Friday evening I was feeling fine and decided to sit at my desk and get caught up on some email. A couple of hours later, I got up from my desk and tried to walk to my bedroom when I realized my ankles wouldn't bend. They were stiff and just wouldn't bend at all.
When I looked down, this is what I saw. How disgusting and scary is this?!
My last chemo was on December 7 and the doctor said I could stop taking my diuretic one week later. I took my last Lasix on Wednesday and this is what happened to me on Friday. Needless to say, I am back on my diuretic. I also bought some compression stockings to wear until the fluid retention went down.To top it all off, Saturday night I had an employee Christmas party to attend. I am usually all worked up about what to wear, how to do my hair, etc. Not this year. I didn't have much of a choice. I pulled on stretch pants and found a top that had some red in it and still fit. No sexy shoes for me. I wore my compression stockings and Dansk clogs. They were the only shoes that I could get on my feet. They were brown and my stretch pants were black. Oh well - it was the best I could do. And hair - how to do my hair? What a joke. I put on a wig and called it good.
Today the swelling is down and I am back to normal. Whatever that is. I don't feel normal at all. I feel lost. I look in the mirror and I barely recognize myself.
My goal for 2012 is simple. Get myself back. Hopefully stronger and healthier than before all this mess.
Wowza!!!
ReplyDeleteI can relate to you with the swollen legs. My last chemo was Nov 30th and I didn't get prescribed a diuretic as I am now having radiation therapy. Every night my legs look like yours and I have to keep up my water intake for the radiation - a no-win situation!
ReplyDeleteCatherine in New Zealand
I have not had that type of bloating....YET...and hopefully I won't!!! Jen, you will get yourself back, and this time next year when you are waltzing in your stilletos (or at least kitten heels) you will look back and laugh at this. Very brave of you to go to the party despite the swelling and baldness. You are a SURVIVOR!
ReplyDeleteCancer Warrior
www.perksofcancer.com
p.s My sister just gifted me with a trip to Florida to see her, YAY! Flying out on Jan. 2!
Holy wow! Your poor legs! Your goal for 2012 sounds good to me!
ReplyDeleteThat picture is positively frieghtening. Of course, not as frieghtening as cancer, but still.
ReplyDeleteGlad you are feeling better. Enjoy the holiday!