The day before chemo, I had to go for my CT scan. I was looking forward to getting the results but not looking forward to the test procedure because of the barium drink. The night before, I had to drink a bottle of barium and not eat after midnight. The drink made me gag so bad and made me have chills and I was nauseated. The next day, when I got to the hospital, I had to drink another one and that was rough but I made it through it. The test went well, they didn't give me any results but sent me home and told me my doctor would have the results the next day.
So it was chemo time again, the dreaded Wednesday!! The day that I have come to hate and to dread even days and days before it is even here! It's hard to describe how you dread it...I guess only those who have been through can really know what I am talking about, but it is not something you want to ever, ever do yet each day that goes by gets you closer to chemo day. The only consolation is knowing that each day gets you closer to being done also!!
I went in and my favorite nurse brought me back for bloodwork. She is so awesome and just has such a good personality. She always jokes with my husband and I and we look forward to seeing her every time. She always brags on me and says what a trooper I am and I smile and tell her thank you but deep down I feel so untrooper-like!
It took quite a bit for me to get a room, chemo was extra busy that day and that sometimes happens. Seems about every third time or so that it is just extra booked for some reason. The PA came in, she is such a wonderful woman and has long blonde hair down to her waist. When I first saw her, I was like: "Man, that's kinda a smack in the face to those losing their hair!" But then I found out why her hair is so long. She grows it out and when it gets too long, she donates it to Locks of Love! I just was so touched by that! She came in and sat down and asked how I was. I said my usual: "I'm fine." She said: "You're fine with pain and numbness and stomach pain??" and she smiled because she knows me by now and I try not to make a big deal out of it. I am sure there are loads of people worse than me...in fact, I have seen them there!!
I tell her how badly I want to know about my test results and she said I know you are so anxious so I am gonna give you the basics until the doctor can come in.
My results were great! She told me all the nodes and mass had come down tremendously and that I was still showing having a cyst on my ovary that we would need to keep check on and that there is a cyst on my kidney and that needs to be watched. We talked about the terrible pains in my stomach and that it could be ulcers and erosions from the chemo eating the lining of my stomach up. She prescribed for me Protonix to take twice a day to try to help heal it.
Then I waited on the doc to come in and he came in just beaming!! He said my results were so good. Most of the nodes were smaller than a centimeter now!! The mass had shrunk by half!! He said and I quote: "I was positive we would get a cure when we first began but seeing these results, I am 100% positive that we will get a cure!!" He said when I get done with chemo that we will do a PET scan to make sure every trace is gone. I will be anxious to get that test done!!
I went into the chemo room and Morgan, the therapy dog was there. She is so gentle and so sweet and just seems to calm everyone in the room! I stopped and petted her a bit and she wagged her tail and looked up at me with her big brown eyes.
Chemo started as usual with all the predrugs and the volunteer talked me into ordering lunch and I wish I hadn't! I ordered a BLT and I got so sick from it so I have made a vow not to eat anymore at chemo. It just ends up making me very sick!!
I was able to sleep through the last part of chemo and that was good. Now I am down to five more treatments! I honestly can't believe how fast it has gone!! I am so thankful though!! I am going to try to post a list of symptoms I have been dealing with in the hopes that I might can help someone else facing this in the future. More later.
Saturday, July 3, 2010
Friday, June 11, 2010
Chemo session # 6-We are half-way through!!!
It really has kinda gone fast..I can't believe that I am now half-way through but so glad that I am!!
This chemo treatment went ok. I saw both doctors and they told me that we are gonna do my scans on June 22nd right before I go in for the next chemo treatment. They handed me a bottle of that horrible barium drink to drink the night before and then I will have to drink one in the lab. I am not thrilled about this because it made me really sick when I did that the last time and I wasn't even on chemo so I can't imagine how it will be. But God will see me through it!!
The chemo room was so busy that every chair was full so I had to be put in the room where you have no privacy for a few minutes and then they moved me back in the chemo room but I still didn't have privacy except for a little screen they put beside me.
The volunteer came around to give me my lunch paper to fill out and I told her I would not be eating today. The thoughts of eating there makes me so sick and even typing this brings up images of the food and makes me ill!! I did get some apple juice and sipped that.
They gave me my premeds and I started to feel sleepy so I fell asleep. It was cold in the room for once instead of hot so they brought me a warmed blanket and I snuggled down and just slept. I slept through my first three chemo drugs and woke up around the time for my last drip.
I was feeling pretty nauseated but was so glad I had not eaten. My stomach felt crampy and I just felt kinda out of it like I could sleep some more but yet restless at the same time!!
Oh, I forgot to mention...when they were putting my needle in my port, it slipped and she had to move it. That did not feel good and it is still kinda sore today from that! They always try to pull blood back from the needle out of my port but it would not come this time for some reason, no matter how hard she tried. There were no leaks or anything though and the chemo drugs were going in fine so they weren't concerned.
I can tell now that each time I get chemo that it is setttling further into my system and making me feel worse and worse. I just get so weak and worn down and sick and I want to keep going and doing and try to but things just don't always go like I want and I have to rest. My husband gets on me all the time and says rest, rest..let me do this. I just am so used to keeping on going ..I need to learn to rest. I have to most of the time because my body won't let me do anything else!
I will try to do better about updating and plan on making a list of all symptoms that I have been experiencing too. I hope that this might help someone going through this someday!
This chemo treatment went ok. I saw both doctors and they told me that we are gonna do my scans on June 22nd right before I go in for the next chemo treatment. They handed me a bottle of that horrible barium drink to drink the night before and then I will have to drink one in the lab. I am not thrilled about this because it made me really sick when I did that the last time and I wasn't even on chemo so I can't imagine how it will be. But God will see me through it!!
The chemo room was so busy that every chair was full so I had to be put in the room where you have no privacy for a few minutes and then they moved me back in the chemo room but I still didn't have privacy except for a little screen they put beside me.
The volunteer came around to give me my lunch paper to fill out and I told her I would not be eating today. The thoughts of eating there makes me so sick and even typing this brings up images of the food and makes me ill!! I did get some apple juice and sipped that.
They gave me my premeds and I started to feel sleepy so I fell asleep. It was cold in the room for once instead of hot so they brought me a warmed blanket and I snuggled down and just slept. I slept through my first three chemo drugs and woke up around the time for my last drip.
I was feeling pretty nauseated but was so glad I had not eaten. My stomach felt crampy and I just felt kinda out of it like I could sleep some more but yet restless at the same time!!
Oh, I forgot to mention...when they were putting my needle in my port, it slipped and she had to move it. That did not feel good and it is still kinda sore today from that! They always try to pull blood back from the needle out of my port but it would not come this time for some reason, no matter how hard she tried. There were no leaks or anything though and the chemo drugs were going in fine so they weren't concerned.
I can tell now that each time I get chemo that it is setttling further into my system and making me feel worse and worse. I just get so weak and worn down and sick and I want to keep going and doing and try to but things just don't always go like I want and I have to rest. My husband gets on me all the time and says rest, rest..let me do this. I just am so used to keeping on going ..I need to learn to rest. I have to most of the time because my body won't let me do anything else!
I will try to do better about updating and plan on making a list of all symptoms that I have been experiencing too. I hope that this might help someone going through this someday!
Chemo # 5
I am so sorry that I am just now getting to write this! It has been a rough couple of weeks and so now I need to update on two chemo sessions.
This chemo was rough, to say the least! I went in and went through the usual talk with the doctor and we discussed that things were getting worse in the way of fatigue and weakness and sickness but we decided we are almost half-way there and will just keep plugging right along.
I went and picked out a chemo chair and they started my pre-meds. I now have Decradon, Zofran, Tylenol, Ativan, and Emend. Once these are all given, they push three of my chemo drugs and the last one is a drip that takes an hour. It usually takes about five hours for the whole process of blood work and seeing the doctor and then getting the chemo.
I was feeling nauseated but tried to order lunch again. I thought I would go safe and order some soup...this did not go well. Well, it went down good but then I started getting so nauseated. I would run to the bathroom and then just have dry heaves and could bring nothing up. I wished so badly that I could vomit because I would feel better but my stomach would just not bring anything up. This went on for two hours and was still like that when I got home. I started that night taking my new nausea med, Anzemet and with the Phenergan it seemed to help.
This is gonna be kinda of short since I now need to post about my latest chemo treatment from this Wednesday.
This chemo was rough, to say the least! I went in and went through the usual talk with the doctor and we discussed that things were getting worse in the way of fatigue and weakness and sickness but we decided we are almost half-way there and will just keep plugging right along.
I went and picked out a chemo chair and they started my pre-meds. I now have Decradon, Zofran, Tylenol, Ativan, and Emend. Once these are all given, they push three of my chemo drugs and the last one is a drip that takes an hour. It usually takes about five hours for the whole process of blood work and seeing the doctor and then getting the chemo.
I was feeling nauseated but tried to order lunch again. I thought I would go safe and order some soup...this did not go well. Well, it went down good but then I started getting so nauseated. I would run to the bathroom and then just have dry heaves and could bring nothing up. I wished so badly that I could vomit because I would feel better but my stomach would just not bring anything up. This went on for two hours and was still like that when I got home. I started that night taking my new nausea med, Anzemet and with the Phenergan it seemed to help.
This is gonna be kinda of short since I now need to post about my latest chemo treatment from this Wednesday.
Monday, May 24, 2010
4th Chemo Treatment
I woke up that morning feeling kinda sick to my stomach...totally dreading chemo! We stopped for a quick breakfast and went to the cancer center. They got me back fairly quickly for my blood work but then I had to wait on a room to be ready.
My blood pressure was up a little...I think my nerves were getting the best of me. I started feeling so sick to my stomach. I went over the usual symptoms questions with the nurse and then waited on the doctor.
When my doc came in, he was concerned about the severe pain that I had in my shoulder from the last chemo and wanted to do a chest x-ray just to make sure that the port was still sound and positioned correctly. He also said that because of the numbness in my face and in my toes and hands that he was gonna cut back some on the Vinblastine because he thinks it might be causing the numbness and he said it wouldn't affect my treatment.
Before going to the x-ray department, we discussed doing some testing to see how my progress is (something I am very anxious to have done!!). He said that after two treatments more, that I would be half-way through and we would do some scans. He said he expects to see some really good progress and I just pray it is gone!! That would encourage me to keep going!!
I went and had the x-ray and came back to wait for results. Everything was fine so they sent me back to the now dreaded chemo room and I was even more sick to my stomach...I am getting sick to my stomach now just even typing this.
They started my pre drugs and it wasn't helping with the nausea. I just kinda laid back and tried to relax. Once lunch came around. I tried to eat but it made it worse, I was about to throw up! The nurse came and talked with me and they went and got me some Ativan to help with my nerves and the nausea. This helped take the edge off but I still felt pretty sick.
I got home that night and was ok...still a little sick but hanging in. Over the next few days, I had so much nausea and food and smell aversion! Ya see, I am developing a real problem...I have read this is common in chemo patients. Anything related to chemo...the smells, the look, the foods I have eaten, the drinks I have consumed....the smell and taste of chemo...all of it makes me really sick to think about. For six days I was so sick to my stomach but hungry at the same time. I could not bear and still can't to think of salads...I could not stand to drink soda...Smells would make me so sick...I seemed to have hightened smell or something.
The nausea finally subsided and I felt some better and wanted to eat normally again. I just felt really worn down. Then I developed a really sore throat and tongue. They warned me this could happen but it hadn't so far. My tongue developed some thrush and I had blistery bumps on the roof of my mouth and in my throat. That lasted a few days...main thing is it hurt to swallow and eat.
I am trying really hard to deal with this anxiety and aversion I have for chemo but it is extremely hard! I start dreading it on the Sunday before. I can't even look at my chemo bag...I know it sounds stupid but the bag I take to chemo makes me remember chemo and then I start feeling sick. Yesterday I was looking at someone's blog and they had the ABVD images of the chemo drugs and I got so sick just looking at the bottles. When I go Wednesday for round five, I am going to talk to my doctor about this and see if there is anything that can be done to help. It is getting really bad!!
Well, that is all for now. I am sorry for the late update but with six days of bad nausea, it was hard to even discuss it.
I will try to do better this week!
My blood pressure was up a little...I think my nerves were getting the best of me. I started feeling so sick to my stomach. I went over the usual symptoms questions with the nurse and then waited on the doctor.
When my doc came in, he was concerned about the severe pain that I had in my shoulder from the last chemo and wanted to do a chest x-ray just to make sure that the port was still sound and positioned correctly. He also said that because of the numbness in my face and in my toes and hands that he was gonna cut back some on the Vinblastine because he thinks it might be causing the numbness and he said it wouldn't affect my treatment.
Before going to the x-ray department, we discussed doing some testing to see how my progress is (something I am very anxious to have done!!). He said that after two treatments more, that I would be half-way through and we would do some scans. He said he expects to see some really good progress and I just pray it is gone!! That would encourage me to keep going!!
I went and had the x-ray and came back to wait for results. Everything was fine so they sent me back to the now dreaded chemo room and I was even more sick to my stomach...I am getting sick to my stomach now just even typing this.
They started my pre drugs and it wasn't helping with the nausea. I just kinda laid back and tried to relax. Once lunch came around. I tried to eat but it made it worse, I was about to throw up! The nurse came and talked with me and they went and got me some Ativan to help with my nerves and the nausea. This helped take the edge off but I still felt pretty sick.
I got home that night and was ok...still a little sick but hanging in. Over the next few days, I had so much nausea and food and smell aversion! Ya see, I am developing a real problem...I have read this is common in chemo patients. Anything related to chemo...the smells, the look, the foods I have eaten, the drinks I have consumed....the smell and taste of chemo...all of it makes me really sick to think about. For six days I was so sick to my stomach but hungry at the same time. I could not bear and still can't to think of salads...I could not stand to drink soda...Smells would make me so sick...I seemed to have hightened smell or something.
The nausea finally subsided and I felt some better and wanted to eat normally again. I just felt really worn down. Then I developed a really sore throat and tongue. They warned me this could happen but it hadn't so far. My tongue developed some thrush and I had blistery bumps on the roof of my mouth and in my throat. That lasted a few days...main thing is it hurt to swallow and eat.
I am trying really hard to deal with this anxiety and aversion I have for chemo but it is extremely hard! I start dreading it on the Sunday before. I can't even look at my chemo bag...I know it sounds stupid but the bag I take to chemo makes me remember chemo and then I start feeling sick. Yesterday I was looking at someone's blog and they had the ABVD images of the chemo drugs and I got so sick just looking at the bottles. When I go Wednesday for round five, I am going to talk to my doctor about this and see if there is anything that can be done to help. It is getting really bad!!
Well, that is all for now. I am sorry for the late update but with six days of bad nausea, it was hard to even discuss it.
I will try to do better this week!
Sunday, May 2, 2010
Third Chemo Treatment
I had my third installment of chemo on Wednesday. We went in a little early as usual to try to get in earlier. They first drew my blood and then I waited on the doctor to come in. When he came in, we discussed the issue with my face going numb for so long after the last chemo. He said that he had never had anyone to get that but that chemo could do all kinds of weird things to the body. He said I would hate for you to stop chemo when this is so curable and I made it clear that there was no way I would stop it even over that, even if I had to suffer it daily! That would just been plain stupid in my opinion!
He said that my blood levels were holding pretty strong so far and that we could continue on with treatment. So he sent me to the chemo room and for the first time since starting, it was almost empty so they let me choose which seat I wanted. I chose one on the end...and was glad that I did because it seemed more secluded and just better..I don't know.
Now right when I walked in, that smell was there...that foreboding, yucky, chemically smell that you just can't get out of your nose! I can't describe it and if you walked in there, having never had chemo...you might not even notice it...but that smell haunts me and I hate it!!
They first cleaned my port...this is the part that really gets the smell yuckiness going! The swab that they use smells so strong and nasty..not just like alcohol..something all together different. I can't stand it! And they swab and swab and swab you. Then she sprayed me with the numbing spray which did not help a bit because when she clicked the needle in my port, it really hurt for some reason. Then they try to pull blood out of it and mine came right out so that was good.
Then they start the predrugs-the steriod and nausea meds. And they give me two Tylenol. I really don't notice much when these are going in except just a warmness. This time though, I started feeling really light headed and dizzy. My vision was a little blurry and I just felt terrible for a bit. The nurse thinks it was the Zofran because once it ran through, I started feeling better.
This chemo session seemed to go pretty fast and for the most part it was uneventful. This nurse moved things along a lot faster. I ended up leaving sooner than I normally do and was so happy that there was no numbness in my face!
I got home and didn't feel too bad...just tired out as usual. Well, about 8:30 that night, the numbess started in my face again. I never got as bad as the last time and it didn't last as long...it stopped some time during the night. Seems like this is a chemo side effect that is going to start happening each time..or maybe not, we will see.
The day after chemo, I started having bad pain in my port area and in that shoulder and arm. I had to go by the Cancer Center to sign some papers and had them check it. The doctor sent me for a Doppler Ultrasound to be sure there were no clots forming and there weren't. He said for me to take Ibuprophen and rest it as much as possible to keep the swelling down. He thinks that maybe the chemo drugs caused me irritation and that next time I have chemo on May 12 that they will need to flush me even more than before.
Saturday was really bad for me...the Saturdays after chemo always are. I was so sick and weak and vomited most of the day. It finally got so bad that I just had to go back to bed for most of the day and sleep it off. That is the only thing I could do!
Today, my ears have been hurting really bad and my left shoulder still aches terribly! I don't know if I am getting ear infections or what is going on but if it continues, I guess I will be heading back to the center.
This has really been a tough round so far...I have heard it gets worse each time and so far that seems to be the case. At least now, I am in the single digits of treatment..NINE left and I can't wait till they are done!!!
More soon.....
He said that my blood levels were holding pretty strong so far and that we could continue on with treatment. So he sent me to the chemo room and for the first time since starting, it was almost empty so they let me choose which seat I wanted. I chose one on the end...and was glad that I did because it seemed more secluded and just better..I don't know.
Now right when I walked in, that smell was there...that foreboding, yucky, chemically smell that you just can't get out of your nose! I can't describe it and if you walked in there, having never had chemo...you might not even notice it...but that smell haunts me and I hate it!!
They first cleaned my port...this is the part that really gets the smell yuckiness going! The swab that they use smells so strong and nasty..not just like alcohol..something all together different. I can't stand it! And they swab and swab and swab you. Then she sprayed me with the numbing spray which did not help a bit because when she clicked the needle in my port, it really hurt for some reason. Then they try to pull blood out of it and mine came right out so that was good.
Then they start the predrugs-the steriod and nausea meds. And they give me two Tylenol. I really don't notice much when these are going in except just a warmness. This time though, I started feeling really light headed and dizzy. My vision was a little blurry and I just felt terrible for a bit. The nurse thinks it was the Zofran because once it ran through, I started feeling better.
This chemo session seemed to go pretty fast and for the most part it was uneventful. This nurse moved things along a lot faster. I ended up leaving sooner than I normally do and was so happy that there was no numbness in my face!
I got home and didn't feel too bad...just tired out as usual. Well, about 8:30 that night, the numbess started in my face again. I never got as bad as the last time and it didn't last as long...it stopped some time during the night. Seems like this is a chemo side effect that is going to start happening each time..or maybe not, we will see.
The day after chemo, I started having bad pain in my port area and in that shoulder and arm. I had to go by the Cancer Center to sign some papers and had them check it. The doctor sent me for a Doppler Ultrasound to be sure there were no clots forming and there weren't. He said for me to take Ibuprophen and rest it as much as possible to keep the swelling down. He thinks that maybe the chemo drugs caused me irritation and that next time I have chemo on May 12 that they will need to flush me even more than before.
Saturday was really bad for me...the Saturdays after chemo always are. I was so sick and weak and vomited most of the day. It finally got so bad that I just had to go back to bed for most of the day and sleep it off. That is the only thing I could do!
Today, my ears have been hurting really bad and my left shoulder still aches terribly! I don't know if I am getting ear infections or what is going on but if it continues, I guess I will be heading back to the center.
This has really been a tough round so far...I have heard it gets worse each time and so far that seems to be the case. At least now, I am in the single digits of treatment..NINE left and I can't wait till they are done!!!
More soon.....
Monday, April 19, 2010
Hair Today...gone tomorrow!
Well....it happened! The day after chemo, I started losing my hair. At first I thought I was imagining it because I shed hair a lot anyway because of my Hypothyroidism. This just kept getting worse...every time I would run my hands through my hair, I would pull out 15-20 hairs. By Sunday, everywhere I would go, I would leave a trail of hairs...hairs in my food, in my mouth, on the floor, all over our bed....it was just getting really annoying!! So, I had David just shave it off.....and I was ready for it....or, I thought I was!!
When I started seeing my hair falling on the floor, it just hit me so hard!! I started bawling like a baby....it just made me so sad!! It was like the final blow kinda, like this made it finally totally real and there was no going back!
I was very shocked when I had to go look in the mirror at myself...I could barely do it!! I just felt so ...I don't know...so inhuman almost...so genderless...like my womanhood had been stripped! It was very traumatic!!
At this point, I had about an eighth of an inch of hair..it was very uncomfortable! My head felt cold and weird, and I hated it!! I was used to tons of hair and now this fuzz...when I laid my head on my pillow, the hairs would pull and my scalp is very tender right now from the hair loss so I was miserable!!
David went back and shaved me closer and this helped a lot! Now the hairs are not pulling anymore! It is much more comfortable!! But, that cold sensation feels so weird and I am still not thrilled about it...still feel like I look like a boy! But, I have to face it!! I must....there is no other choice!!
When my boys got home from church and I opened the door they all just kinda stood there for a minute. The twins smiled and my oldest said, "Mom, you look like me!!" But, my poor middle child just looked with his big brown eyes and he got pale and looked like he was gonna hit the floor....he said, "Mama, oh...I am scared!" and tears filled up his eyes and I just held him and explained that this didn't mean I was any more sick....that we just had to do it because it was all falling out and that it would come back. He talked to me a bit about it and seemed to feel better...but, it was just such an emotionally sad moment!!
I had a pink baseball cap that I had bought for when it fell out. I have been wearing that....I need to get me some more hats and maybe bandanas and all...I think it will help me to have some cute headware!
So, this is where I am at today...kinda down about my hair..but it's just hair! It will grow back!!
When I started seeing my hair falling on the floor, it just hit me so hard!! I started bawling like a baby....it just made me so sad!! It was like the final blow kinda, like this made it finally totally real and there was no going back!
I was very shocked when I had to go look in the mirror at myself...I could barely do it!! I just felt so ...I don't know...so inhuman almost...so genderless...like my womanhood had been stripped! It was very traumatic!!
At this point, I had about an eighth of an inch of hair..it was very uncomfortable! My head felt cold and weird, and I hated it!! I was used to tons of hair and now this fuzz...when I laid my head on my pillow, the hairs would pull and my scalp is very tender right now from the hair loss so I was miserable!!
David went back and shaved me closer and this helped a lot! Now the hairs are not pulling anymore! It is much more comfortable!! But, that cold sensation feels so weird and I am still not thrilled about it...still feel like I look like a boy! But, I have to face it!! I must....there is no other choice!!
When my boys got home from church and I opened the door they all just kinda stood there for a minute. The twins smiled and my oldest said, "Mom, you look like me!!" But, my poor middle child just looked with his big brown eyes and he got pale and looked like he was gonna hit the floor....he said, "Mama, oh...I am scared!" and tears filled up his eyes and I just held him and explained that this didn't mean I was any more sick....that we just had to do it because it was all falling out and that it would come back. He talked to me a bit about it and seemed to feel better...but, it was just such an emotionally sad moment!!
I had a pink baseball cap that I had bought for when it fell out. I have been wearing that....I need to get me some more hats and maybe bandanas and all...I think it will help me to have some cute headware!
So, this is where I am at today...kinda down about my hair..but it's just hair! It will grow back!!
Thursday, April 15, 2010
Second Chemo Round
Well, I first had to go to the hospital to get some blood drawn for my Thyroid levels. My doctor thought they would be able to draw from my port but when I got there, the lab tech told me they were not trained and only a trained RN could do it. So she drew from my hand and it went right in, didn't hurt at all, BUT when I got to the Cancer Center for chemo, it had a huge knot full of blood and was a mess!!
Went in early for chemo. They went on and took me back quickly so I was glad I got there early. I went in the lab first to get more blood drawn. I showed her the hand that was all messed up and she got me an ice bag and drew the blood out of my arm.
I was then taken back to the office to wait on the doctor (didn't think I would see him every time but was told I would). First the nurse came in and took my vitals and asked how I was doing had I experienced side effects, etc.
The Physician's assistant came in to see me and she was so nice! They brought my blood work results in and she said my white cell count had dropped a little but was holding strong so we could continue with chemo. They then brought in my other test results and she said my blood sugar was a little high and would need to be monitored. She said, "You sure don't need to be diabetic with all you already have to deal with!!" I totally agreed!! She took a look at my arms...Ya see every since I can remember, I have broken out really badly in spring all over my arms...just found out the other night that it is sun sensitivity!! She gave me some Hydrocortisone cream to put on it twice a day and told me to stay outta the sun!!
Next, my doctor came in and he asked how I was doing! He said overall it sounded like things were going great. The conversation was pretty short. I had him fill out a form for me to get some financial help...the Lymphoma society gives $150 a year to those with Hodgkins who are being actively treated...every bit helps right now!!
The doctor took me back to the now familiar chemo room and it was once again slam full...so sad that so many people are suffering!!! I had to wait there again...they came and got me shortly and took me to another room...I wasn't thrilled about this room...It had three chemo chairs, not divided..so you were right on top of one another! There was only one TV too.
They soon came to start my drips for predrugs. She cleaned and cleaned and cleaned my port area...I swear that I hate that smell!! Both times it has made me so sick!! She then got the numbing spray out and I told her I wanted to see how it felt putting the needle in without the spray. It wasn't too bad though it did sting a little! She then taped me down with that nasty smelling plastic tape..very strong smells!!This time I was able to see what I was being given! They gave me a bag of Decradon and then a syringe full of Zofran and once again had me swallow the two Tylenol. Soon after that, the nurse came and got me and took me back to the regular chemo room with the dividers and my own TV so I was happy!
About this time, I met Morgan! Morgan is about 175 pounds and solid black with the most soulful eyes!! She is a therapy dog! A huge Great Dane and she came around to everyone to say hello. I wish I had my camera and could have gotten a pic...maybe next time I will see her again. She came and let me pet her twice and they would tell her to speak and she would. It was a special time..
I looked and once again those two lonely hats were sitting there...I got a little sad again thinking of their owners and why they hadn't come back to claim them....but I thought, "No!" I am gonna imagine the best instead of the worst! I am gonna just imagine that they left them there because they were cured and never had to come back....I sure hope someone claims those hats soon!!
Soon, the fun began....the red one went in first...I think she sat and put it in for about 15 minutes but I am not sure. Didn't really feel anything at this point again, just had the nasty, salty taste from the saline. I waited about 20 or 30 minutes and she came with the next drug....the Vinblastine...it was uneventful too....by this time I was eating my lunch and it was pretty good...I had a chicken salad with ranch dressing, a roll and a little cup of strawberry icecream so I was happy!
I looked around and didn't recognize anyone from the last time....just other poor Cancer victims, some bent over and really sick, some seeming to be ok....just a mix, I guess! No one was thrilled to be there, that you could tell!!
Then the nurse came with the Bleomycin and I didn't really feel anything with that either...about twenty minutes later came the bad one...the DACARBAZINE!!! Immediately my stomach started hurting but didn't seem to hurt as much as the last time!But, my jawline started going numb...just tingling here and there..nothing major, just annoying!
When this finally got done after 40 minutes of dripping..the nurse came and took out the needle from my port and held pressure on it really good for a couple of minutes and sent me on my way...I was so ready to go home!! I had been there about 6 hours and was so tired out!!!
On the way home, the face numbness got really worse!!! It was spreading all over my face and was just horrible!! It felt like tiny bugs crawling all over my face...I couldn't stand it!!! It was still doing it about six hours later! I called my doctor and they had him call me...he called me right back and I told him what was going on with my face. He said he had never heard of that with any patients but that chemo did weird things sometimes! He said if it got worse to go to the ER and he would call me in the morning and have me come in if it hadn't gone away!!
I was up most of the night, it just would not stop and was driving me nuts!! I could not stand it...finally it stopped about 4:00am!!! Over 13 hours of a face-numbing nightmare!!! I was so relieved it was gone and has not come back so I didn't have to go in. I had a lot of people praying last night and I know the Lord took care of me!! I pray that never happens again, it was so scary and so annoying!!
So that was my adventures in chemo land story....soon we will be talking hair loss...my hair is slowly coming out, actually, pretty badly today!! Every time I run my fingers through my hair, about 15 come out in my hands so it's not gonna be long!!
My sweet husband came up to me with a pen and drew a little sweet smiley face on my port bandage!! That just was so sweet to me and so I had him take a pic so I could share it with you guys.
Will be back soon with more info...thanks for reading!!!
Went in early for chemo. They went on and took me back quickly so I was glad I got there early. I went in the lab first to get more blood drawn. I showed her the hand that was all messed up and she got me an ice bag and drew the blood out of my arm.
I was then taken back to the office to wait on the doctor (didn't think I would see him every time but was told I would). First the nurse came in and took my vitals and asked how I was doing had I experienced side effects, etc.
The Physician's assistant came in to see me and she was so nice! They brought my blood work results in and she said my white cell count had dropped a little but was holding strong so we could continue with chemo. They then brought in my other test results and she said my blood sugar was a little high and would need to be monitored. She said, "You sure don't need to be diabetic with all you already have to deal with!!" I totally agreed!! She took a look at my arms...Ya see every since I can remember, I have broken out really badly in spring all over my arms...just found out the other night that it is sun sensitivity!! She gave me some Hydrocortisone cream to put on it twice a day and told me to stay outta the sun!!
Next, my doctor came in and he asked how I was doing! He said overall it sounded like things were going great. The conversation was pretty short. I had him fill out a form for me to get some financial help...the Lymphoma society gives $150 a year to those with Hodgkins who are being actively treated...every bit helps right now!!
The doctor took me back to the now familiar chemo room and it was once again slam full...so sad that so many people are suffering!!! I had to wait there again...they came and got me shortly and took me to another room...I wasn't thrilled about this room...It had three chemo chairs, not divided..so you were right on top of one another! There was only one TV too.
They soon came to start my drips for predrugs. She cleaned and cleaned and cleaned my port area...I swear that I hate that smell!! Both times it has made me so sick!! She then got the numbing spray out and I told her I wanted to see how it felt putting the needle in without the spray. It wasn't too bad though it did sting a little! She then taped me down with that nasty smelling plastic tape..very strong smells!!This time I was able to see what I was being given! They gave me a bag of Decradon and then a syringe full of Zofran and once again had me swallow the two Tylenol. Soon after that, the nurse came and got me and took me back to the regular chemo room with the dividers and my own TV so I was happy!
About this time, I met Morgan! Morgan is about 175 pounds and solid black with the most soulful eyes!! She is a therapy dog! A huge Great Dane and she came around to everyone to say hello. I wish I had my camera and could have gotten a pic...maybe next time I will see her again. She came and let me pet her twice and they would tell her to speak and she would. It was a special time..
I looked and once again those two lonely hats were sitting there...I got a little sad again thinking of their owners and why they hadn't come back to claim them....but I thought, "No!" I am gonna imagine the best instead of the worst! I am gonna just imagine that they left them there because they were cured and never had to come back....I sure hope someone claims those hats soon!!
Soon, the fun began....the red one went in first...I think she sat and put it in for about 15 minutes but I am not sure. Didn't really feel anything at this point again, just had the nasty, salty taste from the saline. I waited about 20 or 30 minutes and she came with the next drug....the Vinblastine...it was uneventful too....by this time I was eating my lunch and it was pretty good...I had a chicken salad with ranch dressing, a roll and a little cup of strawberry icecream so I was happy!
I looked around and didn't recognize anyone from the last time....just other poor Cancer victims, some bent over and really sick, some seeming to be ok....just a mix, I guess! No one was thrilled to be there, that you could tell!!
Then the nurse came with the Bleomycin and I didn't really feel anything with that either...about twenty minutes later came the bad one...the DACARBAZINE!!! Immediately my stomach started hurting but didn't seem to hurt as much as the last time!But, my jawline started going numb...just tingling here and there..nothing major, just annoying!
When this finally got done after 40 minutes of dripping..the nurse came and took out the needle from my port and held pressure on it really good for a couple of minutes and sent me on my way...I was so ready to go home!! I had been there about 6 hours and was so tired out!!!
On the way home, the face numbness got really worse!!! It was spreading all over my face and was just horrible!! It felt like tiny bugs crawling all over my face...I couldn't stand it!!! It was still doing it about six hours later! I called my doctor and they had him call me...he called me right back and I told him what was going on with my face. He said he had never heard of that with any patients but that chemo did weird things sometimes! He said if it got worse to go to the ER and he would call me in the morning and have me come in if it hadn't gone away!!
I was up most of the night, it just would not stop and was driving me nuts!! I could not stand it...finally it stopped about 4:00am!!! Over 13 hours of a face-numbing nightmare!!! I was so relieved it was gone and has not come back so I didn't have to go in. I had a lot of people praying last night and I know the Lord took care of me!! I pray that never happens again, it was so scary and so annoying!!
So that was my adventures in chemo land story....soon we will be talking hair loss...my hair is slowly coming out, actually, pretty badly today!! Every time I run my fingers through my hair, about 15 come out in my hands so it's not gonna be long!!
My sweet husband came up to me with a pen and drew a little sweet smiley face on my port bandage!! That just was so sweet to me and so I had him take a pic so I could share it with you guys.
Will be back soon with more info...thanks for reading!!!
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