Continued Gut Troubles

I'm starting to worry about whether this chemo is causing some kind of damage to my gut lining that might stay on afterwards..... I feel like a bit of a whiner (after the palpitations & cardio follow up) but I wonder if I might need to follow up on it. I had gone on the BRAT diet a couple of days ago -- and it helped a lot. But I've been so tired, I haven't really exercised. So finally today I went swimming. I did a couple of errands afterwards, picked up Em, took her to Target, got Matthew from school (he has debate after school a couple of days a week) and by the time I got home I was so hungry I had my lunch all planned.......

I had a sandwich of avocado, salmon, tomatoes, pickles and mustard. It was divine..... I had a 2nd one. (Open face sandwiches -- bread is not so much my thing.... plus, I never would have been able to get my mouth around it with another piece of bread on it!) I know it sounds like strange food -- I described it to Matthew and he said "and some mini marshmallows!" I wouldn't eat that, but he's right, it does sound like a kitchen sink sandwich..... However -- I eat like that all the time, and it's not usually a problem! (Especially not those pickles. THey were homemade by these friends of ours and really really nice -- and I don't taste much salt in them, as I do in commercial pickles. I'm going to keep putting cucumbers in there as I use theirs up.......)

Anyway I had been okay (not perfect but okay), but I am not now (couldn't eat dinner.) I bet it was all fine except for the pickes and mustard...... but the thing is, I've been kinda nauseous in the morning (a couple of hours after I get up -- right when I need to eat breakfast!) The pickles and mustard counter the nausea nicely ..... though at the time I actually take an antinausea pill..... which of course makes me sleepy.... which is part of why I haven't been exercising much lately. Bit of a catch 22.....

Indigestion and Parenting a sick kid

I think the indigestion is chemo related, despite the nurses' claims to the contrary. They do list diarrhea, constipation, and nausea as potential side effects, and indigestion is something that..... well let's just say that if there any out there to be had it tends to find me. I'm not talking about an upset or sour stomach; this is all lower gut stuff -- gas and bloating. SO I eat fine, and then later I pay. Last chemo it started 9 days after (a couple of days after Thanksgiving, which was nice.) This time the gut gurgles started at the end of the infusion last Thursday. I ignored them, though -- until the trouble got so bad it couldn't be ignored. Yesterday I started the BRAT diet, which is booooorrring.... but I do feel better.

Meanwhile Matthew has been sick since last THursday. (I had to leave him home alone sick to go to chemo. His fever wasn't that high yet though - and he IS fifteen.) It's been taking a long time! I've taken him to the doctor's twice... each time worrying that sitting in the waiting room with all those coughing kids would do me in. (Matthew's been so careful about me -- even sitting in the back seat of the car when I've taken him to the doctor! ..... so far I've been all right!) Today was his first day without fever since last Thursday -- but he's broken out in hives, which the doc thinks is an allergic reaction to the illness..... (who knew that was possible??) I have to go out and get Matthew some zyrtec, which should take him through the overnight and the day, without knocking him out at school. He's still coughing a lot..... but the doc says he can go to school tomorrow.

I am thinking that the neulasta might me helping me here -- this time last chemo my white count was through the roof. I'll get it checked tomorrow, but I'm thinking maybe this is good timing for me........