When nausea comes from out of nowhere

PHOTO: Brett and I

I wake in the morning at 6-ish to get ready for work. The first thing I do is take 1500mg of Keppra, 150mg of Vimpat, and an anti-nausea pill called Kytril. It's chemo week with Temodar.

The other day I became very nauseated.

I was washing my hair when it began. My stomach was churning--but no, I had to keep going or else I'd be late for work.

I kept going, washing, adding conditioner. At this point I was bent over, wanting to throw up but knowing I couldn't because I'd lose all the pills that hadn't had enough time to dissolve.

I kept making the kind of noises a person makes when uncomfortable, miserable, or in pain. It was embarrassing.

Then Brett entered the bathroom and asked if anything was wrong. I told him about the nausea--I just wanted to get out of the shower. I didn't think I could towel myself dry. I was hunched over so far.

I asked Brett for help. I couldn't dry myself because the world was spinning and at any moment I think I'd loose whatever was in my stomach. My head hurt. My body was shaking.

Brett dried me with the towel. He put my bathrobe around me and wrapped the towel around my head like a turban. I staggered into the bed as Brett covered me with blankets.

He brought me some crackers and water. The crackers helped.

I texted a co-worker to pass on the word that I'd be late.

I slept for an extra hour.

Then I cleaned up and got ready for work.