Only one chemo treatment left!!
I'm now ten days past my third round of Taxotere, and I wanted to give an update on side effects and general health. I try to keep a list of things that happen as the days go by, so I can remember later and discuss with the doctor if needed. Here's my list for this round:
Round #3 Taxotere Dec 27
Fasted for 36 hours before and 24 hours after
Day 1:
hiccups- I don't know why, but I get the hiccups with every chemo
heartburn- oh my, the heartburn
swishy brain- my brain is sloshing around inside my head, and my eyes take a while to catch up
sensitive mouth- like acid on my gums
Day 4:
heartburn
dizziness
sensitive mouth
by evening had intense muscle and bone pain
tension headache
sore throat
Day 5 (the day I posted about the New Year):
extreme muscle and bone pain- I could hardly move
weak, no energy
dizzy
extreme heartburn- all the way into my ears
Day 6:
throwing up all night- I spent the night on the floor of the bathroom shaking and throwing up
freezing cold- body temp 97.0
weak
skin hurts to touch
coughing
runny nose
major stomach issues
And I have to say this, there were moments this day that I have never experienced in my life. And I actually wondered at the time if I was dying. I kept saying to myself, "Is this what dying feels like?", and I have to admit I was panicking a little.
Day 8:
awoke at 4am with fever of 101.5- call the dr about 4:30am, and he explained that Taxotere is a beast and this is all normal. He called in antibiotics to the 24hr pharmacy
severe chills
joint pain- I couldn't be still for more than 30 seconds without excruciating pain
hand numbness
skin so painful
Day 9:
joint pain
hole in stomach feeling- doubled me over and took my breath a few times
kidney pain
skin sensitivity and pain
dry skin- feels like it's going to split open
tooth pain- in all of them!
deep chest cough
I'm now ten days past my third round of Taxotere, and I wanted to give an update on side effects and general health. I try to keep a list of things that happen as the days go by, so I can remember later and discuss with the doctor if needed. Here's my list for this round:
Round #3 Taxotere Dec 27
Fasted for 36 hours before and 24 hours after
Day 1:
hiccups- I don't know why, but I get the hiccups with every chemo
heartburn- oh my, the heartburn
swishy brain- my brain is sloshing around inside my head, and my eyes take a while to catch up
sensitive mouth- like acid on my gums
Day 4:
heartburn
dizziness
sensitive mouth
by evening had intense muscle and bone pain
tension headache
sore throat
Day 5 (the day I posted about the New Year):
extreme muscle and bone pain- I could hardly move
weak, no energy
dizzy
extreme heartburn- all the way into my ears
Day 6:
throwing up all night- I spent the night on the floor of the bathroom shaking and throwing up
freezing cold- body temp 97.0
weak
skin hurts to touch
coughing
runny nose
major stomach issues
And I have to say this, there were moments this day that I have never experienced in my life. And I actually wondered at the time if I was dying. I kept saying to myself, "Is this what dying feels like?", and I have to admit I was panicking a little.
Day 8:
awoke at 4am with fever of 101.5- call the dr about 4:30am, and he explained that Taxotere is a beast and this is all normal. He called in antibiotics to the 24hr pharmacy
severe chills
joint pain- I couldn't be still for more than 30 seconds without excruciating pain
hand numbness
skin so painful
Day 9:
joint pain
hole in stomach feeling- doubled me over and took my breath a few times
kidney pain
skin sensitivity and pain
dry skin- feels like it's going to split open
tooth pain- in all of them!
deep chest cough
Day 10 (today):
down 8lbs- but.....
fever gone
more energy
walked .66 miles on treadmill
joint pain gone- I think the walking helped with that
Although this chemo has been SO hard on me, and I don't know how I'll make it through another round, I think the fasting has helped tremendously. If I had not fasted, I would have had neuropathy in my hands and feet from day 1, and I would have had mouth bleeding the entire time. I didn't have any of that, so I know it helped. I can't even imagine how bad this round would have been had I NOT fasted.
But I'm over the hump! I'm starting to feel a little better. All I have to do now is stay hydrated and wait for my blood counts to come back up. Can I make it one more round??!! I'm really scared, but I'm going to fight like hell!
Ann you WILL make it. You are too tough and too precious and too beautiful not to make it.
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