Can We Talk Neuropathy?

I suffer from chemo induced neuropathy in my hands and my feet. My hands are not to bad, sensitive fingertips and pain only when I hit something hard with my fingers. My feet are a different matter. The ball of my foot is almost constantly tingly, my toes are sometimes like that but often numb feeling, my heels are occasionally tingly. And on this trip, add a bout of plantar fasciatis, in my left heel. Put these together and I am frustrated by it being sometimes painful, always uncomfortable to walk. And, what do you do when you are on vacation in Stiges, Barcelona, Paris? Walk.
I am upping my intake of ibuprophen and thinking of picking up a cane at the Chinese store. The ibu should help reduce inflamation and the can will take pressure off of my heel. This morning coming down stairs I stepped a bit to the side on my left foot and a sharp pain shot from my heel up my leg and into my calf. Not fun. I also read that I can get a heel cup of some sort. I'll have to track that down. The neuropathy numbness and tingling I just have to continue to live with. When I see Melody and she uses the Ondamed I do get neuropathy relief. I'll be back in Chicago in June.

And Now On A Serious Note

In 2010 I was diagnosed with Hodgkin's lymphoma and went through chemo. You can read all about it in the beginning of this blog or by going to my original blog. It is now just over five years from my original diagnosis and I no longer have Hodgkin's. I do have a form of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma but it is slow growing and, though a concern, not a major concern. Regular oncologist visits with blood work and occasional CTs keep me informed as to where I stand.

This evening I was reading some of a friend's cancer blog and ran across his post treatment "Chemo Survival Tips." I had not read Bev's tips before but they are spot on. His chemo cocktail was similar to mine and his experiences were similar - but not the same. I suspect that everyone does not react to chemo in the same way. Bottom line, his tips if they were available to me when I went through chemo would have made my experience easier. I found that providers don't prepare us enough and sometimes do not fully understand what we are going through. Find and use every available resource to help you through - and those of us who have been there are important resources.

You might wonder why I was reading Bev's blog and his tips. I have Adult Attention Deficit Disorder and I never know where I will end up when I am online. Tonight it was to Bev's blog.

Also, you may wonder why I am in Spain for about six weeks this year. It is because my wife, Sharon, is a saint and knows that since chemo I do not do well with cold - temperature regulation is a continuing problem. She felt that time in a warm climate and in the sun when it is still cold in Chicago would be good for me. So here I am.