When I began taking Adriamycin and Cytoxan, I faithfully followed my schedule of anti-emetics. One of the pills affected me in a way that still makes me shudder with horror.
A day or two after chemotherapy, I noticed that I was unsteady on my feet. I wondered about this new cocktail being given to me but then shrugged off any worry. The next day, my dizziness worsened. The room began to tip back and forth. I could barely get around the house. Another day passed and the room began to spin. I tried to stand but it was impossible. I wondered if throwing up might stop the spinning but could not muster the courage to vomit.
It was summer time and my kids were playing rambunctiously in the living room. I wanted to spend time with them so I lay on the floor and tried to watch them play. It was like looking at the deck of a ship as it was angrily tossed about during a hurricane. I hugged the floor and tried to focus on their fun.
For four days, I lay on the floor of our living room. Periodically, I would stagger to the restroom or shower like a drunkard. Mostly, I slept. Sometimes I watched the children out of one eye. My husband is a hero to me. He took on everything during those four awful days. Finally, I stumbled to the kitchen to read the dancing description of side effects from each medicine bottle.
As I read the list of side effects, I came to realize that my dizziness was caused by one of the medications. How I despise those devil pills! If I had a sling shot, I would send each capsule flying!
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