Back on Line
I'm back. Sorry for the silence. It's been a struggle. I was fine on Friday when Mendon and Kristen first came to visit for their Spring Break. Then on Saturday I started to feel pretty yucky. And it went downhill from there.
We all thought I was developing a cold, but it was a reaction to the 5-FU. In addition to the cold-like symptoms, I developed blisters on my hands and feet and sores in my mouth and throat. Plus, I wasn't keeping food down. The upshot is they took me off the 5-FU the following Tuesday and infused me with saline solution twice. They consideered admitting me, but didn't. I take that as a good sign.
I have sort of lost track of everything that went on, but they didn't put me back on the 5-FU (mostly at my request). I only have two more radiation treatments, so there is little point in risking the side-effects.
I am feeling much better now and am really looking forward to the end of radiation.
Comments
Maybe it's an indication of my tainted mind (and I should keep it to myself), but I don't know what 5-FU means, and every time you've mentioned having to take "Five F-You" I've thought it sounds horrible. I'm sorry to hear it's been getting the better of you...(my brain laughingly replied "oh yeah 5-FU, well FU-2"....it's SO wrong)
Posted by: Valerie | March 24, 2006 6:31 PM
YEah- I had a laugh the other night about how appropriate the name is. I had watched a film with particularly vulgar lanhuage and then I read your previous blog. I realized that it totally sounded like Five F*%@ You. I think my sense of humor must have been outweaighed by worry because I have never ceased to be amused that the Virginia standardized tests are called the S.O.L.'s and that we have a program of studies that delineates the standards for our county- it is called P.O.S.
Posted by: Rae | March 24, 2006 7:37 PM
5 FU, in case anyone wishes to REALLY know its truish name, is 5-fluorouracil which is an antimetabolite, antineoplastic. Lippincott's 2005 Nursing Drug Guide says it is pronounced (flure oh yoor a sill). Kind of reminds me of "oh what a silly goose I am". An equally phunny trade name for it is Efudex pronounced (eff you decks), which may designate a British phrase for what sailors do when swabbing. I suppose one could extrapolate this one as well. Any way one looks at it, it is an inappropriate nom dubium as it may FU very much with its aptitude for toxicity.
Posted by: papa | March 24, 2006 8:10 PM
Well, Val, it's my dirty mind, too. . .
Maman, I'm happy to see you back online.
Big hugs and kisses.
Posted by: Mara | March 25, 2006 9:54 AM