Okay, it has been too long since the last blog entry. I thought that switching chemo to
every three weeks would be good.
It has been, kind of, but not what I was hoping. After switching to the three-week
schedule, the first cycle I came down with an upper resistor infection, which
slowed me down and messed with training.
The second cycle I started throwing more cramps in my legs and
eventually developed plantar issues, though I have been in PT and it seems to
be resolving. But in the time
leading up to this current cycle (plugged in last Monday) I started feeling
slower, more nauseous, more tired and a bit bummed in the way I was trending.
Then there was last Saturday. I was going to see a friend I had not seen in quite awhile,
then a ballgame. But about an hour
before leaving I started developing pain that was getting pretty bad. Then it escalated from there. I popped a painkiller and muscle
relaxer, but it did not stay down.
Was not please - I had taken these pills before over the last five years
without issue. I rarely use them,
but they work when needed. I tried
again, and same result. With the
pain escalating. I was taking my
shirt off and on as I swung between chills and feeling like I had a fever. The same applied to my shorts, kept on
taking them off and putting them on as I paced, crawled on the floor, anything
to find a position of comfort. Was
not pretty at the time, though I am guessing it had to be a sight to see.
We debated about calling 911 or going to urgent care at
Memorial Sloan Kettering. My
thoughts were that I had internal bleeding from the chemotherapy. A blockage. That the tumors in my spine were causing issues. That the tumor in my psoas was causing
issues. Basically, cancer or chemo
was spinning around. We got in the
car and tried going. Three times within no more than 10 blocks I called out for
the car to be stopped. The last
time another car stopped and asked if we needed help. I could barely speak, and looking at my reflection in the windshield,
was kind of scary looking. Wild
eye pain.
I popped another pill and crawled onto the couch
resting. The pill stayed
down. 20 minutes later I popped
another one. It stayed down. Crawled into the back of the car and
sprawled out, occasionally sitting up, as we made our way to MSK. Finally made it and I paced in the
room. Up and down trying to find
relief. Eventually got a shot of
morphine. And a scan.
When it was all said and done, turns out a kidney stone and
related infection. In the world of
a cancer patient, there were high fives and relief finding out that it was the
issue. As of today, there is still
some pain, and not sure if the stone is still in me. But at least this helped explain the symptoms I have had the
last couple of weeks a bit more.
Another slight glitch was with my scan this week before
chemo – though the spine and lymph nodes look stable, and the majority of the
lung tumors are stable (including the largest one) or showing signs of dying,
some of the ones that exhibited cavitation have started filling in. Which means the cancer may have stopped
responding there and is active.
Not much I can do, except keep on going on with chemo and
#triathlontraining.
Finally got back on the treadmill today. It was tough. Very tough. I had to hold onto the bars for the
vast majority of the workout in order to not fall. But I kept on moving.
It is active recovery week and I have done nothing. I was not stopping. Made it. And some of the intervals were not too bad, though overall
pace was very slow. Right now
resting up from it and hoping I can get back on track. I have my first solo triathlon of the
year, super sprint, coming up, and hoping that I can do it.
Then may do another sprint relay shortly thereafter with
some family members.
\
It is getting a bit tougher lately, and the chemo is
building up so my downtime seems to be more pronounced, but plan on biking or
swimming tomorrow. I figure a few better workouts, meaning any movement to improving, over the next couple of weeks will make me feel better. #itri4acure
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