Week 2: Pill-popping good times!

Mood

One of the more annoying side effects of radiation treatment to the pelvis in skinny girls is the total and unavoidable destruction of the ovaries. That’s right, folks, I’m 25 and MENOPAUSAL. But like my friend Matt says, this is simply an opportunity for me to fast-track into becoming a full-fledged Cougar (see sidebar for definition).

For the most part, I felt great this week. On Tuesday, I had so much energy that I ran errands, baked cookies, and took a nice long walk in the evening. I’ve noticed that around mid-week, I start to develop insomnia, which makes for less energetic days and more sour moods; but, fun phone calls, emails, and visits from family and friends have helped to keep that in check.

So I guess menopause hasn’t completely taken over…yet.

Treatment

Chemo and radiation both went really well this week, and I’m happy to report that the magic marker on my bum has been replaced with tiny tattoos. I am now free to swim, take baths, and scrub my behind as often as I like.

Lessons Learned

Over the weekend, I learned that it is not necessary to take every medication that I’ve been prescribed. Thus far, I’ve been prescribed five anti-emetics (pills that stave off nausea): Zofran, Dexamethasone, Emend, Compazine, and Phenergan. On top of that, I take Prilosec OTC, Citrucel, an antibiotic and Benedryl for the acne rash, and other tummy-calming pills as needed. That’s a lot of pills.

But I’m not supposed to take these all at once or all the time. I’m supposed to take the Emend twice after chemo (and only twice! PAIN OF DEATH by Anthem). They told me to take the Zofran at the slightest hint of nausea; once the nausea is there, the Zofran is useless. The Dex is a steroid that may or may not be keeping my brain cells alive but is certainly causing some of the insomnia. The Compazine is for WORST CAST SCENARIO nausea. They told me that it can cause hallucinations and night terrors. The Phenergan is just kind of there…I’m not sure when I’m supposed to take that, but having used it in the past, I know it’s very good at making the pain, and all other normal functioning, go away.

So over the weekend, my tummy started to rumble. I was alone. I panicked. I took a Phenergan.

The Phenergan rendered me unconcious for a good four hours. I woke up around 6pm and tried to keep myself as awake as possible so that I would be able to sleep through the night in preparation for chemo the next morning. But I was wired. So I took a Benedryl. And I still didn’t sleep.

The next morning, I was a zombie. I felt like a junky needing a fix…my brain was mush and my hands were shaky. I probably looked like junky, too: pale and pimply and scrawny, stumbling through the hospital with my SPAM hat on.

So here and now, I vow to lay off the hard stuff. At least until I panic again…

Tags: cervical cancer, chemo, junky, menopause, pelvic radiation, prescriptions, tattoos