When the medical literature says extreme fatigue/weakness is a side effect of chemo, they are not joking around. I've been home from hospital since Saturday and am finally getting motivated to update my blog.
I feel proud I have finished my first round of chemo and I am tolerating it well. Except for the fatigue, there have been very few side effects. Emotionally, I have moments where I am an absolute train wreck but physically, I feel pretty ok. I am battling some mild edema, went back on Lasix/Klor-con (a water pill and potassium pill) which will help move the fluid up through my heart, kidneys and to my bladder. It makes me pee. A lot. Which is good. I also have to exercise (I try to walk 10 minutes 3x a day) and drink lots of fluid. That seems odd when I am trying to rid my body of the excess fluid that was introduced via my port during the treatment. Our bodies are funny things.
The port is the best thing, though. As gross as it is to have a one inch piece of unobtainium underneath the skin on my upper right chest with part of it inserted into a vein, all of my blood draws, pain med shots, IV fluids and chemo was administered through it. It really cuts down on getting stuck by those mean nurses.
I am training myself to use lots of positive affirmations and visualizations. And to breathe, just breathe. A solid mind/body/spirtual approach is critical to beating this stupid disease.
I visualize my liver as being healthy and surrounding my liver and me is a big rainbow which is constructed of all of the people who love me and are sending positive healthy, healing vibes and love my way. This love and light helps my liver stay healthy. I am strong. I am ok. I will beat this.
