In case you’ve been wondering where I’ve been, this pic gives you the gist. I went to a hot yoga class on Sunday evening and by the end, I felt awful. I went home and promptly realized i was sick with a capital “S.” 102.5 temperature, sore throat, chills.
The thing with being on chemo is that they want you to call the office EVERY time your temperature goes above 100.4 degrees. And when you call, you’re at the mercy of the on-call doctor who will tell you to either A) stay home and watch the fever while hydrating the crap out of your body or B) come to the ER…. which is exactly what I had to do on Christmas Eve when I became one of Boston’s confirmed influenza cases.
I lucked out Sunday. No ER visit. But I felt like death and the next day I felt a little less awful but still pretty awful. More like half-death. I felt so bad that I didn’t even change out of the tank top I had worn to the hot yoga class. Gross, right? But that’s how bad I felt. Doing only the bare minimum to survive.
And today I feel much better except for one kind of major issue. I have my first whopper of a chemo side effect: Oral thrush on the back of my tongue and in my throat. It makes swallowing painful and it sure ain’t pretty.
I’m most definitely using our Christmas Amazon gift certificates on a Vitamix, the crazy expensive uber-blender my Facebook friends overwhelmingly endorsed when I asked the question, “Do Vitamix blenders live up to the hype or do their owners just want to justify spending huge money on an appliance? Discuss.”
Responses included: “My sister got one for free and said that it changed her life”; ” It’s pretty amazing. It doesn’t compare to any blender out there.”; “they are amazing. put off buying one for years. big mistake”; “YES!! 10 years daily juicing and works wonderfully! It took me 3 years to buy it, never regret it.”
Hi Meg. Sorry you have been sick. It finally hit Uncle Bruce and I. I can’t imagine what your feeling with having it with chemo. This stuff is really kicking some butt! You hang in there. Hope you feel a lot better tomorrow. Love you. Aunt Nancy
Hope you guys feel better soon! Much love from here to Washington.
I’m so sorry about the flu! But I LOVE the picture 🙂
Glad you like it… It took MUCH longer than I planned. I am thinking of getting an iPad stylus so I can do more.
That side effect sucked when i had it and when i had the radiation on my throat. I started to eat baby food. I remember they gave me some liquid to numb my throat so i could get some food down. Try and fight thru the pain you got to get nutrients in you
Mike, I was totally thinking baby food, too… Especially since I was buying some for the baby last night. When did you have cancer and how are you doing?? What kind of cancer?
Senior year of high school. Hodgkins. Ive been cancer free for 15 years now
Oh no!!!!! I’m so sorry. Hope this passes quickly! xoxox
Love that drawing….lol. So sorry you are sick with the flu bug. No fun along with everything else, but you still have your sense of humor.
You are so amazing Meg. When I had difficulty swallowing with post polio, I did a lot of puree food and applesauce – lots of applesauce. My daughter has concocted a lot of nutritious smoothies now that she is sugar and gluten free — she uses pumpkin, cocoa, bananas in one; strawberries, blueberries and almond milk in another. I can have her send you more ideas if you’d like. So much love to you and will continue to keep you in my heart and prayers. Love you
megan only you could make us laugh when sick! hope you feel better soon! my mom had thrush alot because of so many meds. they gave her a perscription for it. again hope you feel better! give the baby a birthday hug and kiss from me. love you guys.
I also love the pic! I strongly recommend coconut oil for the thrush. I rely on it every time me or the kids have had to use antibiotics. It can be added to any juice in the juicer as well. Ice helps the pain as well.
Oh yeah, and the coconut water and milk also work as a base in any juice and are also good anti-fungal. I recommend Swansons Vitamins (mail-order)for the best quality and price on coconut oil…it can be pricey but it’s the only oil I use for cooking now.
I hate hearing you are not well but it seems as though you have some very helpful advice here from friends and loved ones. I am here to chime in in your amazing art work!!! Keep drawing and maybe play draw something with me NO ONE will play with me (whiny annoying voice). Oh also, what us the show you reference?! Love ya!
i’ve only done hot yoga once. got sick right after. i’ve been told that it’s the toxins being expelled from the body from the stress, but i still haven’t been back. i really loved the sweat, but not the drill instructor’s barking delivery style. in any event, i also agree: cute pic. best wishes to you.
I had some coconut oil and raw honey sent to your house..both the best for thrush:)
I love my Vitamix and use it often. I have a feeling I will use it even more once I start my chemo!
I love love love my new vitamix! Friends of ours pitched in to get us one when I got diagnosed. They knew I’d been obsessed with it for awhile. I can’t tell you how thrilled I am with it. I know chemo would have been easier last time around if I’d had it then. I even make the kids play dough in it!