So Far after Chemo #5

Chemo #5 has left me wiped out after the steroids wore off and the pain set in. Pain? Oh, yes, when they say there is a certain percentage of those that will get stabbing, aching, muscle, bone, joint, cursing, you are getting beat up type pain, I got it. But when I called them at 3:00 a.m. they understood right away from my description and a few hours later captain morphine had come to my aid. I have had a few bouts of nausea and vomiting but nothing compared to what it was like after each A/C. I am extremely tired and I am sure the morphine isn't exactly helping with that any right now. And I would rather have the morphine than the pain. Over all my mental state seems to be better. It isn't dragging me down as far as the A/C did. I like that a lot. My concentration level has been far worse though. It is a major effort to get anythng done, but that is working out ok because half the time I can't remember what it was I was supposed to be doing! :>) I do go through periods of feeling really good and then within minutes I feel really bad, completely drained and weak and all I can do is go lay down. The metallic taste in my mouth is different and a little nastier, but I am using Biotene toothpaste several times a day and that seems to help some. Overall, either I am getting used to the way chemo is or this chemo is one that I can deal with a little better. Which ever it is, I hope it stays that way!

Am still having one problem that was consistant from the start with A/C. My blood pressure jumps all over the board. The doctor doesn't have an answer for it. For the first six to seven days after each chemo it goes as high as 189/123 then down to 155/109 then back up. Then it starts a decline until it gets down to around 109/78, before it starts to get to my normal range. It seems when it is low like that my blood count has also dropped out. (My normal blood pressure is 130/85...and it is a controlled blood pressure as I have been taking blood pressure pills for about seven years now. When I was put on blood pressure pills, my blood pressure was 200/120 and I had a non-functioning kidney that was later removed). Sure wish I knew what is causing the variances in the pressure. It scares me sometimes.