Monday, 3 April 2006
My Dear Friends,
Mark came with me to chemo today, as I was pretty nervous about starting the new drug. I was just reading that it has a good response rate so I'm hoping for the best.
I have a sore throat and cold so I thought the nurses might not chemo me today. They broke out the thermometer as soon as I said I was sick. I didn't have a fever so they said it'd be OK but they left it up to me. I debated but let them do it.
Most of the drugs I've had, with the exception of Adriamycin (aka: The Red Devil), have been clear in the IV bags. Today's concoction looked like skim milk with dish soap bubbles at the top. The nurse was saying the drug had very specific mixing instructions. Shaken not stirred. No, wait, that was James Bond. This was "swirled, not shaken". :)
Had some tingling in my hands after treatment, on the way to lunch. That's a side effect of most of the taxane-type drugs. I'm surprised I haven't had that until now. If it becomes annoying, I'll tell the doctor.
Still not looking forward to losing my hair. Someone had suggested one of those head-shaped ice packs that's supposed to prevent hair loss. Two problems - I didn't research it to go buy one and the nurses hypothesized that it reduces circulation so the drugs might not get where they need to go. Who knows? The hair thinned on that last drug combo anyway. I shouldn't stress about it, as it's too late now. Took out my wig yesterday. The color seems odd, too light or too fake, not exactly sure. Maybe I'm used to dark brown hair now. Not sure if I'll wear the wig. It was scratchy and squeezed my head.
Mentioned to the nurse today that my intestines don't seem to like those Neupogen shots.
"Yes," LH said,"some patients do get diarrhea."
Nice telling me ahead of time! Oh well, it's not horrendous. I am hesitant to read side effect lists anyway, as I fear I might expect them and therefore cause them.
Came home and slept for three hours after treatment. I was overtired. I lie awake at night, thinking too much. I hated wasting the whole afternoon, as life is short, but I couldn't help it. SH the nurse had scolded me for not resting.
"I know you don't like to rest during the day," she said, "but you need to take a short rest when your body is tired."
So much for a "short" rest! Oh well.
Please pray that this skim milk chemo works!
Love,
Jeanette
Mark came with me to chemo today, as I was pretty nervous about starting the new drug. I was just reading that it has a good response rate so I'm hoping for the best.
I have a sore throat and cold so I thought the nurses might not chemo me today. They broke out the thermometer as soon as I said I was sick. I didn't have a fever so they said it'd be OK but they left it up to me. I debated but let them do it.
Most of the drugs I've had, with the exception of Adriamycin (aka: The Red Devil), have been clear in the IV bags. Today's concoction looked like skim milk with dish soap bubbles at the top. The nurse was saying the drug had very specific mixing instructions. Shaken not stirred. No, wait, that was James Bond. This was "swirled, not shaken". :)
Had some tingling in my hands after treatment, on the way to lunch. That's a side effect of most of the taxane-type drugs. I'm surprised I haven't had that until now. If it becomes annoying, I'll tell the doctor.
Still not looking forward to losing my hair. Someone had suggested one of those head-shaped ice packs that's supposed to prevent hair loss. Two problems - I didn't research it to go buy one and the nurses hypothesized that it reduces circulation so the drugs might not get where they need to go. Who knows? The hair thinned on that last drug combo anyway. I shouldn't stress about it, as it's too late now. Took out my wig yesterday. The color seems odd, too light or too fake, not exactly sure. Maybe I'm used to dark brown hair now. Not sure if I'll wear the wig. It was scratchy and squeezed my head.
Mentioned to the nurse today that my intestines don't seem to like those Neupogen shots.
"Yes," LH said,"some patients do get diarrhea."
Nice telling me ahead of time! Oh well, it's not horrendous. I am hesitant to read side effect lists anyway, as I fear I might expect them and therefore cause them.
Came home and slept for three hours after treatment. I was overtired. I lie awake at night, thinking too much. I hated wasting the whole afternoon, as life is short, but I couldn't help it. SH the nurse had scolded me for not resting.
"I know you don't like to rest during the day," she said, "but you need to take a short rest when your body is tired."
So much for a "short" rest! Oh well.
Please pray that this skim milk chemo works!
Love,
Jeanette
posted by Mark Kappe @ 6:40 PM
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