Day 44 - Blisters (14 May 2022)
When I was discharged in December, I remember being more tired than I expected, but for the most part feeling good after my treatment concluded. I had stayed extra time in the hospital, as per my nature, because my numbers were slow to come up. And I expected everything to proceed the same way with this discharge.
Which of course is unrealistic, not the least of which I had different chemo in November versus January and February vs March. And while doctors kept telling me how strong the March chemo was, I kept thinking I would feel the same at discharge.
The first indication that things would be different came a couple days before discharge when spontaneous blisters began to appear on my feet. The doctors waved them away due to the flip flops I was wearing on my daily walks. Firstly, while I was walking, I wasn’t walking enough to cause a blister. And second, the blisters were appearing in places that I wouldn’t get them from a flip flip.
By day of discharge, the number of blisters was growing and still no reason in sight.
Also on the day of discharge, my biopsy bandage was removed and reveled blisters on my lower back as well and a new sensitivity to bandages and tape that makes dressing the growing problem area a challenge.
And while all of this happened before I was discharged, it couldn’t shake my excitement for getting home. But after about 12 hours of being home, the blisters got worse. And kept getting worse over the next few days. It got to the point where I could barely walk and sitting was incredibly uncomfortable.
Believe me when I say, you DO NOT want to see the photos.
On Monday, I saw the early dispatch dermatology team and they recommended that I see the head of derm that week. When I met Dr Stretch (he is TAALL) on Thursday, he was finally able to diagnosis my condition and give me a treatment plan.
It’s called TEC or toxic erythema due to chemotherapy. Ususally occurring in weeks 1-4 after chemo, my case is just a bit delayed, of course. The blisters have filled and burst multiple times. Shoes are difficult to get on and even sleeping has been painful. Before diagnosis and in pain last week, I wondered if this was chemo leaving my body, but thought that was 6-7 weeks ago, how could it be happening now? And yet, that’s exactly what it is.
We left the Dr Stretch’s office with a prescription for a topical cream and a soak for the various areas involved. 2 days later, I can’t explain the improvement. Mom has been diligently tending to the area and today a visiting nurse arrived to help out. We both exclaimed that she really wasn’t seeing the outbreak at its worst. That’s how much improvement there has been in the past 48 hours.
I’m also delighted to say that after 5 days at Yale this week, it looks like we might drop to 2 visits next week. Which is fantastic! I haven’t had any platelet transfusions this week and yet my platelets have increased on their own from 19 to 24. Blood work on Monday will be important to see if I was able to sustain these numbers over the weekend, which may allow me to drop down to two appointments per week. My immunity number dropped during the week and we’re hoping a shot on Monday will resolve this.
There has been unexpected pain this week, but perhaps it’s kept me from focusing too much on my platelets and getting to just two appointments per week. Also, this is the first pain I have experienced since my diagnosis and that is something for which I am grateful.