I have not posted much in the last few days so I thought it was time I came back to add more.
It is now 12 days or so since I had my first chemo session. To be honest with you I was petrified when I went into the chemo suite at the hospital for that first time. I had heard all sorts of horror stories: how bad it was to take it in the first place, how bad and nasty you felt, how bad the side effects were etc.
I have already mentioned the actual session in a previous blog. No, it was not as bad as I had been lead to believe. Any fear was minimised by the calm and caring staff.
The after effects and side effects have now been with me for the 12 day period. The worst has been the absolute exhaustion and fatigue. I have been so tired that on many occasions I fallen asleep in mid email - yes nodding off while actually writing a message! Can you believe it? As for late nights they are a thing of the past - I cannot keep awake after 8.00pm - it is agood job I can record my favourite TV programs as otherwise I would miss them. I find my self waking up after sleeping for 45 minutes or so - not going to sleep, waking up. I have no recollection of going to sleep just coming to again.
I cannot describe how tired I feel. The exhaustion is with you all the time. I go into a deep deep sleep but my mind is till active all the time. What does that mean? Well I was fast asleep the other night and I was dreaming I was reading the paper - I woke up. I was sitting up in bed, turning the pages of the newspaper which was not there - weird. The same sometimes happens with talking. I am fast asleep in the lounge and I was convinced some one was calling me. This time I replied by saying "I am here" - I woke up and Sarah was laughing her head off. She had never heard me talk so clearly in my sleep before in spite of the practice I had had as a Lawyer.
I am relieved to be able to say that I have not had any nasty side effects or after effects at all. The anti side effects drugs worked as they were supposed to.
I have also felt better - in relative terms perhaps but better. While I can say that I am not looking forward to the next Chemo session my fear of it has virtually gone. This is what is going to get me through this thing. So give me a great big cheer for the next chemo session on the 8 May
I'll be back
