Saw the GPO today. I’ve started coughing, sorta in between a smoker’s cough and bronchitis. She’s given me an inhaler and I have to have a chest Xray tomorrow becuase I have a wheeze in one of my lower lung lobes. Think this is the reason I’m off the chemo for an extra week.

She also gave me a sleeping pill prescription. She suggested medical marajiana but couldn’t recommend a dosage. (I’m not into this one at the moment) I can also try Melatonin but she says that’s more for regulating sleep. I’m taking a sleeping pill tomorrow night after I pick up my prescriptions. So tired of being tired all the time.

I was also given a “red letter”. Literally. It’s red. I’m to give it to any doctor I see. It basically says I’m on chemo and what to be aware of, what antibiotics are ok, etc. Guess I should pack that around with me…

Told her I nap just about every day and she said that was good. She said that they’re messing with my body and I should be doing what makes me feel better. She gave me a printout for tips on helping with the metalic taste in my mouth which, oddly enough says if I find something good that I can eat the same thing for days.

….and I have a cataract that was diagnosed in June. It’s now at the point where I can’t really see anything clear out of that eye. They describe it as looking through a fogged up window. Yup. That’s what it’s like. I haven’t been able to drive for about 3 months. My mom is my chauffeur so we’ve spent quite a bit of time together which is a good thing. I finally see a specialist about it next week.

Today was just a heavy day for me. Sometimes I’m just not ok with all of this and today was one of those days. Being exhausted every day doesn’t help.

I’ve finished my 2nd round of Xeloda(Capecidabine). Doing the 7 days off. Bloodwork and oncologist appointment next week. I’m finding it really difficult taking the doses 12 hours apart. Because they need to be taken with food. Not a couple of crackers or a slice of cheese, but a “substantial meal, like a sandwich”. I’ve been forcing myself awake at 7:30am to take the first dose with breakfast. 2nd one I start eating about 7 or 7:30pm. This is the hardest one. Feel like I’m force-feeding myself. I gained 3 lbs on the first round of the drug 😦 About the time I’m going nuts over this force-feeding, I get my week off.

….and I’m not sleeping. I’m taking a pain pill, at the suggestion of the oncologist, before bed and that helps me get to sleep but I don’t stay asleep. She doesn’t want me to take sleeping pills because I won’t feel it if I’m hurting myself or breaking something. I’m awake every hour or so and zombie tired by the time 7:30am rolls around. I’m having to nap almost every day because I just get so tired. Even thoough it’s not right, I get mad at myself because I shouldn’t need to nap. I need work on the “be kind to yourself” thing.

I’m not having any other major side effects so far. That’s a good thing, but getting used to this new drug isn’t easy.