Thursday morning. Not so good. Bone pain. @#$%, bone pain sucks. I feel like I got beaten up by a number of people, or hit by a truck. Or at least, recovering from the afore mentioned.
This is not good. I don't like it one bit. I'm staying in bed for a while. I think I need a tylenol. Oh, boy. Ok, so here's the deal, I think I can live through this bone pain (which is just pain and aching through my bones and muscles. Even my scull hurts and my shoulders are sore to the touch, so is my rib cage). I don't wanna take yet another drug after having been pumped full of the chemo drugs. I'll have some breakfast, relax on my pillows ( I have throw pillows I lay out on the living room floor. I like it down there), and read a book.
Well, that didn't work. I can't stay focused or get comfortable enough to read. My toes hurt, the top of my head hurts, my thighs throb, my back is in turmoil and my shoulders feel like my brothers had a socking contest on them. Tylenol, Tylenol, ohhhhhh Tylenol here I come!!! 3 down..................................... I'm gonna take a nap and hopefully they will have taken full effect by the time I wake up.
They worked. Oh thank God, they worked. Still soreness, but the pain has subsided. Once the tylenol wears off, the pain is back, but not as intense. So tylenol (extra strength) is part of my new routine. (or advil)
Tuesday, September 28, 2010
Dam, I hate Shots
Wednesday night. Hummm, this place looks familiar. Oh yea, it's the cancer center. I was just here yesterday, and several times the week before.
So, tonight, I get a shot in my arm. Remember, for the white blood cell count. Here we go.....I go through my usual nervous breathing routine before the needle can even meet my arm............ whew whew whew, whew whew whew, whew whew whew, whew whew whew. Still not ready. whew whew whew, whew whew whew, whew whew whew. Ok Ok Ok, I'm ready. No No No, not yet. whew whew whew, whew whew whew......(.this goes on for far too long, but I can't help i)t..........Ok, ready. I crumple my body in an almost fetal position and hold my arm out so the nurse can spray and the shot the back of it. Contact made..... ouch, I feel it going in. Ewwwwwww. whew whew whew, whew w.....She's done..... This isn't a really quick shot. It's cold and I can feel the medicine going in, and she slowly pushes the plunger down. Elllk, yuk. Its, done, and home we go.
So, remember, the side effect of this drug is bone pain. Wish me luck. I'll let you know how I felt after receiving that shot.
So, tonight, I get a shot in my arm. Remember, for the white blood cell count. Here we go.....I go through my usual nervous breathing routine before the needle can even meet my arm............ whew whew whew, whew whew whew, whew whew whew, whew whew whew. Still not ready. whew whew whew, whew whew whew, whew whew whew. Ok Ok Ok, I'm ready. No No No, not yet. whew whew whew, whew whew whew......(.this goes on for far too long, but I can't help i)t..........Ok, ready. I crumple my body in an almost fetal position and hold my arm out so the nurse can spray and the shot the back of it. Contact made..... ouch, I feel it going in. Ewwwwwww. whew whew whew, whew w.....She's done..... This isn't a really quick shot. It's cold and I can feel the medicine going in, and she slowly pushes the plunger down. Elllk, yuk. Its, done, and home we go.
So, remember, the side effect of this drug is bone pain. Wish me luck. I'll let you know how I felt after receiving that shot.
The Blood Speaks
OK, we're back at the cancer center, eager to knock chemo session number two out of the ball park. But first things first. Blood work!!! I'll just get comfy in my pod while we wait for that to come back. Jerry's Deli is across the street and I'm a bit hungry. So is Aaron. So, Off to Jerry's he goes......................................And here he comes with a big ol' sandwich, and Lord bless me, french fries!!!
Lunch down, blood work back, blood count good, chemo ready to be administered. I got my Adavan to relax me, the anti nausea drug is first on the drip and I feel myself slowly drifting from consciousness.
All systems went. It's time to go home. I feel the same as I did the first time. I want food, hot bath, and my bed. Tomorrow I will go back to get the Nulasta shot to keep my white blood cell count up. That will be quick, so I will be in and out. I'll keep you posted on that turn of events. Until next time. Have happy thoughts!!!
.
Lunch down, blood work back, blood count good, chemo ready to be administered. I got my Adavan to relax me, the anti nausea drug is first on the drip and I feel myself slowly drifting from consciousness.
All systems went. It's time to go home. I feel the same as I did the first time. I want food, hot bath, and my bed. Tomorrow I will go back to get the Nulasta shot to keep my white blood cell count up. That will be quick, so I will be in and out. I'll keep you posted on that turn of events. Until next time. Have happy thoughts!!!
.
Wednesday, September 22, 2010
On to the Next Step
I'm headed to see the doctor today, to see how my blood count is doing. I sure do pray that that nupagen shot was good at it's job. All is the same around here at the cancer center. Eager to help nurses, happy and sad patients, smiling doctors, and a host of other staff and volunteers ready to assist at the blink of an eye.
My favorite nurse has come to draw my blood. She is the best at accessing my port, I never feel a thing. My blood is in her trusty hands and off to the lab to be evaluated.
By the look on the doctors face, the evaluation is good..... Yep, it's good, he explains that the white blood count numbers are up and that when those numbers drop, I am at risk of catching any infections and viruses that could lead to hospitalization or even death.......... And suddenly, that shot don't seem so bad.
So, the new drill is that I will still have my biweekly chemo sessions, with the blood being tested prior to each session, and the day after chemo, I have to come back to get a shot. This shot has the same purpose as the resent shot I received. To boost my white blood cell count. Now, every drug has side effects, so whats the story with this nulasta shot? Bone pain. Hummm, I don't think I know what bone pain feels like. Well, I suppose I will find out soon enough. Or maybe I won't feel any of that. Until then, pray for me.
My favorite nurse has come to draw my blood. She is the best at accessing my port, I never feel a thing. My blood is in her trusty hands and off to the lab to be evaluated.
By the look on the doctors face, the evaluation is good..... Yep, it's good, he explains that the white blood count numbers are up and that when those numbers drop, I am at risk of catching any infections and viruses that could lead to hospitalization or even death.......... And suddenly, that shot don't seem so bad.
So, the new drill is that I will still have my biweekly chemo sessions, with the blood being tested prior to each session, and the day after chemo, I have to come back to get a shot. This shot has the same purpose as the resent shot I received. To boost my white blood cell count. Now, every drug has side effects, so whats the story with this nulasta shot? Bone pain. Hummm, I don't think I know what bone pain feels like. Well, I suppose I will find out soon enough. Or maybe I won't feel any of that. Until then, pray for me.
Unexpected Change
With the first chemo session under my belt and no complications, for the most part, I am ready to move on now with the next session.
I arrived at the C center, eager to get the next session out of the way. The usual blood work was done and after a while the results were back. The nurse, who I was ready to spend the day joking with (that is until I fell asleep), reluctantly informed me that I could not receive chemo, because my white blood cell count was too low. Jeeps, that was unexpected, considering I had just had blood work done not even a week ago and it was fine. The nurse said that the Dr prescribed a shot to boost the count and that I would be able to receive treatment the next week. So, I guess that first session did come with some complications. Nothing serious, or at least, nothing that can't be handled.
OK, so, this shot I just mentioned (the one to boost the blood count), get this!!! They can't give it to me through my port, they have to shoot me in my stomach or my arm. (ahhhhhhhhhhhh). I thought I was done with the freaking needles. Ugggggg. OK, so I'll take it in my arm, I never want to be shot in my belly. Ewwww, the thought makes me ill. But guess what!!!! The nurse says the can use the freezing spray, so hopefully I won't feel a thing.
So, that's that. No chemo today, shot to boost my blood count, Dr visit next week, and second chemo session next week. No sweat!!!
I arrived at the C center, eager to get the next session out of the way. The usual blood work was done and after a while the results were back. The nurse, who I was ready to spend the day joking with (that is until I fell asleep), reluctantly informed me that I could not receive chemo, because my white blood cell count was too low. Jeeps, that was unexpected, considering I had just had blood work done not even a week ago and it was fine. The nurse said that the Dr prescribed a shot to boost the count and that I would be able to receive treatment the next week. So, I guess that first session did come with some complications. Nothing serious, or at least, nothing that can't be handled.
OK, so, this shot I just mentioned (the one to boost the blood count), get this!!! They can't give it to me through my port, they have to shoot me in my stomach or my arm. (ahhhhhhhhhhhh). I thought I was done with the freaking needles. Ugggggg. OK, so I'll take it in my arm, I never want to be shot in my belly. Ewwww, the thought makes me ill. But guess what!!!! The nurse says the can use the freezing spray, so hopefully I won't feel a thing.
So, that's that. No chemo today, shot to boost my blood count, Dr visit next week, and second chemo session next week. No sweat!!!
Monday, September 6, 2010
The Day After: Am I Out of the Woods Yet!!!!
I awake this morning with great trepidation. I'm just gonna lay here in bed for a moment to see how I feel, because I'm not sure if I'm fully awake yet.........This isn't the worst. This isn't bad. This isn't bad at all!!!!!. I guess I was expecting the worst, but it's not here. The worst is far far away from me right now. I seem to feel fine and I'm ready to get on with my day. Not that my day consists of much at all (the show I was working on wrapped and is on hiatus, then the diagnosis came, so I haven't jumped back into anything work wise). I'm gonna go to the senior citizen home and exercise with Joe and then head back home to do some boring stuff. Crossword Puzzles and some reading...... I'm a fashionable nerd, in case you didn't know........ I wanna stay close to home today anyways, because I don't wanna be out in public and be overcome with a wave of nausea. That happened to me once (when I was younger, but still couldn't drink much), and I had to run out of the store to find a bush to call Earl. Anyways, I'm going home to see how things go for the rest of the day........................................................................................................................................................
So,2 crossword puzzles and a few chapters of a romance novel later, I'm still feeling fine. I mean, there is the issue of a sore throat and some soreness in my stomach, but no nausea to mention. Does this mean I'm out of the woods on that front? I certainly hope so. So, what I have felt today, is sore throat, sore stomach, and some chills. My temperature is normal (I have a thermometer on hand), my appetite is the same (voracious), and my pee isn't orange!!!!!!! I'd say today goes on record as a good one!!!!
So,2 crossword puzzles and a few chapters of a romance novel later, I'm still feeling fine. I mean, there is the issue of a sore throat and some soreness in my stomach, but no nausea to mention. Does this mean I'm out of the woods on that front? I certainly hope so. So, what I have felt today, is sore throat, sore stomach, and some chills. My temperature is normal (I have a thermometer on hand), my appetite is the same (voracious), and my pee isn't orange!!!!!!! I'd say today goes on record as a good one!!!!
Friday, September 3, 2010
DrIP DriP drIP: Chemo Session #1
Here we are. Lunch packed, movies in tow, books and magazines on hand. Cuss, you'd think we were going on a weekend get away or something. Nope, we are going to the cancer center for my 1'st chemo session. 6 hours, that's how long it's going take. 6 hours. Dam right we got movies and other distractions. Thats a days work right there!!!!
First thing first. Vitals checked. They are good and blood needs to be drawn and sent to the lab before chemo can be administered. OK, here we go with the blood drawing. Surprisingly, it is not that bad now that I have my port in place. They have this freezing spray that they spray on the skin, so now I don't feel a thing. This spray is the best thing since lemon cake. And I loooovvveee me some lemon cake (or pie)!!!!.
I'm all comfy in my little room. I call it my pod. It looks like a hospital room but smaller. The pod comes equipped with a television and DVD player, and it's very own, pull out toilet, inconspicuously built into what looks like an under sink cabinet. A bed for me, and a nice recliner for my always present boyfriend, Aaron. Look at us, two peas in a POD.
Blood work is back, and all systems a go. Bring on the chemo drugs. Anti-nausea drug first up to drip. Then comes my cocktail of 4 chemo drugs. All together, it will take them 4 hours to separately drip (thru the IV). The nurse gives me something to relax, and it's show time. I can just lie back and watch a movie, or two, considering how long we will be here. But, nope, instead, the relaxing drug has done well at it's profession, and I am fast asleep. When I awake, It is time to go home. Vitals checked again, and away I go (of course with a list of things of what to expect, and a list of reasons I should call the hospital.....)
I'm shocked, I feel fine. I think I can drive home. Aaron won't let me. Bad idea anyway, because once we start moving, I am fast asleep, again. We made it home, and all I want is food, bath (scalding hot), and my bed (oooooooo my bed. that's me rubbing my hands together in anticipation of my bed). Lets see what happens tomorrow. Nighty night.
First thing first. Vitals checked. They are good and blood needs to be drawn and sent to the lab before chemo can be administered. OK, here we go with the blood drawing. Surprisingly, it is not that bad now that I have my port in place. They have this freezing spray that they spray on the skin, so now I don't feel a thing. This spray is the best thing since lemon cake. And I loooovvveee me some lemon cake (or pie)!!!!.
I'm all comfy in my little room. I call it my pod. It looks like a hospital room but smaller. The pod comes equipped with a television and DVD player, and it's very own, pull out toilet, inconspicuously built into what looks like an under sink cabinet. A bed for me, and a nice recliner for my always present boyfriend, Aaron. Look at us, two peas in a POD.
Blood work is back, and all systems a go. Bring on the chemo drugs. Anti-nausea drug first up to drip. Then comes my cocktail of 4 chemo drugs. All together, it will take them 4 hours to separately drip (thru the IV). The nurse gives me something to relax, and it's show time. I can just lie back and watch a movie, or two, considering how long we will be here. But, nope, instead, the relaxing drug has done well at it's profession, and I am fast asleep. When I awake, It is time to go home. Vitals checked again, and away I go (of course with a list of things of what to expect, and a list of reasons I should call the hospital.....)
I'm shocked, I feel fine. I think I can drive home. Aaron won't let me. Bad idea anyway, because once we start moving, I am fast asleep, again. We made it home, and all I want is food, bath (scalding hot), and my bed (oooooooo my bed. that's me rubbing my hands together in anticipation of my bed). Lets see what happens tomorrow. Nighty night.
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