Here is my list of the "Top 10 Good Things About Chemo".
Number 10 - Heated seats in the recliner!
Number 9 - Bathrooms are VERY close which is necessary when you get as
much fluid in your IV as I did!!!
Number 8 - Yummy peanut butter toast when your stomach starts growling.
Number 7 - A sunshiny car ride home after a very gray, rainy day after chemo.
Number 6 - Great company...Arland (part time) and Katie (all day!).
Number 5 - A lazy day spent reclining while people waited on you (because I
was hooked up to the IV drip pole!).
Number 4 - Warm blankets!!!
Number 3 - NICEST infusion nurse ever!!!
Number 2 - Herceptin was approved in the nick of time so that I could have
that much needed drug!
And the number 1 reason... NO reactions to any of the chemo drugs during the infusion!!!!!!!!!!
All in all, I'd say it was a very good day!
UPDATE...
Today is Wednesday...for about 15 more minutes.
Last night, about 10:30, I experienced my first reaction to the chemo treatments. The Taxotere causes face flushing and boy did I flush!!! Think a bad sunburn X 3!!! My face and ears were so red that I shocked myself when I looked in the mirror!!! It was almost all gone by late this afternoon though. That side effect is quite doable!
The second side effect I had was nausea last night and this morning. It wasn't horrible but I felt very queasy. After drinking lots of water and eating a piece of toast, it subsided for the most part. I do have meds for nausea so I'm learning how best to take them to manage the nausea. I think this whole venture will be a "learn by doing" process!
I went back to RMCC to get my Neulasta shot this afternoon. That is the drug that promotes white blood cells to reproduce quickly in the bone marrow. I was lucky enough to get Stacy, the same wonderful nurse I had yesterday, which I was excited about! She said I could do an arm shot or a tummy shot. I chose the arm because I'd hate for her to have to look at my ugly stomach!!!!!!! It stung for a very short time but now I can't even tell that I had a shot.
The side effects of Neulasta are bone pain that may be severe. It may start 24 hours after the shot so I should be good to go until tomorrow afternoon. Maybe the "bone pain fairy" will skip me and I'll be lucky enough to escape that side effect.
I'm afraid I'm going to have to change my ways.
Last night about this time I became nauseous. As I sit here writing now, I am again beginning to feel nauseous. I guess that means I should be in bed instead of sitting by my computer!
Boy, that is going to be a VERY hard behavior to change. Darn genes!!!
You have been on my mind often, Verna. Thank you for the updates! You have faced so much change in such a short time but you are able to put a positive spin on everything. It takes a very strong person to be able to find the positive in scary situations. It's quite obvious where Kristi has gotten that "strong" gene from :). A little trick we use at the hospital for nausea is waving a alcohol pad in front of your nose. For some reason that smell helps some people. Just thought I would mention it. Take care! Hope these next few days go well for you. You are in my prayers.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the hint, Kristi. I have been very nauseated today so I will definitely try that. Hopefully tomorrow will be better.
DeleteI have had you on my mind all day today! I am hoping that means that you've had a good day....sure do miss seeing you at school. I am so sorry I did not get to stay for your big party the other day, but I heard all about it! Glad you liked the B+N gift card and hopefully you will get to "load up" with all the books you've been wanting to read this year :) Also wanted to let you know that Landon is doing great with reading tutoring!! He will "graduate" from the Americorps program next week - he's met his end-of-year reading goal for the past 3 weeks!!! I'm so proud of him, and I'm sure you are too! Take care - Shannon V.
ReplyDeleteI'm so glad you're working with Landon. I'm glad he made the end of the year goal. Thanks for all you've done for him!!!
DeleteHi Verna, checking in on your venture to see how you have been doing. It sounds like you have had some very new and different things happening with the start of chemo and your treatments, etc. I think about you every day and just hope and pray for you so that all good things continue to come your way. Stay strong Verna and we will continue to keep you in our prayers for a great recovery. Take care.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Faye. I appreciate all of your thoughts and prayers!! It helps!
DeleteThinking of you as you battle the poison that's battling the cancer. No doubt you feel rotten. I'll keep praying for it to be as easy as possible for you and that you will find pleasant distractions to get you through.
ReplyDeleteHi Heather, I love the idea of "pleasant distractions". So far, the most distracted I have been is when Arland changes the TV channel!!! Boy, am I lame!!!
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