Feelings After Medication

Prescription medications have been a challenge to me on my journey to
wellness. During the month of April I was taking phenobarbital, which
is an anti-seizure medication. It had many negative effects, including
my feeling doped up, uncoordinated, unbalanced, and thick-headed. I
lacked clarity, and I was not able to write much or go for walks.
Finally, my radiation oncologist, Dr. Paul Mitchell, discovered the
problem. He talked to the doctor who had prescribed the medication,
and I was able to taper off the phenobarbital. According to a current
article in the Journal of Neurology, I never did need an anti-siezure
medication, because I had never had a siezure. Now I am feeling normal
emotional ups and downs again.

Overall, the most difficult medication for me has been decadron, which
is a steroid. I had to take it to avoid excess swelling in my brain
after removal of the brain tumor. Side effects of decadron include
mood swings, panic attacks, a huge appetite, swelling in the face, neck
and waistline, and inability to sleep and relax. It has been good to
taper off this addictive medication. The side effects are almost gone,
except for the insomnia. I expect to be totally off this medication in
a couple weeks.

Currently I am undergoing oral chemotherapy and daily (Monday through
Friday) radiation treatment at the Rocky Mountain Cancer Center. I am
fortunate to have had very little nausea from the chemotherapy. The
radiation treatment is located right at the place where the brain tumor
was, rather than general radiation to my whole brain. Unlike many
women patients at the cancer center, who have lost all of their hair
from chemotherapy, my chemotherapy does not cause any hair loss, and I
am only losing my hair where the radiation goes in, at the back and the
right side of my head. The main side effect of my treatment is that
radiation causes a lot of fatigue. I expect to complete the radiation
treatments at the end of May. Then I am supposed to gradually recover
and get my energy back during June. I plan to go back to work in July.

Fortunately, ever since my brain surgery on February 28, I have mostly
been feeling an attitude of gratitude and thankfulness. I am fortunate
to have had a good life so far, to have wonderful family, friends and
good clients, and to have a good prognosis for my future.