The nurse started by administering some saline, followed by an anti-nauseant, then the chemo started. The first one was referred to as a "push", where the nurse sat with me and manually pressed the medicine through a syringe. 3 Very Large syringes full of the Red Devil...(so they call it in some books I've read), but the nurses do not like that name of course, and they prefer to use the medical name for it, epirubicin. It is kool-aid red in colour, which would partly be responsible for it's name. Otherwise, one of the side effects, common to most of the different chemo drugs I'm being administered is hair loss...it's the devil.... Another side effect is that it turns your urine pink for several days. Not kidding! I voided before I left the hospital, and yes, it was pink.... This chemo drug was followed by two others called cyclophosphamide & fluorouracil. All together these 3 drugs form the FEC part of the overall big picutre. All pretty much have the same side effects, (possibility of flu-like symptoms for a few days), with the exception of fluorouracil which can cause mouth sores. This drug too, was administered in the Push format. They had me suck on a popsicle before they began to administer this particular drug to get the temperature in my mouth down. They do this b/c the drug migrates to places of warmth in the body, hence it will go to your mouth, and cause the sores. I sucked that popsicle like there was no tomorrow! I made sure that my mouth was as cool as it could get! It was good for some laughter with a room full of girls... The last drug was on a drip for ~ 45 min. The entire session ended with another bag of saline. I was there for a total of 3 hours.
Overall, I feel fine. I have a crazy, odd taste in my mouth, but I will take that over all the other possibilities any day. I have not been nauseaus or sick, and was prescribed an anti-nauseant to help with that, so here's hoping that I'm in the clear. I'm a bit tired, but that could be due to the fact that I didn't get the beauty sleep that I require last night :)
I am required to drink water like crazy during the next few days, in order to void every two hours. This is going to be tough! I'm not very good at that. Donna, where are you??? I also have a bladder of steel... I'm told that I need to drink enough before bed that I will wake up and void in the middle of the night even! Good bye sleep! Blah!
I will report that you must know that I do feel just fine by the fact that I managed to get some retail therapy in on my way home. Winners rocks! Got some kick ass shoes to wear to a couple of upcoming Benefits/Galas. Thanks to my shopping companion & chauffeur today, Lisa.
Thanks my beautiful friends, Elena & Tara for cooking our family such wonderful meals yesterday and today! Absolutely delish! Chocolate tort w/ marscapone, AMAZING!!! I have to make a rule now between the Tiramisu Kerri made, (Thanks!!!) and this amazing desert, only 1/week, please! I don't want to get fat, and I can't help myself!!!
The future... I return to the hospital on Thursday to have my stiches removed from my port, and meet a new physician that will be following me through my chemo. From there, I am scheduled again for chemo on Tues. Nov. 16th. I present myself to the hospital the day before, on the 15th for them to check my blood counts, to determine if they're high enough to proceed with the chemo the next day. This will be standard with each treatment. Apparently even though you are feeling well, you're counts can indeed be low, and they will postpone treatment, and this does happen. As that day get closer, please think of me, send me your positive energy, and I'm sure I'll be good to go. Thanks!
Will try to update more now, let you all know how I'm doing, what side effects I'm having if any. If anything, just to say that I'm doing great!
Thanks Glen for tidying & stuff, giving me the time to write this blog, and catch up on the phone.
Love, Jill
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