Unplugged #2

About 10:30 my pack alarm beeped signaling I was about out of the 5FU and could run to the hospital to get it taken off my port. While there I was given a shot in my stomach of Neulasta, which helps to bring my white blood count up to fight off infection. I'm not sure why it's not able to be administered into the port, but they said "nope", and it just stung for a few seconds.

As for the tingling in my fingers, I was given a list of vitamins to help with the neuropathy, includeing Vitamin B, which I've just started taking 1000mcg, and Potassium, that I already had on hand, but will take regularly now; as well as folic acid and Vitamin E and Magnesium. I'm also experiencing an occasional cramping in my thumbs, so tonic water is said to help that (along with the homemade sugar cookies just sent to me from my mom and sisters! Mmmmm. Okay, I made that last one up.)

Hopefully being unplugged will lessen these symptoms in the next few days, however it's accumulative so they may get more severe with each round. Perhaps I'm heading them off at the pass now, and it won't be so bad. There is getting to be so much to do and remember...., thankfully Doug's keeping me on task, among everything else he's got on his plate!

Round 2

We left extra early today (7:45am) due to the cold and snow overnight, and the heavy traffic heading north out of Castle Rock. Turned out Dr. Basche was late, so we had extra time to complete the almost finished jigsaw puzzle, and start a new one. Once in, they accessed my port, drew blood from it, reviewed my levels, all were good except my white blood cell count that fights infection was low, so I'll be getting a shot for it on Thursday when I come in to remove the pack attached to my port. She also wants me to up my B12 to 1000mcg with a supplement to increase my white blood cell count (I think I understood that correctly). The infusion of Oxaliplaten was slowed down this time, so I was in the chair 3 hours. I did some paperwork, read a while, then learned a new game (Bananagram) given to me by my friend Beth to help pass the time. Doug had arranged a meeting nearby so that helped him chew up some time. Then I got flushed with saline, then pushed with F5U, then hooked up with the pack once again – this time an over-the-shoulder purse-look, instead of the fannypack style I had last time. That was soooo '80s. Out of there by 2:30pm.

Back home, I attempted to return emails but my fingers were tingling and hurting so back, I kept them short. I have the sensitivity to cold again, and a little sharpness while swallowing. I had to drop a prescription off at Walgreens and then head to my 4 pm acupuncture appointment. The simple task of steering the wheel, going into gear and park, and unbuckling my seatbelt hurt in my fingers a lot, so I mentioned it to Greg (my acupuncturist). He nodded and said I know what I can do, and 20 needles and a half hour later the sensation was all but gone. Absolutely amazing. Back home again, emptying the dishwasher I felt it coming back, so now I'm typing in bed, hands slightly upward on the keyboard and I'm back to feeling fine again. I guess I just shouldn't be doing housework, huh? This evening and tomorrow I take nausea pills every 4 hours and an anti-anxiety one before bed.

Knowing I'll be going through this process for 4 months, my friend Sharon felt it sounded more manageable if I think of it in 8 sessions instead. Before my very first treatment, she thoughtfully presented me with a crate of 8 gifts, one to be opened each day I go in for chemo. Trying to think of some theme that had 8 things, she though of the 8 Greek Goddesses, so attached to each gift is a print out with an explanation about one of them. So far I got a pine candle and beautifully smelling dried lavendar, and great detail about these ladies I would've never known. It is certainly the bright point of my day getting to reach in for this week's goodie. How very thoughtful, Sharon, thanks, it makes me smile!!!

Between treatments

I've noticed that the cold sensitivity has lessened as the days go by between treatments. I can gulp cold drinks and hold cold things without the sting. And the weight loss goes back up too. I had lost 5 pounds pretty quickly after the first day of chemo, but have gained 3 of them back. Of course, sister Kathy's chocolate covered peanuts and Tori's birthday cake has helped. I go back in for round 2 this Tuesday. They want to slow the drip due to a tingling in my tongue last time, so I'll be hooked up 3 hours instead of 2. I'd better bring a good book or work to do.

This weekend.

This weekend I'm feeling a little fatigued, like I'm walking through mud. Perhaps there's a couple of days delay in the chemo effects. I'll check to see if there's a pattern after the future rounds. And, what they warned me about not eating spicy, I (and my mouth) are starting to believe it. I think the salsa Friday night did me in. Stepping up the mouth rinse has helped.

Kudos to a neighbor who got his Test last week and was clear! And thanks to another who emailed about this Blog, “It really give us a full understanding of just how they’re "attacking” this, and how specifically to pray!” I'm happy to do it, and hope it's helping others.

The newsletters

Many of my readers and advertisers are wondering when the newsletters will resume, so I'm letting you know that I am currently working on gathering information and ads as we speak. The next deadline will be by February 10th, and they should be printed, mailed and hit the home mailboxes on or around March 1st. And then monthly thereafter (God willing), always with a 10th deadline. Thanks for asking, and I'm excited to be back at it, and pray I'll have the energy to continue without any further interruption.

Unplugged

Or as my friend says I'm "acoustic". Today about 9:30 am my gadget in the fanny pack rang out telling me it's depleted. So I shut it off as instructed, and away to the hospital we went to get disconnected. From what they said, I thought we'd be in and out quickly. Well, an hour later Doug got 12 puzzle pieces in to my 6. That tells you how long we had to wait. Hopefully it won't be that way each Thursday. Once in the room, Terry "pushed" saline, removed the needle (it stung a little), put a band-aid on my port, took my vitals, then we were outta there. No new noticeable side effects, just a bit tired this afternoon, but that was after numerous errands today. So I'm doing good.

Noticing Side Effects

As I start noticing side effects, I'll add them to this:
Day 1 / Jan. 13th: I’m already feeling cold-sensitivity. I touched thawed chicken through a ziplock and got pins and needles, so now I have gloves in the kitchen to wear when needed. Also, water colder than room temperature stings the back of my throat.
Day 4 / Jan. 16th: Still doing very good, just feeling a little tired this afternoon and am doing a salt/baking soda mouth rinse to stave off any possible issues there.
Day 6 / Jan. 18th: Feel fatigued but can still function. Taking shorter walks and going to bed earlier.

First IV Chemo Treatment today

We're back home after a long day. Left the house at 8:15, now it's 3:15. We checked in, sat in the waiting room, got called back and weighed (130), took my blood pressure and temperature (all fine), then in the lab accessed the port, drew blood, put in saline. Then to a room to wait for Dr. Basche where we discussed what to expect and watch out for. Back out to the lobby and worked on their jigsaw puzzle, (I got 5 pieces in, Doug got 7.) And finally called into the infusion room. I was the first of the day and got to pick which lounge chair I wanted. I got comfortable, covered with my favorite blanket friends got me in the hospital (thanks Stu & Ola). Nurse Terry first put in anti-nausea, then a steriod to help open things up to be receptive (took about 20 minutes), then Oxaliplaten (the first chemo drug) ran for 2 hours while Doug and I checked emails and read. Finally, the 5FU (another cancer killing drug) is hooked up to me in a device that looks like a big fat remote control and placed in a fanny pack with a tube leading to the port in my chest. I wear that until Thursday at 11am, at which time I go back to have it removed. Then I'm unhooked until the next visit in 2 weeks. I'm feeling a little like the Bionic Women with all these "things" protruding from my body. But it's "only temporary", right!?

It's just been a couple hours, and I don't feel any side effects to make note of other than a very odd one that I called about and they'd never heard of anything like it, and told be to take a Benadryl. Twice since I've left there I've welled up in tears. The blood that ran to my eyes burned like I was about to burst blood vessels. I quickly dried my tears to stop the pain. We were buying something at a store and the lady evidently saw the tubes protruding from my chest into the pack, and as we left she said "Good health and wellness to you!" It surprised and overwhelmed me I guess. Secondly, I get home to check my emails, and find that my cousin Glenn in IL has lung cancer and has do radiation and chemo, then surgery. It's been emotional to find this out, I will be adding him and his family now to my prayers.

I've got to go now for my acupuncture appointment to help with stress and naseau. Thank you all for checking in and your wonderful emails and comments. I haven't gotten to them all, but will soon I'm sure. Until later.

Chemo Education Class

Today was the class to get educated on my upcoming chemotherapy treatments. It consisted of watching a video then talking with an oncology nurse about what to expect when I come in every-other-week, possible side effects, warning signs, prescriptions, and then touring the infusion room where the IV drip will take place starting next Tuesday. I guess I'm as ready as I'll ever be....

The Port is in.

Doug, Andrea and I arrived at the hospital at 8am (Tori started school today and couldn't join us), shortly after 9 I was getting an IV hook up and prepped, by 10:30 got wheeled to the operating room, and by 11:30 wheeled back out, and then an hour later was riding home.

While in the OR, small talk brought us from Broncos (the antisceptic was orange), to that the surgeon is from IL, a Bears fan, AND knows where my hometown of Walnut is!!, and that I and his assistant were Packers fans, neither of us happy about Favre's move to the Jets. That conversation calmed me down a bit. Then they draped a big blue tarp over me with a hole for my upper chest area, started my drip which calmed me down even more. I was aware and could feel discomfort as they prodded and pushed it in, but I just didn't really care.

Back in recovery I was finally able to drink liquids, and eat some crackers Andrea had brought along. I was quite sore so Coleen the nurse gave me a percoset. I couldn't leave until it kicked in. It FEELS like I got pounded with a hammer on my collar bone. It LOOKS like I have a stack of quarters imbedded under my skin. I thought I was going to have a device sticking out of my skin, but evidently the needles will go through the thin layer of skin into the port. With the help of numbing cream, I shouldn't feel it much.

For the next day it's important that I stay propped up so the blood goes down instead of out. And I have nurses orders to take it easy for the next few days, as if I hadn't already done that the last couple of months. I'm being well taken care of at home, and thank you all for sending your thoughts and prayers (again), as I get through the first of this LAST stage of the journey.

Port-Eve

Tomorrow's the day I go in for my port. I've been losing a lot of sleep the last few nights, waking up and not falling back for hours and hours. I start thinking about getting my newsletters started up again shortly, what there is to do, and new ideas; and then about this next round of chemo and how I may react to it. As for the port, I'm relieved to say that a friend who went through this 11 years ago said the surgery was easy and painless, this after she'd suffered through endless needle pokes before they finally decided on using a port. (Thanks for talking with me about this, Janet.)

I'm taking it a day at a time, just like before. That seems to be the best way to get through this very last stage of the Journey.