Lately i feel like such a complainer. i don't mean to be. but if feels like right after one stupid side effect sort of eases up, another one jumps in to take its place. the latest in the list is bone and or muscle pain. it's hard to know exactly which, but one way or the other, last night i started having these odd stabbing pains deep inside my limbs. mostly it was in my right lower arm, but also my other arm and some in my right lower leg. before i went to bed i took some advil (which i'm supposed to be careful about ) and tylenol (which i'm also supposed to be very careful about) so that i could get some sleep. i slept restlessly, and woke up feeling pretty cruddy.
thank good for amanda on these days. because she is home and her only job is helping at the shop she was able to fill in this morning for me, and then i'm in this pm. i'm feeling far better now, altho this morning the cold feet and hands thing kicked me in the butt.
i've had issues with cold hands and feet since i was 19 and diagnosed with Raynaud's disease. this is a pecular disease where the my hands and feet turn white when exposed to cold, then if they stay cold long enough they'll turn blue. (i try not to ever let that happen). they feel not quite but almost numb, then when they warm up they get red and it feels pins and needles and painful. basically the vessels in my extremities tend to spasm in response to cold (and stress sometimes). additionally now, anemia (which is often a side effect of gleevec apparently) causes similar symptoms, so i'm suffereing from a double dose of really cold hands and feet. to the degree where part of the time they just won't warm up unless i take a hot bath. this morning i took a hot shower to try to get warmed up, my hands and feet got warm but immediately were cold again when i got out. as i write, i have a little space heater that i usually only use when it is really cold out, and i've got it blowing on my feet which are really cold.
the edema continues. my face is generally quite swollen when i get up, it seems to let up within an hour or two tho. but by evening my feet and legs are swollen and sore. so it goes. the rash is irritating, litterly, but nothing unlivable, just a bother. the nausea--well, it goes on as well. luckily the diarrhea does seem to be back under control. none of it is stuff that will kill me like untreated CML will, but none is fun. and all of it changes my life in ways i am having trouble accepting...
You are not a complainer! This blog is where you can post how you are feeling no judgements. If someone wants to judge you don't read it! We love you and are here to support you since we can't take away the YUCK.
ReplyDeleteI am glad you are aware of the hands and feet issue so can keep a close eye on them. Wool socks don't help then?
I am also praying for Amanda to help you get thru all this! It has to be hard on her to but I am soo glad she can be there for you!!!!
it's not that anyone has said i'm a complainer (altho i've gotten the feeling that people think it). it's more that i feel like a complainer. i need a place to vent, and so i've created it, but i often feel like if i vent elsewhere i'm seen a whiny son-of-gun.
ReplyDeleteanyway... yes i'm thankful in ways i cannot express for Amanda.
wool socks help some, but are not the total solution unfortunatley.
I am sorry you feel that way and you might not be far off. You are pretty perceptive of others and they may actually feel that way. I am sorry for that!
ReplyDeleteHugs and Prayers!!!!
I had the bone pain too. It settles down though - I had it for the first few weeks on Gleevec, then it went away. I am into month 8 and I have found that the side effects seem to lessen with time. Something to look forward to!
ReplyDeleteI am the same way, I just dont like to complain cause i feel people will think i am whining when I have a high pain tolerance. I know you are the same way if not more.so... So I totally understand... I will never see you as a whiney i know better and will tell anyone who says otherwise.
ReplyDeleteI, too, have really cold feet and hands. Afew winters ago, when we couldn't afford to keep the temp in the house above 55 degrees, I used foot warmers they make for hunters in my shoes (I had purchased them on clearance the previous spring). I put them up under my toes in my shoes and they helped me through the day. Thot it might be helpful to you. Amazing how cold feet can affect one's sense of humor! In the winter the bathtub is one of my best friends.
ReplyDelete