I'd been warned that each chemo drug has a nadir sometime after treatment. Treatment was great. The Nadir has not been. The current cycle, like the last, seems to have a low point on about the 4th day after the cycle began--basically casting a pall on an otherwise beautiful weekend.
1) Restless Leg Syndrome. This was a surprise, even though it had been on the "the list" at my initial orientation, but it is was sure enough real. When lying at my stillest before sleep, at at time when I wasn't quite asleep, but neither moved nor thought, I'd get a little twitch, that turned my ankle and flicked my big toe inward. (usually on the left foot). The ballerinas would say I'd gone "sickle-footed". Rubbing on fast-absorbing magnesium cream (which we'd stockpiled against such a contingency) seems to have stopped it--or maybe I just fell asleep in spite of it? Tonight I'll prep with both magnesium citrate (internal) and the cream (external).
2) Nausea--or mostly loss of appetite. One might feel hungry, but the thought of food is unpleasant and the prospect of eating anything is hard. At better moments, I was able to get down favorites such as bacon, fried eggs, fried onions, and bread or english muffins.
3) Fatigue--which is a strange thing. For me, it is experienced in the zone somewhere between sleep-tired and flu-weak.
Here's hoping that they're gone tomorrow, and that I can start seeing the lump shrinkage noticeably resume.
1 comment:
Restless Leg Syndrome runs in my family. What works for me, most of the time, is laying (lying? - I get those mixed up) on my stomach and putting several pillows under my crossed arms so that my back is very arched. Somehow, this relieves my RLS and/or I fall asleep, as you said.
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