A Pattern Emerges....

Today I took my last advil before 8am, for the body aches. I took 3, as Dr. Liu said that oughtta get me 8 hours. I had taken 3 also at 10pm, and before that at 3ish . 3 had been lasting 8 hours, but yeserday they barely made it for 7. I was thinking that I had biked too many miles maybe -- 42 on Tuesday and 24 yesterday. I was a little surprised to have my muscles hurting yesterday afternoon....... I actually drove to support group, which is at Georgetown, only 6 miles east, mostly on the bikepath.... Still I was thinking illness.

So at this point it could still be an illness, because it's been two weeks minus a day...... Alan thinks it's a side effect, though, despite Dr. Liu's words to the contrary. He's sent me links that back it up, and someone in my support group said she had myalgia with taxol and took a lot of advil. I didn't get details on when she had them in relation to the drug, though, and how long they lasted. She may have had taxol every two weeks, though, because she's done with treatment. I'm not sure when she finished, but probably at least 6 months ago because she just finished herceptin 1 month ago, and I believe that one they take for a year..... and I think this weekly taxol thing is new.

So Alan sent me some links and I started looking at the side effects. In fact I have some others, too. SOme I knew about and some I didn't really think about much..... The most helpful info came from a chat. Lessee, one woman said insomnia was her worst side effect. I had thought that my trouble sleeping came from the early menopause, but if it's from the TAXOL that's a bit different, because I only have 4 weeks left...... Also lots of people had trouble sleeping the night after treatment because of the steroid. YES!!!

I also saw nosebleeds listed. I don't quite have nosebleeds, but my nasal passages are dry and crusty like they are when it's dry in winter -- but it's very humid now -- and the crustiness is scabby..... so there is some bleeding sometime, just not much. I don't know if I'd notice this one if it were winter..... and it's really not bothersome, just different.

I saw shortness of breath listed. This is not problematic (they said) unless it's severe. Mine is only noticeable at the beginning of bikerides. That seems reasonable.... It also is only noticeable in contrast to the other bikers who are talking to me easily, with no heavy breathing. (It probably gives them more of a chance to talk, to be honest.....) I had it worse with the Adriamycin/Cytoxan -- or at least I had it then. But it slowed me down in my first ride after that treatment. With this low dose taxol I am not seeing a big hairy difference (or even a small bald one) between right after treatment and right before treatment.

And check THIS one out -- fever or chills! They/it can be a side effect! I think I'm going to use the singular here because they happen together and feel connected. Feverorchills. When I get one of them the other is not far behind. Or sometimes when I get chills I want a hot bath, which helps, but then I get a low fever after..... Like I get to choose, fever or chills. Sometimes.

That's mostly it. There is a side effect related to bowels but I think I'd better spare you guys -- I'm sure I was pushing it with some of you when I described the not-quite-nosebleeds. Plus mine's not bad -- yet, anyway.

So far no neuropathy. Thank God, Mother Nature, Luck..... whoever, or all of them.

Here's the interesting thing, though. Why am I feeling fine today, the day after treatment? I hear that the side effect takes a few days and can last a few days... so maybe I'm over last week's side effects and today's hasn't emerged yet. Or maybe it's the steroids, somehow. I'm wired from them, and I feel fine too -- except I'm so hyper I wonder if I can get in a swim or something..... so I can sleep tonight. If that even helps.....

Like a COCONUT!

Today my biking friend Nancy saw my growth of hair underneath my helmet (which was surprising in itself!) and when I told her I was at the level of three peaches she said I was way past that, more like a coconut!

Man, she thinks on her feet -- and she didn't even grow up around coconuts. I did. She's right, my hair growth is JUST about like a coconut now.

It was such a good analogy that I think of a coconut when I look in the mirror now ..... Maybe Em will help me get a new picture later and get it onto the computer. That's right -- she knows how and I don't. It's a good division of labor, though, and I am not motivated to mess with it. If I don't learn before she goes to college I'll ask her to teach me. I have a few years though.....

:-) Nadine