#24


chemo stomach, for me, is a funny and fickle beast. i woke up this morning and felt relatively normal. my left heel didn't start the day any worse than yesterday, so i was able to enjoy my shower. got caroline ready for her trip to children's theater, told everyone good-bye and made it to the store no problem. then between 6:45 and 7:30, i hurried to the bathroom to deliver waterbabies twice. between 8:30 and 9:30, i went two more times. i downed 75 2 imodium to stem the tide and things started to regulate. by 11:00, i felt frisky enough try some chinese buffet carryout for lunch and, what do you know, i didn't have to do anything more than number one until later in the afternoon!

the moral of this story and every day minus the very worst ones is that at some point a human's stomach says, "okay. okay. gee-zus. enough is enough." and takes a break. the very worst ones i'll explain in more detail when they happen in a week or so, but, for today, enjoy that one relaxing trip to the loo if you're lucky enough to only have one, because it could be waterbabies all day and all night if you're unlucky or on chemo.

#24

toxicities present:

chemo stomach. this is a terribly vague descriptor of what is actually happening inside me. outside of the violent delivery of those oh-so-premature waterbabies, i imagine i have a much better understanding of the cramping that goes along with the female menstrual cycle thanks to my treatment. sometimes, things lock up in my midsection in a way that just buckles me. other times, it's more a constant muscle tightness that i can't stretch out even though it feels like if i could stretch just a liiiittle farther one way or another, i'd experience some relief.

today, the reflux and the nausea were intense for a few hours this afternoon. i told those symptoms to fuck off and i exercised anyway.

the feet are still a few days away from the their worst, but i am trying to avoid putting too much pressure on the left heel as much as i can.

my mouth starting drying out this afternoon. 24-48 hours from now, my taste buds will change, and nothing will taste right for through 7-10 days after i come off the medicine again. the severity of the mouth ulcers and sensitivity has been all over the map from cycle to cycle. we'll see what happens.

pain (scaled 1-10):

feet - 3
stomach related - 5