Vacation came to a screeching halt when I had to go back to work on Sept 15. Then I got to start my new Chemo regimen on the 16th. Unfortunately, this new chemo hasn't been as easy as I hoped. They warned me that without a port, the oxaliplatin would be hard on my veins. Yep, it pretty much made my whole left arm tingle and very sensitive to touch for a couple days. I have to think seriously about getting a port put in.
Friday morning I couldn't make it to work. Both my hands and feet were tingling and I just generally felt rotten. I finally figured out the tingling was due to cold sensitivity; when I got my hands and feet warm the tingling went away. The rotten feeling was helped by nausea meds, but nothing helped the fatigue.
I was warned that the cold sensitivity could lead to severe throat spasms if I drank cold liquids. I really didn't want to experience that, so I was careful to warm my drinks. On the occasion that I had cool drinks, I could feel some constriction. Not good when taking pills.
The other strange side effect has been spasms in my jaw muscles when I take a first bite of food. It's like taking a bite of something REALLY sour and your jaws sort of lock. It doesn't seem to matter what food, and it's only on the first bite, so it's more of an irritation than a problem.
I was told the side effects should start improving within a few days. The cold sensitivity is much better, the "lockjaw" is less, the nausea is manageable, but the fatigue is still with me.
On the good side, we got to spend last weekend with Ben & Sally and attended the K-State vs Iowa State football game at Arrowhead stadium. (K-State won) We also got to visit Sally's parents and see the kids European Vacation photos.
When we put our cares in His hands, He puts His peace in our hearts.
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