Wednesday, July 06, 2011

Sharing too much

I've got some Thoughts for y'all tomorrow on what chemo is like and how much fun it is to have cytotoxins eat your nerve cells.

It's late, and I'm too tired to write anything (besides, it hurts to type...yes...it's called chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy and it's great fun) but I thought I would take a moment tonight to frankly ask for prayers.

I'm not actually doing too terribly well, and have been told that the second round, set to start July 18, is going to be worse than the first. The nerve damage has made things difficult in ways I didn't expect, and it takes months for nerves to heal, if they are going to do so at all. So with only three weeks in between doses of poison there isn't enough time for the nerves to re-grow and the damage is going to be compounded. It means a lot of pain, difficulty walking and falls. Which in turn means a lot of lying around at home unable to move.

For the first week, they gave me the wrong kind of painkillers so it wasn't much fun. I've got better pain medication now, but it is a lot stronger and is leaving me pretty addled, so it's a bit difficult constructing sentences. (I'm fine with that last part, actually. Thinking too much has been one of the biggest fun-killers of my whole life, so it's a relief to have an excuse not to do it at all for a while.)

My Evil Brain is also getting in on the act; seeing I'm weak and taking this opportunity to attack, the monster that lives between my ears and spends all its leisure time trying to figure out how to kill me, has started whispering all manner of horrible things to me. Your brain is not your friend. Don't forget it.

Truthfully, I don't remember ever being this ill and helpless. It's annoying. And boring. And painful. And frightening. And lonely.

And since going into the hospital, I was thinking, "Well, at least I can get to the Gardone conference," but as it turns out, even though I am out of the hospital, I'm so flattened that I can't get to the end of the block, never mind getting on a train to the top of the Boot. It's killing me that I'm lying around at home while all these cool friends of mine are here, having fun without me.

And just to add to the press, all of this is turning out to be very hard on the people who are trying to help me.

So, not much fun around here, I'm afraid. But praying helps, so I'm told, and at the moment, I'm not really up to doing it myself. So...



HJW

13 comments:

Felix said...

Hi Hilary. Every sympathy for your situation.

I'm just out of hospital and empathize with your comments on the boredom and the rest.

(Almost my only pleasure was upsetting friends by saying that I had prepared by making my will and going to confession.)

Anyways, you are certainly in my prayers.

Audrey Amberg said...

Dear Hilary,

We offer prayers, and our deepest sympathy for your sufferings. We hurt for you. With the help of our Blessed Mother we pray that God will grant you the blessings of renewed health.

In Christ's love,

Audrey and Ted Amberg

Anonymous said...

Absolutely, you have my prayers - every day, every Mass.

You are very courageous, Hilary. Try your best to ignore that lurking monster, or at least stick out your tongue and taunt it with a few, "Nyah, nyah, nyah(s)" whenever you get the chance.

If you don't mind, I will bother John to keep me posted.

Linda

The Crescat said...

you have my continued prayers.

Anonymous said...

Novena to St Peregine for you, dear. - Karen

Anonymous said...

I am praying for you Hilary.

Tom

John said...

Hilary, I am so sorry. I do pray for you every day and will continue to do so. I wish my prayers were worth more in God's eyes.

Sean M. Brooks said...

Hi, Hilary Jane!

I'm very sorry for the discomform and pain you have now. I'll gladly pray for you.

Sincerely, Sean

Anonymous said...

Hillary, I am so sorry. I mean it. I will pray. Hugs from Okinawa

Wendy in VA said...

We'll keep praying for you.

Trad Dad said...

You are in my prayers each & every day . Pax et bonum.

Elinor said...

Have been praying for you all along, will redouble efforts.

Agellius said...

I am distressed to hear it and will certainly remember you.