June 28
5:50 rough night. Trouble falling asleep from the pain and staying asleep. Throat hurts to swallow. Cold water helps.
Song: ♫ Cool Water ♫
Made mouthwash to numb throat. Gagged on it and ended up spitting up more phlegm. Blew nose and green snot comes out. Nose bloody. I’m feeling very week and weird now. Got myself more ice water. Started load laundry. Makes me wonder if I should continue the antibiotic? I’m nauceous now too. Ugh. Smelling peppermint oil.
6:23 tips of feet and toes are freezing. Put socks on. Rt hip throbbing. Low back throbbing. Feeling drained and short of breath.
8:30 woken by choking on phlegm and ended up puking. Nose bloody. Feeling very weak. Muscles randomly twitching throughout torso and legs. I’m miserable. Managed to empty my trash cans and transfer clothes in washer and dryer.
9:00 reading Bible. 2 Peter 3:9
Received notification in one of the cancer FB groups. I checked it out. I was just given the golden opportunity to give the Gospel. Pray I say it right as my brain is kind of foggy right now.
10:11 got up to get ice and ended up filling water purifiers, refilling ice cube trays, unloading dishwasher and putting dirty dishes in it, making toast. I’m exhausted. Time to rest a while. Playing Rejoice Radio in house.
11:30 got up to go get watch from charger in computer. Paid phone bill. Ended up working on VBS a little bit. Muscles stared cramping horribly in upper left shoulder. Need to go lay down. Not feeling well. Lightheaded almost. Feeling hot flash? Feel like I’m breaking a fever. Temp 98.3 Hrt 97 bp 118/87 Tongue covered in sores. I’m going to need something other than water to drink. It’s getting old real fast.
2 Chronicles 19-23;
12:02 second glass of water (30oz). Attempting to eat some frozen blueberries and strawberries. Having hard time with texture of the blueberries? Strawberries are good.
12:29 put call into nurse. Re: mouth sores, sore throat, vomiting, losing voice. Dr thinks I’m still sick from sinus infection. Shouldn’t have mouth sores already. She’s calling in miracle mouthwash and Diflucan. Suggested taking rest of antibiotic. Worried I have Covid. Told her test was negative within last two weeks. If I’m not getting better, I need to go back to see PCP or urgent care. Let Joe know. Boss told him to go home and take care of me. Joe picking me up some fluids on way home. I’m going to lay down a piece.
2:00 Joe brought home body armour and sprite. Took bp 94/57 hr 96 Lightheaded, weak, not feeling well, muscles on left side cramping easily, tired, lethargic, bloody nose, Waiting return call from Dr. Dr wants blood work drawn. Will call with results. Blood counts look good. Dr knows that I’m hypersensitive post lightning strike. Joe to keep eye on blood pressure and let Dr know if it gets too much lower. I just know I feel lousy. Joe made a glass of my juice for me – come to find out most of the fruits and vegetables that I juice also help body build blood counts.
God’s so cool.
https://food.ndtv.com/health/7-foods-to-increase-blood-platelets-1822859
Able to eat little bit of homemade Mac n cheese for dinner. I’m exhausted.
6:00 made home video call visit from bed to check on long time friend and church family friend – BH. She recently had surgery to have part of leg amputated. Short visit but good.
7:16 needing to write down what medication I took when is frustrating, but it helps me remember. I’m so exhausted. Listening to wholetones while I rest and do deep breathing.
https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/essiactea#ingredients https://draxe.com/nutrition/essiac-tea/
8:57 Dozed off. Not sure how long I was out. Joe woke me to get ready for bed and let me know that he’s staying home with me tomorrow to keep eye on my bp. Doesn’t feel I need to be by myself right now. I’m thankful because I really don’t want to be, but also know we need the income to pay bills.
Thankful for:
- Loving husband willing to take care of me in sickness
- Caring friends to check in on me even if I don’t feel up to visiting
- God’s provisions
11:00 gaged on post nasal drip and ended up vomiting. Yuck. Muscles in stomach started cramping fierce while vomiting which made me cry. Throat hurts horribly again. Homemade miracle mouthwash. Only draw back is I have to wait 30 minutes before drinking anything so it can do its job. Used colloidal silver spray 2 sprays each nostril.
June 29
3:00 woke gagging on phlegm and ended up vomiting. Bloody nose. Took zofran. Went to kitchen to get more ice water and decided to suck on popsicle for a bit. Heart rate 100. Deep breathing exercises as best as I can. Got it down to 80. Dozed off for bit.
6:00 been awake for little bit. Feels like stomach acid crawling up esophagus making me nauceous. Ended up vomiting again. Bloody nose. Only thing coming up is phlegm I suppose. Throat hurts. Tummy hurts. I’m exhausted and so tired.
Obadiah; Psalm 82-83; Psalm 138:8; Philippians 4:19
Managed to fall asleep for few hours while listening to Clarke family in Spotify.
9:00 woke to thunderstorm and sick to stomach. Bloody nose. Loose stool. Feel yucky.
10:00 tried to eat jello, but that backfired. Vomiting more often. Joe had to call cancer Dr because of my not being able to hold anything down and blood pressure keeps dropping. Apt at 11:15am
11:15 not even at Drs office half hour and I’m losing my cookies. Thankfully, I made it to the restroom. Nose started blood flow in vomit bag as well.
12:05 back in bathroom feeling like I’m going to lose more stomach acid. Whew! False alarm.
Blood work drawn. Nurse did good. Needle didn’t hurt. Y’days needle stung!
(Bp 109/74? puls119) NP Star says I’m dehydrated. They’ll be treating me with fluids. Weight was 183.
Nurses have been very helpful and concerning. Given steroids, bag of fluids.
12:60 I’m getting very sleepy. Head starting to spin.
Doing it through the port.
The anti-nausea medicine knocked me out quickly, and I was able to sleep for several straight hours once back home. In the last several days, I have only been getting a couple hours of sleep in between vomiting episodes.
The nurse said the doctor is going to change some things up a bit for the next session so I’m not so miserable following chemo. I’m certainly keeping them on their toes.
I am feeling some better, but still am very tired.
Side note:
I really like my oncology team. They were so kind even though I had to whisper to answer questions. Joe jumped in at times interpreting what I was trying to say. I caught myself using sign language trying to speak to the nurses while whispering. Some would even repeat the signs back and smile. Lol
Nurse suggested Imodium for diarrhea. I think I’ll try the natural things first and the OTC as last result.
https://allremedies.com/home-remedies-for-diarrhea/
7:59 Guess what!? I was actually able to eat a meal tonight and keep it down. My dessert is an orange popsicle. Yum!
10:54 finally finished devotional for the day. Better late than never I suppose.
I may not be able to do a scripture journal calendar for next month as it will depend on how I’m feeling. I have a title just working on details as I’m able. We’ll see. I’m also trying to finish up planning VBS. Start date scheduled in three weeks. Eek!
Still have runs. I guess they were worse than I expected but I didn’t know because I couldn’t hold food down.
Drank chamomile tea. I think my taste buds are changing a bit within from chemo or all the sickness because it didn’t taste the same as I remembered. Forced it down anyways. Maybe it’s the medicine for my throat. It doesn’t taste good, but it sure is easing the esophagus and throat pain.
Thankful for
- Loving friends and family willing to help in times of need
- Joe heeding his gut to stay home with me even though it cuts into our finances.
- My oncologist team’s kindness and willing to help me feel better.
- God providing music (Blessings) and scripture (Psalm 138:8; Philippians 4:19) times of need to help me through the journey. That’s my God!
