Feeling utterly wrecked today, so let’s run down this week’s chemotherapy symptoms.
- Persistent (and perhaps permanent?) neuropathy that has spread to the feet
- Swollen ankles accompanied by purplish skin
- Extreme fatigue
- Shortness of breath on light exertion
- Nausea
- Constipation
- Achiness
- Evening fevers with chills
- Torso rash (didn’t see that one coming)
- Delicate nose membranes that bleed.
- And a cough that won’t quit from a cold two weeks ago
I know, the life of the party.
That’s the worst collision of symptoms so far for me. I had no illusions that this would be easy. Sometimes, however, the cure feels worse than the disease. It’s not, of course. But some weeks hit hard.
On the very plus side, courtesy of loved ones, I now have some really great caps for my naked and chilly noggin, including one that we’ll reveal nearer the winter holiday and another that…well, we’re still pondering its public unveiling.
Next update: Can my body handle chemo or should we jump right to surgery? That’s the topic of the moment.