Warning: This Is Disgusting!

I stuck out my tongue in front of the mirror yesterday morning, and what did I see?

Red sore patches, with whitish borders. My tongue looks like someone beat it up, and that's how it feels, too. 

So, being no dummy, I called my oncologist's office and talked to one of his nurses. She asked a few questions, and said she would call in a prescription for a rinse for me to use. I think she said it is probably a yeast infection in my mouth. 

Now this is really great. NOT. I've only had one dose of my new chemo drug, gemcitabine, and I already feel like crap and have a roadmap to somewhere disgusting in my mouth. 

I took Connie the Wonder Dog and walked to the drugstore to pick up my prescription yesterday afternoon. The walk helped. Being out in the fresh air almost always makes me feel better when I feel like this after chemo. Then when I got home I used the rinse, and I used it a couple more times before bed. (Four times a day is what it says on the label. I'm also supposed to rinse it around my mouth for as long as I can, and then SWALLOW it. It was hard to force myself to swallow, but the nurse said I probably have the same problem all the way down through my 40-some feet of intestines. Argh.)

This morning, my tongue doesn't look any better. As soon as I finish my coffee I'm going to rinse and swallow again.  

I'm supposed to go in again tomorrow for another dose of the gemcitabine. 

That raises all sorts of issues for me. I'm going to try and focus my brain and write them down so I can have a discussion with Dr. Lee tomorrow. 

At the most basic level, I DO NOT WANT TO DO THIS DRUG. But I have a tumor in my lung that did not respond to my previous regimen, so it was time to ramp it up, according to my doctors. I think I was living in the fine state of Denial on that one. I would have let it go for a few more months on the old regimen, which was tolerable, as this one is not. 

For the record, these are the drugs I'm on: Hereptin, Tykerb, zometa, and the gemcitabine. That's a lot. 

OK, I'm done ranting, at least for now. I will refrain from posting a photo of my disgusting tongue--that would truly be too much information. 

Heavy rain this morning, but if it stops I'm going to go out for a bit and plant a few bulbs. I have crocuses and those little daffodils (that are really narcissus) blooming now. The big daffodils and tulips are up, but not budding yet.

@ Jeanne Sather 2009.  

Comments

[Carver]

I'm so sorry you are having to deal with so much Jeanne. I had thrush on my tongue about a year ago and my oncologist prescribed a rinse which did work. I don't remember what it was but I hope yours will clear up. I found that very disquieting too. Take good care of yourself, Carver

[Penelope]

I've dealt with thrush -- yuck! I opted for the pill version -- I've never heard anything positive about the topical treatment in terms of how well it works. I have heard that it's slow. The pill I took is a general anti-fungal -- diflucan I think is the spelling. I've taken it for persistent candida too. I can email you more info if you want it.

I'm curious and wondered whether you'd consider posting what your chemo regiment or schedule is. My impression is that there are daily pills and then you have to go in for a treatment every so often, which is now weekly with the gemcitabine, but I'm not really clear on that. My spouse asked me something about it, and as I tried to explain to him I realized I didn't have a good understanding of it myself.
I hope you feel better quickly. Stuff messing with my mouth bugs the hell out of me. It's one of those "not supposed to be that way" things.

[Yvonne]

I feel your pain!!! I have had this reaction to all five treatments thus far. Yes all 40 feet of it was affected. In fact I am rinsing along with you this week!! The rinse does work give it a couple of days.

[jeanne Sather]

Thanks, everyone.

Yvonne--we can swish and swallow in unison here ... On the count of three, 1, 2, 3 ...

OK, I don't feel well and I'm getting punchy. But I have some new drugs to try for my mouth and ect., plus the rinse, which feels good.