These Side Effects Are No Joke (Infusion 1 of 12)

After my first infusion on Wednesday, the doctor called on Thursday to follow-up on how I was doing.  I told him that I felt better than I did before I started chemo, because I truly did feel great, as there were no adverse side effects hitting me yet, and I was ignorantly thinking that this feeling of overall wellness was going to continue.  

Two days later, on Saturday, I was served a large piece of humble pie.  Not that there was any particular incident that supports this point, but yesterday I just felt like a complete mess.  Let's discuss each of the side-effects individually:

Fatigue: I woke up with that feeling you get when you have a fever and you don't have any energy or motivation to do anything.  That lasted the entire day, and persisted through a party that I was having a blast at and was really enjoying.  I took (several!) naps, but they didn't seem to alleviate the tiredness.  The fatigue also means that I shouldn't carry Caleb as much, especially with my meds causing some level of drowsiness.  Sad panda.

Nausea: It was like a pit in your stomach that just makes it so you can't quite get comfortable.  Luckily, I didn't vomit, but the uneasiness is not a good feeling.  Unfortunately, I anticipate this one will get worse over time.

Cold-Sensitivity: The doctors warned me about this one, but it didn't hit as strongly as they said it would.  They said don't open the fridge and inhale, as it would be like you're dunked into frozen water and you're struggling to breathe, not that my throat would be blocked, but the sensation of cold would be a shock to the body.  Same thing with cold water, anything from the fridge, and cold air in general.  You may find me wearing tons of sweaters and thick layers in the summer, as this creates a general difficulty of feeling warm.

Sensitivity In Feet: This one is just starting, but my heels seem much more sensitive than before.

Sensitivity to Sunlight: One of the side-effects that I wasn't expecting, but was mentioned on some of the anti-nausea meds was sensitivity to sunlight.  I noticed that the sun did seem brighter the last couple days, so if you see me wearing sunglasses at night, don't think I'm being a DB (unless I am).

Misc Stomach Problems: I won't go into too much detail in this one, but I didn't realize it was possible to be both backed up and having to go frequently until now.  Definitely the worst side effect because of the stomach cramping so far.

I think that about summarizes the side effects so far.  I understand that the effects are cumulative, so I anticipate in the future that I'll be describing similar symptoms as above in a more intense light.  Luckily, today was much better than yesterday in almost all areas, so as time goes on, I'll start to understand the cycle of side effect intensity relative to the infusion date, and can better manage with more thoughtful doses of suggested, more targeted medicine.

With all that said about the side effects, I'm glad to have started the regime and I understand that these are a small price to pay for a longer and more fruitful life.  I'm still looking forward to my next infusion, to get another kick on the cancer.

As these side effects become more present, I continue to thank and recognize Sam for not only putting up with me, but for taking wonderful care of Caleb.  You are truly a super mom, a wonderful wife, and I know you're the biggest blessing given to me during these difficult times.  I Love you, Sam, and love you all!