatures now.

    Thanks for the good vibes and prayers. You can never have enough of those.