This morning at one of the intersections a couple blocks from work, it smelled like pancakes, maple syrup, and shrimp. I couldn't decide if it smelled delicious or sickening.
The thing about going back into therapy is that you have to get a lot more sick in order to get better. I can tell I'm getting healthier and I feel like I have more options for my mental and emotional well-being, but man, is this ever exhausting. I feel like my skin is thin and shredding constantly. My stomach is upset and I'm having a hard time eating and sleeping. I'm glad that I already stopped drinking. It would be much harder to get better if I hadn't gone dry.
On top of all that, Jinny is moving back to Portland. I think it's absolutely the right decision for her, but I'm sad. She's one of the women that mean the most in my life, and we've shared so much...but I guess if one of my best friends can live in another state, then it's okay for Jinny, too.
At least I can go down to Portland pretty easily, it's right there. I could use a vacation. In fact, Jinny's 30th birthday is in a couple of weeks and I'd love to get down there to celebrate and get a night away from my life.
I'm going to miss her so much.
The treatment can be physically exhausting for the patient. Current chemotherapeutic techniques have a range of side effects mainly affecting the fast-dividing cells of the body. Important common side-effects include (dependent on the agent):
- Nausea and vomiting
- Diarrhea or constipation
- Anemia
- Malnutrition
- Memory loss
- Depression of the immune system hence (potentially lethal) infections and sepsis
- Hemorrhage
- Secondary neoplasms
- Cardiotoxicity
- Hepatotoxicity
- Nephrotoxicity
- Ototoxicity
- Death
