Yet Another Setback

Here's another entry for my dictionary of medical horrors: rhabdomyolysis: Muscles are a tasty snack!

It all started last weekend, when we were preparing to leave Los Angeles. I was so sick and so terribly nauseous that I not only stopped trying to eat, but also seriously slowed my fluid intake. On Sunday, the day we flew home, I threw up over and over in the hotel room before we left for the airport. To avoid throwing up on the flights, the only thing I drank all day was a small glass of apple juice on the first flight. The minute we got settled into the van at the Knoxville airport, I threw up in a plastic bag that we keep in the door pocket for that very purpose.

The nausea and vomiting continued, relentless. I always have some muscle pain and general weakness after the Yondelis treatments, which I have always attributed to the Neulasta shot. It was so painful that I skipped the shot this time, opting to have my blood counts closely monitored for any drop. So I was a little surprised that I was experiencing worse pain and weakness than when I did have the shot.

By Tuesday evening, the pain in both arms was excruciating. I took a couple of Advil and cried myself to sleep. By Wednesday, my arms were so weak that I couldn't lift a glass without assistance. I began to contemplate the possibility that this was more than just my regular post-chemo agonies. During that night, I woke up several times moaning or crying from the pain. On Thursday morning, I told Don that I was going to have to go to the hospital because this amount of difficulty was obviously not within normal limits.

Blood tests at the hospital revealed that my CK (creatine kinase) level was more than 600. That's 3 times the normal amount. The doctor diagnosed a mild case of rhabdomyolysis, also known as "muscle wasting". It happens when the muscle fibers begin to break down and myoglobin is released into the bloodstream. It is extremely harmful to the kidneys, and can even cause kidney failure in extreme cases (thankfully, mine was very, very mild).

The treatment for rhabdomyolysis is mass quantities of i.v. and oral fluids. I stayed at the hospital for six hours and received i.v. fluids, then the CK test was repeated and my level was beginning to drop. I came home and began a regimen of LOTS of fluids here at home. I will have the blood test repeated on Monday.

Due to the intense pain and weakness in my arms, I have been helpless and truly miserable. Even though I can finally lift a glass again, if it's not too heavy, I have a hard time doing many ordinary tasks. I can't roll myself in the wheelchair or buckle my own seatbelt or lift my laptop. I can't sew, can barely type, and just the simple process of getting dressed today made me hurt so much that I had to take Advil. It really makes me think about how much I have taken my arms for granted. My legs have failed me again and again, but I could always depend on my arms. Now, I wonder how long it will take to rebuild the lost muscle fibers and regain full strength of my arms. It's a sobering prospect.

How many ways can my body betray me?

:-) Sharon

P.S. - For those of you who haven't heard: Yes, the wheelchair came back! The airline found it and delivered it to our hotel at 3:30 in the morning on Thursday. I was really happy to see it!