Saturday, October 25, 2008

My Third Chemo, 11 th Nuke

Salam and hello friends,

I wish I could say that everything is smoothsailing. I wish I could say that going through the treatments in battling cancer is just like going for a picnic. I wish I could say that having chemo is also like having ice-cream cone. I wish...

Yesterday, I completed my 11th radiation and 3rd chemo. I am now experiencing a bit of a stiff neck and dry and heaty mouth. I have been forewarned by people who had gone through the journey about dry mouth but just could not imagine how its like. Well, actually it is horrible. My lips started cracking, and my saliva thickened becoming phlegm-like. Everytime I have my milk (still can't eat, ok?), I have to clean my mouth thoroughly and it is a chore because some of the milk would get entangled with the web of stringy, phlegm-like saliva. Usually, by rinsing with water and mouthwash alone will not get the phlegm plus milk out. I have to use a piece of gauze to reach into my mouth up to the throat and gently pull it out. Then, my lips would start bleeding because of the rubbing of the gauze against it and also having to stretch lips wide enough.

After finishing my chemo last night which took about 7 hours, hubby came to take me home. I was so tired because I could not sleep at all during the chemo. After getting home, I got ready for bed but could not have a good sleep because my thick saliva started filling my mouth and occasionally got lodge at the throat. This made it hard to breath and I had to get up often to get the gooey stuff out of the way. That was not fun!

Swallowing has also become painful because my throat has become sore to the point even swallowing water is difficult. But, I have to force myself to consume lots of water to ease the heatiness and dry mouth. It does help. I am now only drinking oxygenated water and so I feel a lot better. I am also taking a lot of coconut water..yummy!

As I am writing this, I am also noticing that my hair is falling off. Not so much yet. Well, that is to be expected but still, its a bit scary. Good thing I had a good sense of cutting my hair real short. Well, my family thinks that I look cuter in short hair. Who knows I might look even cuter without hair...ha ha

Another thing, compared to Penang GH, I prefer Hospital Sultanah Bahiyah anytime! Will tell you more about Penang GH in my next posting...hmm a lot of stories...

Until then...

Bye, for now.

Sharifah
"Life is too short, but intend to grow old gracefully"

10 comments:

Unknown said...

salam sis...
i read your entry with a heavy lump in my throat trying to imagine ur ordeal...indeed, it's beyond my imagination... u r one tough lady you know, ur battle is hard but ur expressed it well in ur entry...i salute u sis...
my prayer is for u and all of us who battle the same fight...

take care

Anonymous said...

SALUTE to you General, for you have won many battles!!!
Pesevere and fight on, for i know you are going to come out victoriously in this WAR!!!!

monjablanca said...

SALAM
I pray that you e-mail me at what ever hour you wish I am now in
Berkeley,CA a mutual friend asked me to read your blog. I did And I beg that you learn to use clean "real-silk" and put it next to your mouth, put another piece on your pillow, used some on your mouth to clean. If anything it will feel cool to the touch.
I have been part of the cancer special club since before your time. (1972)
I had live in: San Fran,Petaluma and Marin I was told that maybe I had a cancer but that will be impossible because I was too young. I ingnore the un-ep
Doctor. After a few years I was given 6 months to live My Drs. told me to be brave, and face reality. And learn to accept death.
I don't understand things that I don't WANT to understand. And I told the Drs. that I will live until I would get ready. And modern medicine will catch up. With my type of cancer.Monjablanca

Sharifah Rashidah bt. Syed Ahmad said...

salam sis raden,
You are my inspiration as well. Been following your blog too and you are no less a fighter yourself.

Hang in there

Sharifah Rashidah bt. Syed Ahmad said...

Salam monjablanca,

Thank you for your suggestions. I would like to email to you but you did not provide your email add.

Why don't you email to me at sharifahmd@hotmail.com?

Would love to share experience with you...What type of cancer are you having?

biblio1 said...

Hi Sharifah,
Your uncle Ku mentioned your blog to me. We go back many years to NIU in the US. When I was in the US, I was told that research shows that the ones who survive cancer the longest are the ones who either fight like hell or who are in total denial. Hope this helps. Keep up the good fight!

Queen Of The House said...

Salam Sharifah ... my thoughts and prayers are with you.

Reading your entries about the Penang GH oncology ward reminds me so much of my late mom. She had a brief battle with lung cancer (alhamdulillah she suffered only for about 3 months after finding out she had cancer). She was transferred to Penang GH from Alor Star's PMC for further tests/biopsies. That was in Nov 2006. I'd be interested to read about why you think the Sultanah Bahiyah hospital is better .... the Penang GH was such a glum memory for me.

Continue fighting, sis. It's no easy path but may Allah make it easier for you.

Queen Of The House said...

Assalamualaikum again Sharifah ... what a small world. I was just reading one of your earlier entries. I was at Carbondale in 1980 for the intensive English course too - I was with the batch that arrived there in May (big group from MRSM/Mara scholars). In fact, some of the names you mentioned of those who went to Eastern Illinois were in the same course/class and were staying at the apt in West Freeman with me!

Sharifah Rashidah bt. Syed Ahmad said...

Salam sitc,
Thanks for your kind words of encouragement.

I am now undergoing the chemo treatment. this my 4th. next week will be my last chemo. cant wait..

Sharifah Rashidah bt. Syed Ahmad said...

Salam queen,

Sorry to hear abt your late mom. Alfatihah..

Well, Penang gh is kind of glum. Will tell more in my next entry. as i am typing this, the chemo drug is flowing into my bloodstream. i m ok.

nice to know that we have mutual friends. hope to stay in touch.