An Overview of the Aftermath of Chemo

We've been out of school now for about a week and a half.  In that time, I've had another round of chemo.  I walked you guys through what that looks like the first time I went in, but I thought you might be interested to know what life is like after a chemo round.  Some of  you have asked, so I figured maybe I'd put it out there for all of you.  Understand: this is what it's like for me.  It won't be this way for everyone.  I learned that super-quick in talking with others I know who are going through chemo now also (for example, one friend only has to deal with Metallic Mouth one day in the entire three week round).  And don't worry about it being graphic - it's not - that's not the point in doing this.  But I know many of you have been concerned about my energy levels and such, so I thought this would give you an idea of what those three weeks between getting the chemo treatments are like.  Ready?

Week 1: The Week When Uselessness Comes to Call

• Day 1: Get chemo.  Overall, I typically feel fairly good all day, although I confess to a bit of tiredness when I leave the hospital (probably from sitting in a chair doing almost nothing for several hours).  The hardest part is knowing how little I can get done while I'm sitting in that chair (yes, I know relaxation is important too, but those of you who know me know that "resting" is not one of my strong points).
• Day 2: I go in in the morning for a shot to boost my immune system.  After that, I spend most of the day, since I still have energy, taking care of things around the house to try and get as much done as possible before Uselessness comes to call.
• Day 3: Whatever didn't get done around the house or out-and-about gets done today or it doesn't get done for awhile.  This is the last day I'm going to feel like anything for several days.  Uselessness begins to hit late in the day without fail, and I typically go to bed fairly early.
• Day 4: Uselessness is large and in charge.  Ever had the flu?  That's what I feel like on Day 4.  It's an effort to do anything.  All I want to do is sleep, and while I sleep soundly when I sleep, it never feels like I have (slept) when I wake up.  I'm tired - really tired - and I don't have the ability to focus on anything.  The shot they gave me on Day 2 has begun to do its work, making my joints ache, mostly my jaw, knees, and hips.  It's that same feeling you get when you have the flu where if you could just stretch enough, you're sure that ache would go away - but you can't ever seem to stretch quite enough.  I spend the majority of the day on the couch under a blanket (yes, under a blanket - remember, flu :)).  Eating is tough because very little sounds good, and even less tastes good.  And frankly, I just. don't. care.  Like I said, Uselessness is totally in control on Day 4.  It is the absolute worst day of the entire three weeks. 
• Day 5: If Uselessness was 10 ft. tall on Day 4, he's about 8 feet tall on Day 5.  I can do small things (read part of a book, eat a little more - maybe even at the table instead of on the couch,  carry on a brief conversation with Steve or Nate), but not much, and nothing for long.  I stay on the couch under a blanket again, but I don't feel the need to sleep as much, and I begin to care just a little.
• Day 6: Uselessness continues to shrink (maybe 4 feet tall today), although he's not totally gone, and he loves to make sure I know he's not gone yet.  I wake up feeling as if I have more energy, but after transferring one load of laundry from the washer to the dryer and putting a new load in the washer, Uselessness envelops me again, and I have to go lay down.  It's pitiful, and in some ways makes me feel worse than on Day 4 since now I do care and feel as if I should be able to do more.  After resting, I can get up and do little simple things (another load of laundry, perhaps, or sitting at the table to eat).  But Uselessness enjoys his power, and he's not anxious to let go, so I can only do one thing and then I have to retreat to the couch and the blanket again.  At least I'm beginning to be able to eat a bit more and I can read or work puzzles on the couch.
• Day 7: Uselessness has his last hurrah.  I wake up feeling not as bad as Day 5 but not as good as Day 6.  This is the day when I'm most likely to be grumpy because I am tired of being tired, I'm tired of Uselessness, and I'm tired of having to deal with cancer.  My joints don't feel as if they'll support me - even holding up my head is work, but if I lay it back in the recliner, I can manage to read.  Uselessness laughs when he reminds me how I was able to do that one load of laundry yesterday morning, because today, that is beyond my abilities - the most I can do is lay back under a blanket and read.  But I remind him that his power is coming to an end.  He reminds me that nothing sounds or tastes good again today.  So much for my momentary victory.  But by the end of the day, I can feel him receding, and I go to bed knowing that, until the next round of chemo, he's gone.

Week 2: The Week When Metallic Mouth Marches In

• Day 8:  I wake up feeling almost normal again - it started last night, and I'm glad to know I was right - Uselessness is gone, for now.  As long as I don't push myself, I can do almost anything I like.  Unfortunately, Metallic Mouth has come marching in.  That means that my food tastes very off, and I have a lot of trouble finding things to eat.  The only things that taste true are fresh fruits and vegetables, and dairy.  Do you know how happy I am that it's summer???  There are so many fresh fruits and veggies to chose from, and they all taste normal!  I've also found that frozen fruit tastes normal.  But beef, pork, and chicken turn my stomach just thinking about them.  Fish is the only meat I can eat and not have issues.  I've even eaten fish sticks, which I normally abhor, and they taste good at this point.  I've also found that oatmeal and cream of wheat taste really good around supper time. 
• Day 9: If I was careful yesterday, I have a bit more energy today.  If I wasn't careful yesterday, it will catch up with me by late afternoon today.  Metallic Mouth is still around, so today runs very much like yesterday.  But at least there are some things that do sound and taste good.
• Day 10: I am finally back to as close to normal as I'm going to get - except for Metallic Mouth.  The good thing: he's not as strong in the morning.  The bad thing: he gets stronger as the day goes on, and he's pretty bad by supper.  The hardest part now is that chicken, beef, and pork begin to sound good, as well as other things (spaghetti, for example, or bean dip).  But when they're prepared, they don't taste right.  Metallic Mouth wins another round.
• Days 11-14: Slowly, little by little, Metallic Mouth recedes as the week continues.  My energy level continues to rise.

Week 3: My Strong Week

• Days 15-21: These are the days when, other than an occasional brief bout with Metallic Mouth, and still being bald, I'd never know I had cancer.  I feel like I did before the cancer.   My energy is normal and things generally sound good and taste normal. 

So - now you know.  I am extremely thankful that I only have three more rounds of chemo - I was 1/2 way done with chemo as of June 1!!  So - I'll only have to deal with Uselessness and Metallic Mouth for a bit longer, which is absolutely wonderful!  Hopefully the "cumulative effects of chemo" I keep hearing about won't extend the stay of Uselessness and Metallic Mouth in the next three rounds....

Thankful for summer with all the fresh fruit and veggie opportunites!
Sherri