MONDAY, AUGUST 11, 2008 08:38 PM, CDT
I just spent a lot of time writing out a journal update to only have it lost. I hate when that happens. Oh well...time to retype my thoughts.
First...thanks to those who have written on my guestbook. I check that periodically and definitely appreciate all of the support and prayers people have sent out.
Today is day 11 in this round of chemo therapy. Last time around I started losing my hair at day 15, so I don't have much time left to enjoy my beautiful head. This time of the cycle is pretty boring. At this point I've started to regain my energy and the frequent and uncomfortable trips to the bathroom have subsided. I take a bunch of pills every day, and give myself a shot of neupogen every night.
Neupogen is a drug that stimulates growth of neutrophils in the bone marrow. Since the chemotherapy can wipe my white blood cell count down to dangerous levels, this drug is important to help my immune system rebound. Giving myself the shot isn't such a bad deal. I just have to inject it into the skin and not the vein, and after a few dozen times it becomes pretty routine.
The drawback of the Neupogen shot is it causes bone pain. The pain is usually a dull pain that is frequently in my shin, thigh, shoulder, or jaw. Unfortunately for me today I had the pain in my lower back where the spine meets the pelvis. Not only was the pain in an uncomfortable place, but it was as sharp as I've ever felt. I spent the early morning shifting positions trying to get comfortable, but nothing seemed to work.
I don't care for drugs and usually try to tough things out. However, I decided to hit up the oxycodone that was prescribed to me. I took one pill in the morning and felt absolutely no effect from it. The pain was still sharp and I couldn't get comfortable to sit or lay down. Around noon when I was ready for another dose I decided to make it a double. That did the trick. I had a pretty good buzz going all afternoon, and while I couldn't sleep it off, I did manage to lay on my back in a semi-conscious daze. Hopefully I'll be able to get to sleep tonight without heading to the medicine cabinet tonight, but I don't think its going to happen. Well...at least everything else seems to be going well. I was able to do some grilling tonight and play baseball with Isaiah. So despite the pain I am getting back to normal a little bit. It will be great if I can stay energized and feeling good for the next week and a half.
Showing posts with label medication. Show all posts
Showing posts with label medication. Show all posts
Saturday, August 23, 2008
Nausea and Vomiting
FRIDAY, AUGUST 08, 2008 01:47 PM, CDT
Its Friday, which probably means the end of another work week to most people, but is just another day in my life right now. The good news is that I'm awake right now and feeling good.
Yesterday morning I got hit with some nausea. Its definitely an uncomfortable feeling to wake up to, so I tried to take some anti-nausea medicine to help quell the feeling. So I head downstairs with Isaiah to get some liquid and pills in me. I get the anti-nausea medication in my system before Isaiah asks for some blueberries. While dishing out blueberries for the lil guy I realize that things aren't going to stay down in my stomach. As soon as Isaiah got his berries, it was up the stairs for me and into the bathroom. Vomiting ensued!!!
That sucked! I'm a puker...always have been and always will. Throwing up doesn't bother me. However, usually if I'm feeling sick and throw up, I feel better after that. Nausea doesn't really ease up like that. The discomfort in the chest is still there desipte the heaving. And what benefit do I get from the nausea medication now that it has been expelled from my stomach and flushed down the toilet?
Luckily I remembered this experience from last September and had asked the nurse practicioner at NIH for Lorazepam, a drug that is prescribed for anxiety but also does a hell of a good job preventing nausea. I was able to take some of the Lorazepam, and drowsiness as a side effect is an understatement. I layed flat on my stomach, cause thats the only good position with the nausea, and fell asleep for the entire day.
When I woke up my child was missing. Fortunately he is just with his grandparents, who I assume are responsible for his care. My parents stopped by while I was passed, and I remember them saying something to me. I believe I responded as well, but they might not have heard my muffled thoughts with my head buried in a pillow. Thankfully they have helped out with Isaiah, who gets easily bored when Daddy sleeps all day and can't play around.
Well...I got out of the house to get my blood drawn today, and have been awake since the morning. Unfortunately I feel like my energy is waning and its time for another nap. Feeling like I am right now, its hard to believe that I worked like this last year. Looking back on it now I'm impressed how hard I worked through that, because it certainly isn't easy.
Its Friday, which probably means the end of another work week to most people, but is just another day in my life right now. The good news is that I'm awake right now and feeling good.
Yesterday morning I got hit with some nausea. Its definitely an uncomfortable feeling to wake up to, so I tried to take some anti-nausea medicine to help quell the feeling. So I head downstairs with Isaiah to get some liquid and pills in me. I get the anti-nausea medication in my system before Isaiah asks for some blueberries. While dishing out blueberries for the lil guy I realize that things aren't going to stay down in my stomach. As soon as Isaiah got his berries, it was up the stairs for me and into the bathroom. Vomiting ensued!!!
That sucked! I'm a puker...always have been and always will. Throwing up doesn't bother me. However, usually if I'm feeling sick and throw up, I feel better after that. Nausea doesn't really ease up like that. The discomfort in the chest is still there desipte the heaving. And what benefit do I get from the nausea medication now that it has been expelled from my stomach and flushed down the toilet?
Luckily I remembered this experience from last September and had asked the nurse practicioner at NIH for Lorazepam, a drug that is prescribed for anxiety but also does a hell of a good job preventing nausea. I was able to take some of the Lorazepam, and drowsiness as a side effect is an understatement. I layed flat on my stomach, cause thats the only good position with the nausea, and fell asleep for the entire day.
When I woke up my child was missing. Fortunately he is just with his grandparents, who I assume are responsible for his care. My parents stopped by while I was passed, and I remember them saying something to me. I believe I responded as well, but they might not have heard my muffled thoughts with my head buried in a pillow. Thankfully they have helped out with Isaiah, who gets easily bored when Daddy sleeps all day and can't play around.
Well...I got out of the house to get my blood drawn today, and have been awake since the morning. Unfortunately I feel like my energy is waning and its time for another nap. Feeling like I am right now, its hard to believe that I worked like this last year. Looking back on it now I'm impressed how hard I worked through that, because it certainly isn't easy.
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