Two Weeks of Chemo: Day 3

This is part of an ongoing two-week series. For more info, see this introductory post.

The first thing I do on Day 3 is take my meds. I have three anti-nausea medications that I take periodically throughout the first few days. It really is harder than it seems to remember to take something every six hours. I apologize to members of my family with greater medical problems and medication lists than I. It's still unacceptable to forget to take them, especially when they are for more than combatting nausea, but I understand how their constant intrusion into your daily plans can grow tiresome.

At the beginning of my treatment, I had severe problems with nausea, in part because my insurance wouldn't cover the best medications. My oncologist and nurse practitioner worked with me to prescribe anything they could think of that would both treat the nausea and not break the bank. They even prescribed one of my medications to be given by IV as a pre-med during chemo to bypass my insurer.

When we did finally manage to keep the nausea problems at bay, however, we did create other minor irritations: excess saliva and heartburn. To be clear, this is nothing compared to the crippling nausea that left me couch-bound and all but unable to eat for the first few days post treatment. That being said, having your mouth constantly filled with warm viscous fluid is no fun. The first few nights I have to be sure to sleep and nap on my back or I will drool on myself. Yummy.

Speaking of yummy topics, this brings us to the constipation! And for all our sakes, that's all I'll say about that.

In general on my Day 3, I just try to take it easy. Rest, eat, repeat. I become a recluse, trapped in my apartment. Jenni happily waits on me but I watch as over the course of the weekend my misery transfers to her. As with the volunteers at the chemo suite, helplessness is contagious. She knows there is nothing more she can do and I expect nothing more from her, but I can't stop the emotional drain.

I have been in her shoes before, watching members of my family in hospital beds where I could do nothing but give my support. It is odd being in the reverse position. I appreciate every call, text, email, and wall post of love and support I have gotten through this process, but I wish I could reflect it all back. Illnesses can be just as detrimental to the healthy as the sick. I know this better than most, and will not forget.

Back to Day 2.
Ahead to Day 4.