The side effects after chemo 5 were pretty standard. I puked, twice. Felt sick for 3 days. Started eating again on day 4. Was very tired for days 3-6. What was new and a really unneeded side effect however, was the dreaded chemo brain. I’d heard the phrase bandied around but hadn’t really had it before. This time it hit.
Chemo Brain for the Uninitiated.
Confusion
Floaty feeling
Slow thought process
Forgetfulness
Dizziness
Vertigo
Finally and worst, a very weird sensation that my brain was left behind on a 10 second delay any time I moved my head. It created a horrible sicky feeling and gave a sensation of being in two places at once.
So I had chemo Thursday 16th. Nine days before Christmas. I was supposed to be driving home Monday 20th to my Mums and then on to my daughters Thursday 23rd.
Complication one: chemo brain. It hit about day 3 and was ongoing until Wednesday day 7. I was worried about getting across the country with it. I wasn’t up to the train, lugging a bag on and off trains. I wasn’t sure if I was OK to drive.
Complication two: snow. It had been snowing on and off in England for two weeks. The snow had piled up and melted once and then piled up again just before Christmas. Driving home with chemo brain and in the snow was a scary proposition.
Complication three: R. His kids spend every Christmas at their mums. Usually he goes abroad to avoid being on his own. This year he had chosen to stay at home. I don’t think it was for me. He didn’t want to go to his ex wife’s for the day and I was worried about him being alone on Christmas day.
My daughter told me repeatedly not to drive if I wasn’t well enough. I prevaricated indefinitely over what to do. Finally, finally, I determined to damn it all and go.
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