The quantity of pills I take very day is crazy.
- Verzenio (chemo pill)
- Omeprazole (heartburn from the chemo pill)
- Zofran (for nausea from the chemo pill)
- Stool Softener (constipation from the zofran and pain meds)
- Psyllium Husk (constipation from the zofran and pain meds)
- Anti-depressant (for depression from the Faslodex shot)
- Multi Vitamin
- Vitamin C
- Vitamin D
- Digestive Enzyme
- Calcium Magnesium
- Essential Fatty Acid
- Tylenol with Codeine (for pain as needed)
- Muscle Relaxer (for back pain)
- Bennadryl (for itching from the Tylenol with Codeine if I have to take more than a half a pill at a time)
- Trazadone (to help me sleep)
Only 7 are prescription, the rest are supplements or over the counter pills to deal with the side effects from the prescriptions. It’s kind of funny when I look at the list and see how many things I have to take because of the chemo pill and the side effects from it. Sigh.
I tried to wean off the antidepressant….nope….back on it after a very teary day. I’m fine now. I also tried to stop taking the omeprazole….nope….back on that too. So this is my new normal for now, until something changes, which could be at any moment. 🙂
The good news is that the side effects are managed and I’m doing pretty good! I’ve figured out that if I don’t do any housework or cooking, I can get through the day without taking any pain meds. Hahaha! The bad news is that I can’t do that very often. Even folding laundry for too longs brings pretty severe pain to my mid back. So I will take pain meds as needed and continue to ask for help around the house.
I went to the gym 3 times this week and walked on the treadmill and did some light weights with the machines. I was hoping to go 5, but Thursday and Friday were harder days, so I didn’t make it. But 3 is better than 2 or 1. 🙂 Baby steps.
Managing side effects has consumed a large part of my life the past few weeks. I am hopeful this plan will last for a while so I can more on to other things. I had a mini meltdown at the beginning of the week and asked for some clarification from the Dr. about the no lifting anything over 5 pounds rule. A gallon of milk weighs more than 5 pounds. So does our small Instant Pot. Everything weights more an 5 pounds! He said 10-15 pounds is reasonable as long as my spine is straight and I don’t twist and as long as I lift with my legs (which are super weak right now) and not my back. So I am glad I can lift a gallon of milk, with my back straight. 🙂 It’s a new normal….which I don’t like….but I am trying to have a good attitude about.
The girls continue to keep me busy. Tom’s work is still crazy and stressful. A lot of our home is out in the garage as we get ready to have our floors redone this week. We are definitely ready for an escape from life and can’t wait to get on a plane soon!
It’s crazy to me that it’s the middle of December. Time is flying by! I’ve been enjoying reading a chapter of Luke each morning and I look forward to starting to read through the Bible in a year again starting January 1st. In the midst of the craziness of life and cancer treatment, I am so thankful for the Lord and knowing I am never alone. I am thankful for the friends and family that check in on me and that help move and lift things when they stop by for a visit. It’s so hard to ask but we couldn’t do it with them. 🙂
Once when we were at Disney World I was talking to the lady that kept the outside of our hotel clean, including the washrooms and other areas. She said she read a chapter a day in the Bible before she came to work. She also read the last few verses of the chapter she read the day before and a few of the verses for the next day. Of all the plans I have heard of and tried I find this one a good one.
I continue to keep praying for you and your family.
Something I have to remind myself when I need to ask for help is this. By allowing someone to bless me with their help, they are allowing God to use them, are in turned blessed. It’s how family and the body work. Continuing to keep you in my thoughts and prayers Jennifer.
Sometimes I wonder why I am so tired all the time, and then I remember all the things I have to manage on top of normal life (like managing a snowball of side effects) and it’s no wonder.
You are juggling a ton and doing a great job. I too take an antidepressant to manage mood issues from tamoxifen (among a litany of other things to manage other side effects).
Thinking of you! Xo
Oh how I wish I could be of some help. Thankfully, God has others to do His work. I’m just so reminded how we who have an intimate relationship with God through His son are so blessed. God’s compassion and mercy is within us and whenever we hear His calling, we go! His energy flows through His servants to do His will. Jennifer, you are a living epistle.. You know, the older I get the longer the list of pills.. So, as “they” say, “Keep your chin up, back straight, bend those knees and allow others to do the lifting!”
thanks for sharing! continued prayers for you and your family. Praise God for His promise and truth that we are never alone =)
Jennifer, check in to the free services of house cleaning/keeping that cancer patients can do. I remember they have them, but not what the name of the group is; avail yourself to the help available and take whatever you can, at the pace you can. The girls also, can help, right? I am sure, having been a daughter of a cancer patient, that they would love to help! but, some times parents forget to ask or discourage it. It would have been my joy to do more than I was allowed…I wonder if it’s the same with your girls.
I didn’t see this post until today; hoping you’re on track to have some fun still and get away!!