Rebuilding

During the next few days following the Chemo, the nausea settled, aided by the anti-sickness tablets. (Ondansetron, cyclizine) I stopped taking the tablets after 3 days.  The best way I can describe the nausea is if you compare it to the absolute worst hangover you can imagine times 10…...

Despite the nausea easing, I felt so fatigued, even the most basic of activities took a lot of effort. Initially I was so drowsy throughout the day and sleeping a lot, gradually this subsided.  

By the 3^rd day post treatment I managed a short and slow walk for 10 mins, sounds pathetic I know, but it was challenging at the time. I just felt so weak, like Bambi with wobbly legs!!

My appetite was slowly improving, but my tastebuds were very bizarre. I wanted to eat mashed potatoes and gravy. That was as adventurous as it got, I couldn’t face coffee or anything sweet. This continued for about 3 or 4 days. I also started craving some foods I don’t normally eat cheese, baked beans….. but I was craving them badly!!

Click here for more information about taste changes

Five days after chemo Craig and I decided to go for a walk.  It’s a route that we often walk. It’s close to our house and along the tow path, so very flat. It normally would take us 40 mins…this time it took 90 mins!! Thankfully it was a beautiful, sunny day. We stopped and rested on the benches intermittently. I was shuffling along at a geriatric speed!!  I was breathless at times as we walked, which is a strange sensation, as when you know just five days previously you could have done this same walk at twice the speed and with no shortness of breath. It’s difficult to accept that you are not as strong and independent as you normally are.

Click here for information about fatigue during Chemo treatment

                                                     

Over the 5 days after Chemo I felt so weak, I knew not to push myself too much. Everything just took a lot more time. Getting washed and dressed couldn’t be rushed. I had to adjust how much time to leave when getting ready as I had to work at a slow speed. Resting at times, even with activities you wouldn’t imagine tiring you out…like having a shower!! 

I returned to work 6 days after chemo, for a couple of hours only that first day. I had to park the car outside the office, rather than in the car park I would normally use. Walking up the hill from the car park was just too much for me that day. Much as I was very tired when I got home that night it was great to be back into a routine again and knowing that I was actually being productive was great, it’s that feeling of normality again!!

I gradually built up my hours in work a little bit every day. As my stamina improved I was able to park the car further away.

The week before my second round of Chemo began I was feeling so strong that I managed to leave the car at home and walk to work. This felt like such an achievement and just like I was returning to my normal daily routine.

It’s these little things that for me are such stepping stones, to me actually feeling….like ‘me’ again.