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“There are three side effects of acid: enhanced long-term memory, decreased short-term memory, and I forget the third.” – Timothy Leary
For those of us through treatment – been there, done that. The long list of potential side effects from the treatment to combat myeloma is long and scary. For those newly on this road, prepare yourself, emotionally, for the full disclosure of problems you may encounter from your treatment, including death and other cancers.
Many of us have seen the commercials on TV of this drug or that, that are followed by a fast talking, long list of potential side effects from the drug in question. It used to always make me laugh, and sometimes still does. I think, “Why would anyone want to take that!” But when you have cancer and you need treatment it’s a whole different mindset. At the very least you need to alter your way of thinking to get through the stack of papers to sign that you understand the risks.
I remembered that this would happen and I knew that it would completely freak Dave out. So the night before we were to begin his treatment in Arkansas I sat him down for a heart to heart. I told him he would be signing papers akin to buying a house. That they had to tell him ALL the things that could happen when he is being administered all these drugs. That he needed to prepare himself and to realize that just because it’s listed as a possible side effect does not mean he will experience them. It was good that I prepared him and as a result he and the nurse were hilariously laughing through most of it. Thank goodness. It’s not really a laughing matter of course, but you know, sometimes you have to laugh or you will cry. It’s hard when you have spent most of your life avoiding chemicals, trying to eat healthy and exercise and caring deeply about what you put in your body and now here you are, facing the fact that all that effort may seem for naught.
It seems as though many of the drugs we are taking are to combat a side effect from another drug we are taking. It can seem endless and difficult. Dave, months and months after his treatment thoroughly enjoyed going through all his drugs and dumping them. It was a visibly empowering activity he engaged in, and I enjoyed watching him do it.
I write a lot about changing your “point of view”. This is one of those times where you need to do that. Like when Dave didn’t want to be on pain meds because he would become addicted. “Yes, you will. But it doesn’t mean you will become an addict, there’s a difference.”
Anyway, to bring a little levity to it all I thought you might enjoy this old tried and true youtube video on Tequila and its potential benefits and side effects.
Holy cow! Excellent call Shelley! He should be in an aspirin regimen along with his chemo but he may need something more to offset the clots.
Guess what? We went to emergency today, against my husbands will I might add. Or I should say, kicking and screaming the whole way that he didn’t need to go. After 5 1/2 hours in emergency before we even saw a doctor and another 5 hours of diagnostic tests, we found out that he had blood clots in his lungs. And so THAT would explain why he wasn’t feeling well. *sigh*
Oh my Shelley. My levity was surely not something you could appreciate with all that you and your husband are enduring at the moment. It does tend to get better as he gets healthier and less impacted by the myeloma, if the drugs are working. I hope that he has an upbeat, optimistic doctor’s consult. I can imagine that you are physically and emotionally exhausted. While Dave worked through his treatment (albeit somewhat abbreviated), he was my full time job. It is often a difficult situation for those of us who are younger. One has to keep working to keep the insurance and some funds coming in to cover bills. But I knew many in the older age group who retired early to take care of each other full time. It’s never easy, but I hope that your road gets a bit easier soon and a little good news would help that along. My best to you both.
Side effects? Yesterday was my husband’s 4th Velcade treatment. I think it nearly killed him. I had to leave at 8 am this morning because I was working outside the home for a few days. So I called at 1 pm and he didn’t answer. I thought he was just sleeping off the effects of yesterday’s chemo. Turns out he had felt so terrible that he said he felt like he was on the worst bad drug trip ever. He was so dizzy that he passed out and thankfully was on his way to bed so collapsed on the bed. He said he didn’t wake up until noon. Now he wants to stop the chemo treatments. 🙁 After he had the injection yesterday, he said he had chest pain but it started to go away and he only felt pressure in his chest. I’m not sure if that is related or not. We have a doctor appointment on Friday so I guess we’ll be discussing all of this. I don’t even have the energy to post this horror story on my blog. I’m emotionally exhausted. And I’m going to work tomorrow to. I’m sure glad I’m not working full time right now. I don’t know how caregivers can hold down a full time job and still keep their sanity.
All true….and a fun post!!! Thanks