Another Day Living with Lung Cancer
Another night of little rest…maybe because we went to bed too early and I took several naps today. I have been having a hard time staying asleep during the night. It’s really annoying.
I have been nauseous again the past couple of days. It is the strangest thing. I was feeling great during the time that Christine was here. We were running errands all around town and I was walking everywhere. Then Tuesday I started feeling a little sick when I dropped her off at the airport. Today I felt sick again and even threw up mid morning. This is the first time that I have actually thrown up since the first round of Taxotere. I’m not sure why all of the sudden I am feeling sick again. I thought at first it was because I ran out of the patches that go behind the ear to help with motion sickness. I was able to pick them up at CTCA yesterday and started wearing it immediately…I haven’t noticed any drastic change. I have also been wearing the sea-bands that go on the wrist, as well as taking Zofran (anti-nausea medicine). I guess at least this time I feel like it’s worth something. Now I know it is because the chemo is super toxic and it is killing the cancer cells! This taxotere is some nasty stuff though. I can’t wait to be done with chemo someday. It is just so rough! Sometimes I feel like the side effects are not manageable. They certainly have affected my lifestyle. I feel restricted sometimes by the chemo because I never know what to expect and how I am going to feel. Everyday is a gamble. Even sometimes the day of, I feel different hour by hour. It makes it super difficult to plan anything.
I spent a good amount of time on the phone tonight talking with my friend in Chicago, Sean Kelly. It was good catching up with him. I miss hanging out with him sometimes. We have always gotten along and had some good times being each others “back up dates”. I can’t believe I still have yet to go to Chicago! I am hoping maybe this spring I can make it out there. It sounds like a blast and I have several girlfriends that are actually from Chicago that I know would love to go back and show me around. Of course, this is all IF I can make it on the plane by next year.
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Hi Melissa
Thanks for another great share. It's a sickening (literally) fact that the chemo that kills cancer is also very hard on the healthy parts of our body.
Try not to do too much, even on days you feel good. I bet you feel like you have a thousand things you want to do on those days, but too much activity can suddenly knock your socks off.
I do hope you get to travel next year. New Zealand is an awesome goal! I've never been there but I hear it's beautiful. France and Spain are good goals too, if you spend a couple of weeks you can see quite a bit of both countries during one vacation.
Keep up those plans and goals. You'll make it.
I wish you the best -
October 19, 2009 - 1:41pmSusan
This Comment
Hi Melissa -
It's good to hear from you again. I'm glad you got to spend time talking with your friend Sean. I've found that being able to do something that was fun prior to living with cancer is helpful in getting through those days that are like yo yo's and part of the new journey.
I can also appreciate feeling landlocked. Sometimes when I feel that way I take an imaginary trip on the Internet and try to virtually visit places that are on my wish list. Perhaps you would also enjoy something like that.
I love your spirit of adventure, and look forward to hearing from you when you go to Chicago AND to New Zealand. In the meantime, stay strong and please keep in touch.
Take good care,
October 19, 2009 - 5:49pmPat