One of the stupid side-effects of chemo, is that it dries out your skin. I have slathered on lots of hand cream, but when it is essential to wash your hands a lot to kill germs, it doesn't do much good. I'm sure the cold weather isn't helping the matter, plus I don't wear gloves if I can get away with it. The skin on the pad of my right thumb is cracked and (WHIMP ALERT!) I'm having a little difficulty doing certain things.
Doing dishes by hand is a fun thing to do now. Ouch. Zipping my jeans (that's right - try it and see exactly where your thumb touches the zipper pull and that is where my "thumb" crack is) not to mention buttoning anything. Ouch, again. Try holding a pen and writing!
Another thing I was told to be very careful about was cuticles and fingernails. Huh? I was told if cuticles get dry, they will crack and cause an infection. Ouch. I have noticed that my nails are dry and feel kinda brittle. My toenails are holding up beautifully, because my last pedicure is lasting longer than usual, and the polish seems to be protecting them. No ouch
Everyone constantly uses their thumb when picking something up, and if you are right-handed like me, and it's your right thumb (oh for goodness sake, here we go again) OUCH! But just think of all the sensitive nerve endings you have in the pads of your fingers.
Considering that it doesn't bother me to have a needle shoved into the port in my chest for chemo and having to sit for five hours until the treatment is done, it really seems that I am making too big of a deal about this. Uh, I guess I am. Call me Wendy Whiner - call me grouchy - call me a diva. It doesn't change the fact that . . . my thumb hurts.
I received a lovely card from a couple from church, today, with a picture of my yellow flowers! How very thoughtful, Jan and Dan. Also got a phone call from my friend Sandy, from Atlanta. She and I can go a few months between calls, and then when we do talk, we just pick up the conversation from where we left off from the last time. She is definitely one of those "lifer" friends and boy, have we shared lots about our lives with each other over the years.
I will close now. Don't mind me. I am just going to sit awhile and suck my thumb. Maybe that will make it feel better. Did I mention that it hurts?
GOD BLESS YOU ALL