#10 The little stuff

I have been told by several people that it usually takes a few days to bounce back from a treatment.  With that in mind, I had planned on spending Saturday in the Hospital getting an expensive lube job, and Sunday/Monday at the house doing whatever it is that chemo patients do.  I experienced some brief, albeit violent retroperistalsis on Sunday evening but once it was over, I felt somewhat "normal".  I was able to make it to church on Sunday and on Monday morning I made the decision to go back to work.  I wasn't feeling great but I knew I would feel worse if I laid in bed thinking about it.  Work went well.  I think there were a few people surprised to see me back but all in all, it was business as usual and then I started to notice a few small things that reminded me that I was still a patient.

• Skin peeling like a sunburn on my fingers.
• A flushed face,  again, feeling like a sunburn in the evenings and mornings.
• Waking up with itchy hands that are red as if you have held them in hot water? (thanks Greg, and Dr. Sheffields)
• Mouth sores!  My mouth has felt like an oral minefield the last few days. 

The most surprising thing about this week has been some signs of mental stress.  I am about 50/50 for having dreams about chemo.  I'm not talking about some indirect tie to treatment,  I am talking about full on, connected to the port, tubes, meds, heat flashes, and a general feelings of terribleishness.  Nothing makes the body feel more refreshed and rested than a chemo dream.  I thought I was handling things well but apparently there is more to it.