This chapter is all about getting back to normal. Whether you spent four days or twenty-four in the hospital, you will no doubt still feel at least some of the after-effects of your radiation or chemotherapy once you’re home. And the question at the top of your list is probably ‘When oh when will I feel good again?’
I was in the hospital for twenty-five days and when I left my taste buds were still screwed up, I had no appetite, mucositis and diarrhea were constant companions, and I had no energy. And despite the fact that I went almost the whole twenty-five days in the hospital without eating, I checked out weighing fifteen pounds more than when I checked in due to fluid retention!
In other words, I felt like crap.
Believe it or not, though, within two months of my transplant date I felt like a new person, and most likely you will too. My weight dropped by fifty pounds, my mucositis finally disappeared, foods were beginning to taste like they had before, and my energy was slowly increasing. On the flip side I continue to have problems with my GI tract (alternating appearances by diarrhea and constipation) and my dry mouth has held on longer than normal. As you can see, feeling normal is a subjective thing. The real lesson here is that growing a new immune system takes a year, and during that time you’ll see forward and backward progress, but overall you should find yourself moving forward.
With that in mind, here’s what I’ll cover in this chapter:
- At-Home Care-Giver Issues
- Daily Journal
- Removal of the Aphaeresis Line
- Continued Blood Count Progress
- Problems
- Aches, Pains, Bumps and Bruises
- Needle Aspiration Biopsies
- Appetite/Taste Bud Shift/Dry Mouth
- Nausea
- Fluid Retention
- Constipation and Diarrhea
- Apathy and Depression
- Difficulty Sleeping
- Weight Loss/Gain
- Weekly PAGs
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