The "Bleh" of Chemotherapy

OK - the day of chemotherapy wasn't too bad. In fact, I could see how people would be able to ride their bike to and from chemo, and how they could carry on normal activities that evening. I even spent that evening at choir for a 3 1/2 hr taping session. But ya gotta know, the storm clouds were gathering, and the barometer was dropping, the storm was approaching - things were about to change! 

I felt pretty good the next morning (Day #2) - good enough that I got up and went to work. I was a little shakey, and my bladder was ramped up to super-hyperdrive (annoying!) - but I was feeling pretty good and happy to be at work and happy to be productive. However, the storm clouds continued to gather . . . 

That afternoon, I went to HCI for my shot of Neulasta (the drug the stimulates your bone marrow to produce more white blood cells, as chemo has now destroyed them) - and then an errand on the way home. Somewhere between there and here, IT HIT: overwhelming tiredness, nausea, and general BLEH! I wasn't much good the rest of the night. I didn't make it to choir that night for taping (or any other night during the week, for that matter).

The next day (Day #3) was more of the same - just a whole big long day of it - and more intense! Thank goodness for good nausea drugs, some time off work, and a nice big recliner.  Now, in addition to the hyper bladder, and BLEH feeling, eating sounded like the worst idea in the world. Nothing sounded good, and everything tasted funny. Oh, and to add a little insult to injury, the Neulasta kicked in. Stimulating the bone marrow to rev up production means a deep, intense bone ache. I thought I was a little old for "growing pains" - but that best describes it: my sternum, jaw, femurs - they all ache. Well, maybe it's just old-age arthritis! 

The next couple of days have been more BLEH and achiness - but thankfully, much less than Day 3. So I suspect I see the pattern and how it will probably go for me the next three rounds of chemo. While it's tough and I don't feel great - I feel pretty lucky:
- The drugs help it to be manageable. They have controlled the nausea pretty well (no throwing up yet) - and the achiness gets better with pain meds.
- I know the achiness will get better (drugs are somewhat helpful) - and I'm glad to have a way to make new WBCs so I don't get too low
- I have a wonderful team at work who are doing a fabulous job so that I can take some time off work
- I have a very observant, helpful, experienced, and loving husband who knows what to watch for and how to help manage the side effects
- I still have all my hair . . . today! (I know this is short-lived, though)