One of the side effects of my chemotherapy is called
peripheral neuropathy. This gives me
some interesting symptoms, but, annoyingly, also intensifies my natural
clumsiness. The neuropathy gives me a
sensation of stroking sandpaper, even when I stroke silk or a baby’s skin. My fingers, toes, and sometimes whole feet often
have a sensation of pins and needles. I
have developed a technique to button buttons – buttons now require
premeditation.
When I am in total darkness, or have my eyes closed to
shampoo, I need to put a hand on a wall to know which way is up. I asked my wonderful oncologist if the flawed proprioception, too,
was a symptom of neuropathy, and she said that it was.
I have no idea if the next two oddities may be peripheral
neuropathy or some other neurological symptoms.
One of them has been with me for more than a year; I love it. I call it the heating-pad effect. When I lean back against a chair or bed, I
feel a comforting warmth. The first time
I felt it was at Betsy’s house; I thought it strange that Betsy would have
heated furniture. She said she
didn’t. In summer heat I don’t notice
it. Maybe I don’t lean back so often in
summer.
The newest symptom is oddest to me, I hear bells when I shake my head vigorously
from side to side, as I do to show dissent.
The bells are high pitched, like jingle bells, but more musical. I’ve noticed this symptom for about a
month. I wondered if the sound might be
the loose screw. The mind [brain] is,
indeed, a strange and wonderful place.
