Our MDS Journey, Part Three

"If there is something to be learned from having cancer, it is that there are far greater things to sweat than the small stuff!" ~ Me

Day 7 (Thursday, 10 Jan)

All is confused by the 'headache' deal that I'm having whether it be from the chemo, from the anti-nausea medication, the environment, or caffeine withdrawal.  It always seems to hit when I want to go out and run some errands or work in the yard or something!  The 24 hour chemo drip ends today and I finally get to transfer to a more solid diet--I really haven't eaten anything except pureed potato soup, tomato soup, crackers in the soup, or grits.  I'm lying, I snuck in 4 Krispy Kremes the first night of chemo... the bride won't like that.  Hey, the anti-nausea medicine is their to keep me from barfing my guts out, and it worked!  Rashes galore, and they are itchy as all get out!  Solution to the itch and allowing the rash to subside is this menthol lotion they issued me, the menthol also works well in a bong, just kidding.  Funny Do of the day:  A nurse was removing tape on my chest, I yelled out loud in pain and it scared the mess out of her but then her initial reaction was to slap me on the leg--lesson learned, you never know what folks' reaction would be in a situation like that, best if that is done in a more open environment.  Had she been positioned differently, she might have slapped me in the face, and now we have a whole other problem.

Days 8-10 (Fri-Sun, 11-13 Jan)

This is a "learning hospital," so when the Doctors make their rounds, it's almost like feeling that you're the most important patient in the hospital.  There's the Attending Physician(s), the Fellow(s), the House Officers, Physician Assistant(s), Registered Nurse(s), Social Worker, Pharmacologist... did I miss any?  The room in most instances, reaches full or over capacity.  I am the most important patient for five minutes.  For the most part, I ate my tail off on good solid foods.  I'm not a big cereal eater but since I lost complete taste, cereal and all of its blandness is now my favorite morning food.  Finally, I'll be able to do the Cheerio or Special K challenge!

Days 11-13 (Mon-Wed, 14-16 Jan) - Round Two Chemo

This round of chemo beginning around 1000 on Monday is called 'Eptoposide,' and includes 2, 3-hour 1000 mL bags and then a 500 mL bag--takes approximately 8 hours to complete.  I point this specific chemotherapy out as this particular chemo has the most dramatic effects on the body.  Along with the chemo, I take a multitude of liquid and capsule drugs--anti-fungal/bacteria, anti-nausea, chemo type, plus many others several times a day and into the late and early hours.  

It's been a journey thus far, more so on the emotional side.  I'm very anxiety ridden and am on medication to relax the nerves.  You can imagine the many reasons for the anxiety (for those that know me and my family)--I promised I would write about some of the specifics in a later journal entry, and I will.  With that being said, and the many hours of non-sleep, many thoughts (like the one at the top of the page) enter my mind and I hope to somehow memorize them.  For instance, "chemo ain't nothing, it's wondering when you're going to wake up with a bald head!"  I am on the good side of chemo at this point, but when I walk my laps around the ward (yes, we have to walk laps to keep clots away), I can't help but notice the real heroes on this floor, those on the 'other side of chemo' the ones striving for that next step, the next breath, curled up in blankets because they have lost so much weight battling cancer.  I can't help but think I'm in this group now, a community of cancer patients who struggle each day with varying ailments and will soon be part of the community of those that fought and kicked its ass.  

"They say when times are tough, you'll find out who your friends are.  When you have cancer, everyone is your friend because I've already been through tough times and I've already cleaned out my Facebook Friends List!" ~Me