No Eat, No Happy

I’m pretty sure that I’m addicted to food and water.  No, it’s not just the innate drive to live and survive.  Much like the alcoholic and their eye opener, I awoke this morning, thinking about that first glass of … water.  Even my Keurig was taunting me by turning on when I came downstairs.  Knowing that I could not eat or drink after 6 am for my 10 am CT-Angio this morning, naturally I awoke early.  Thinking that it was after 6 am, I laid in bed listening to Chris wash dishes and Peter prepare for school.  When I finally drug myself out of bed, I discovered it was only 6:30 am.  Ugh, I could have had that glass of water had I arisen upon my first cognitive thoughts and eyes opening.  Of course, what does one do when they get up so early?  Well, I might as well exercise.  After 4 miles of walking on the treadmill, thinking about water the whole time, my thirst only increased.  Chris didn’t need to remind me (but he did) that exercise is the last thing he would be doing if he were NPO (nothing to eat or drink).   As for me, exercise is the best distraction.  I also read a book while on the treadmill, to produce even greater distraction.   

All right, I can hear you.  Isn’t your appetite supposed to be suppressed and aren’t you supposed to be nauseated while on chemotherapy?  The answer is yes and no.  In my vast experience of 1 infusion, I’ve observed that my appetite is suppressed for about a week and then it roars back voraciously.  The nausea is worse on the first 4-5 days after infusion but then lingers intermittently for about a week, but not enough to inhibit eating.  For the 5 days prior to infusion, my appetite acts like a goat, eating everything in its way.  And with the chemo shrinking the nodes that were strangling my esophagus, eating is easier now as well.  Hopefully, I can keep my activity level high enough to keep my weight from creeping up too high. 

Now, about that CT-angiogram.  It was performed in hopes of determining the cause of my low blood pressure (hypotension).  Yes, you read LOW blood pressure (BP).  After being treated for high blood pressure (typically around 170/110), I have now been off of BP meds for nearly 3 weeks and have been recording BP’s in the 90/60 range.  This has resulted in bouts of lightheadedness and fatigue, particularly with changes in position.  The CT revealed the anatomy of my vessels in relation to my port to be sure that this was not contributing to my hypotension.  Although I don’t have an official report of the CT yet, I was able to review the images and it all appears normal (see below).

Just a note for those who’ve never endured the unique experience of a CT with contrast.  CT contrast gives a very interesting, warming sensation.  As it travels through the veins, it produces a flushing feeling in the face, bitter taste in the mouth and then a warming sensation in the urethral region, as the tech describes it, “Like you have just urinated on yourself.”  It doesn’t actually cause one to urinate, but just makes you feel as if you did.  The scanning takes only about 5-10 minutes after the intravenous injection of the contrast.  And, of course, due to the imaging of the neck, they ask you to, “not swallow” which immediately triggers an urgency to swallow.  If you’re lucky enough to obtain a chest CT they similarly request, “Stop breathing.”   Overall, it’s not a terrible experience, except the ravenous suffering from starvation and thirst (ok, maybe a little exaggerated!)

People who love to eat are always the best people.  - Julia Child 

Bones and vessels are white.  Dark areas represent air-filled spaces such as sinuses, lungs, esophagus (NO, not my brain).   K