Tuesday, October 26, 2021

October 26, 2021 Tuesday--11am

 Good morning.

Didn't manage to blog yesterday.  Was much more of an effort just to shower and throw a lounger and robe on than I had expected.  I had Katie coming to clean and never even got dressed so that tells you how I've been feeling in a nutshell.  After she left I fell asleep for several hours and just never could work up to doing the blog.  This morning I am starting with good intentions.  Hello!

The main issue...can't stop throwing up and dry heaving.  Even wakes me up while I am sleeping.  The new once a day pill doesn't seem to be doing much of anything.  I had to cancel my CT Scan for tomorrow.  Contacted Dr. Kobrossy and he refered me to a GI specialist yesterday...so I should be getting a call from them soon to set up an appointment.  Not sure what is going on because Kobrossy says all the chemo should be out of my system by now.

I told him that the chemo seems to have set off all my chronic issues...like the covid vaccine did.  My chronic fatigue seems to be magnified--hasn't been this bad for years.  Maybe the chemo has also drug up an older issue I haven't had to deal with for maybe fifteen years now.  When I got the hand/arm injury on the job in the 90s and they gave me high doses of Ibuprofen for months it seemed to eat my guts out.  I had acid reflux issues really badly for years afterwards and have had trouble taking certain medications since then.  Finally had subsided...maybe12-15 years ago, I'd say.  Only rare flare ups.  I did throw up on occasion back then and would get nauseous...so maybe the chemo set that off, too?  Anyways, that's my theory.

Well, let's see...going back through the week.

Tuesday I managed to lurk in another monthly Kaila Givehand bookbinding workshop.  Stayed awake for the whole thing.

Thursday Leah came by in the evening.  She cut back the planters for me, brought out trash and some stuff to the garage.

Friday was the clinic.  I was carryng my little puke container again.  This time the girl used a larger needle and my port worked right away.  Saw Kobrossy after the labwork came back.  He seemed baffled by my still being so nauseous because all the chemo should be gone from my system.  Gave me a once a day antacid pill to take in the morning, said I should get set up for a CT Scan (Wednedsday--that I just had to cancel), and he'd see me Friday and we'd probably start immunotherapy.  I asked for more of the anti-nausea medication I had gotten in the IV.  He also gave me potassium and magnesium.  Leah and I picked up meds at the drive-through pharmacy on the way home.  The pharmacist also suppested a prescription Pepcid I could take in the evenings if I still had trouble.  (His wife just went through chemo.)

Despite the IV medication, I was barfing by evening.  :(  Not even able to drink water like crazy for a couple of days like last week.

Monday Katie came to clean.  All the rest of the time has been spent sleeping and barfing and watching shows, really.  

So, waiting to hear from the GI department about an appointment.  Supposed to ge back to the clinic on Friday.  Can't imagine starting immunotherapy feeling like this.

Oh, and for the heck of it I asked Dr. Kobrossy for the prescription Pepcid, too, and he phoned that in.  What the heck.  I'll try anything.

Meanwhile, I still have some beautiful sunflowers on the table.
It was nice to get out last Friday on a sunny fall day.  Leaves are changing.  Funny how some are changed and some are green.

Not sure why--took some pics at a semaphore while we waited for the light to change.

A little bit of what south Fargo looks like.

Oh, and this is the first year that the trees across the way from me didn't turn from right to left for some reason.
The planter boxes are all trimmed back, thanks to Leah.  The partridges are starting to gather together in small groups.
The sparrows are flocking up.  That time of year.
We have a wind warning today and it is gusting enthusiastically against the building.  Well, I managed to get something down in the blog for this week.  May have jumped around a bit but it's done.  Better late than never.  Thanks for all your kindness and good wishes and cards and letters.  I will write back when I am able.  Means so much to me.  Hopefully I will get back to you on Monday next week so I don't worry anyone.  Sorry.  
With gratitude.  *love and hugs*  Till next week.

18 comments:

DJan said...

I am so glad to hear from you, even if the news isn't wonderful, you are hanging in there. I wonder what in the world is causing the nausea. It is awful to feel that way, but I am sending you lots of healing energy and wishing you robust good health. It doesn't hurt to think positive! Love you so much, dear friend.

Far Side of Fifty said...

I was worried about you, I figured you must have been feeling rotten. So sorry to hear you are still barfing...hope they get to the bottom of it and soon.

Bonnie said...

I'm so sorry to hear you are still having these stomach problems. I hope the doctor can figure out what is going on so you can start feeling better! Are you able to drink anything like Gatorade? There's a good chance you are dehydrated and that can lead to other problems. They may even need to get you on an IV to treat dehydration. It can make a difference. In the meantime don't ever feel like you have to blog if you are not up to it, or just write a short paragraph letting us know you don't feel up to writing at the moment. You know we all care!

Love and hugs!

Bleubeard and Elizabeth said...

Gosh, Rita. I am so sorry to read the chemo isn't working properly for you. I can only imagine how sick you must be. I got so sick once, i also had the dry heaves. It isn't fun at all. It's also worrisome you can't keep water down, either. Please feel better soon, dear. I'm quite concerned about you.

Beatrice P. Boyd said...

When you didn’t post on your usual Monday, Rita, I sort of figured you were just still feeling lousy, actually that’s quite a mild term for what you described in this post. Perhaps you are having a reaction from the past and sure hope the med professionals can figure out how to help ease your discomfort. Nice to see a bit of Fargo even if just from the car shots. It looks very flat, just like we remember when we stopped on our cross country drive a few years ago, before I met you through blogging. Wish there was more comfort I could offer other than keep hanging in and you know we’re all in your corner for things to get better.

Deb J. in Utah said...

Hi Rita. So sorry to hear that you are still so sick. I am hoping that medication works, and that you can start the immunotherapy soon. You remain in the my prayers. Virtual hugs from Utah.

Janie Junebug said...

I'm so sorry. I know you're suffering. How I wish I could make it stop. Perhaps you can be hydrated and receive nutrients through an IV. Fargo looks flat and familiar since I grew up in the Midwest. Please don't ever feel you have to blog. Although we're all concerned about you, your well being is far more important than information for us.

Love,
Janie

David M. Gascoigne, said...

It's quite awful to read of the dreadful illness you are having to endure, and cope with as best you can. It continues to amaze me that you can summon the strength to write about it, but perhaps this is cathartic in some way. I hope that things get better for you.

Anvilcloud said...

It must be so hard to have this persist day after day, week after week. Maybe this week will be a bit better. All the best from the Great White North, although I am south of you. :)

Jeanie said...

I'm sorry you've had so much nausea -- it's like adding insult to injury and I'm glad a specialist appointment is in line and hopefully something can help.

Your color is nice. Up north it was glorious at the beginning of the month. Downstate, 165 miles away, we are still quite green and leafy. I don't mind but I hope we don't skip that step and move on to snow!

Harvest Moon by Hand said...

I'm sorry to read about all the challenges you're having. It sounds like a miserable time with all the throwing up and dry heaving. I hope this upcoming week is better for you and that the medicine you are on settles your stomach down for you.

Enjoyed seeing the beautiful colors of the leaves there. It's such a lovely time of the year. Winter is definitely around the corner!

CrystalChick said...

I'm so sorry you've had so much nausea and vomiting. I hope that the prescription Pepsid gives you much needed relief and you feel better real soon.
The sunflowers still look pretty!
Sending a ((HUG)) Mary

Jo-Anne's Ramblings said...

All I can manage this morning is read short posts or look at photos due to how blood restless I am, that said, great photos

jinxxxygirl said...

All my love dear Rita...........deb

Mary said...

Was away so only able to read your post today. Hope that since Monday you have had some relief from the nausea and vomiting. For people who have never experienced flares (triggered by who know what) with their autoimmune issues, it can be hard to understand the challenges they present when they are triggered. Never normal reactions. Can well imagine that the chemo--while out of your system now--set off a chain reaction that continues to plague you. Good luck with whatever appointments you are able to keep. Thinking of you.

Edna B said...

I hope by now all the chemo is out of your system and you can start to feel better really soon. Happy Halloween, hugs, Edna B.

kestrel said...

Sorry to hear about all the side effects of chemo. It is a challenge not only with the side effects but also the flare up of other health issues. Getting out must be difficult with the nausea but you did it. Day looks bright and I hope you feel well soon to see autumn colours and more sparrows. Take care

Divers and Sundry said...

I've been AWOL in blogging comments all week. I'm so sorry to hear about the nausea. It's hard when they can't get something like that under control :( Your sunflowers are a cheering sight. I know you'll miss the patio flowers, but Spring will come soon enough and more flowers will be a welcome sight then.