Chemotherapy Treatment #2

I am told that chemo is cyclical, and so far I believe this is true...sort of. The following is the record of what my second chemo cycle was like day by day. Although my daily account of chemo side effects may or may not be of interest to you, I need to start keeping track so I know what to expect next time. Therefore, the following is for me as much as it is for you.

Friday
Friday is always Oncologist day, and today it was chemo day. My sister was in town from New York, and we met my husband at the hospital for my appointment. Scott and I met with the oncologist first. This is the first time we have met with her since learning that the lesion in my hip is malignant. We asked all the tough questions and had really candid conversation with my doctor. After that it was off to my mini cubicle for chemo. As usual, they took a complete blood count to make sure I was good to go with chemo. Since everything looked good, we had the green light for treatment. Once I was hooked up, Scott left for work, and my mom showed up to spend time with her girls. Everything went as expected, except this time in the middle of one of the chemo bags, felt sick...just like the beginning feeling of being carsick. The nurse slowed down the drip on the bag, and the feeling subsided. I was at the oncologist for most of the day, but felt pretty good after treatment. I drove my sister back home, and we went to the bank and grocery store. Then we marinaded chicken for dinner Saturday night, and cooked dinner together.

Saturday
Saturday morning I woke up around 2:00am and felt nauseous. Took Zofran which is an anti nausea drug. Beth woke up too. We sat up from 2:00-5:00am. The smell of my house was making me absolutely ill. I thought it was the garlic from the marinade that I was smelling, but Scott and Beth swore that the house had no odor. It took about three days to realize that the horrible smell I was experiencing was just in my nose! During the night and most of the day I had a serious aversion to most food smells.

During the day, Beth went to Cleveland to see mom, and my dad and other sisters came to visit me in shifts. I also took a nap for a few hours. Beth returned for dinner, for which I had NO appetite. I couldn't deal with the smells of dinner, and the only thing I had a craving for was homemade macaroni and cheese. I made the Kraft kind for dinner and served Scott, Beth and Lindsey the chicken that we had marinated overnight. After dinner I felt well enough to bake a pan of cookies. It also took the chicken/garlic smell out of my house.

Sunday
We went on a driving tour of Alliance, stopped at school to show Beth my classroom, and went out to breakfast. Then we dropped Beth off at the airport, stopped at Old Navy and then I planted myself on the couch for the remainder of the day.

Monday

On Monday I went to work. I actually accomplished quite a bit at work, but I felt like I'd been in a hot tub too. My limbs felt like jello all day and I was absolutely drained. After work I Scott and I went back to the oncologist where I had a complete meltdown. I think was just exhausted and stressed about work. I took my Neulasta shot in a back room in a recliner because last time I had the shot I almost passed out. Wendy came to my rescue for a brief counseling session. I absolutely adore her. She one of the nurses at the office - her title eludes me at the moment. I slept on the way home from my shot, and got into bed without dinner at about 5:30pm. I was so exhausted, I felt like I couldn't get up to pour a glass of water for myself.

Wendy ALWAYS makes everything better! :)

Tuesday

I did not go to work on Tuesday. Instead, I stayed in bed all day. I did not eat. I did not watch TV. I did not enjoy myself (except for when mom and Bean came to visit). I just slept and laid in bed. I had a low grade temperature. In the evening, I dragged my butt out of bed to get my nails done. It took everything I had to get there and back. I still had serious aversions to food and eating. I ate three mini bagels with light cream cheese and jam throughout the day and drank water. It was all I could muster.

Wednesday

I went to work for an hour at the crack of dawn to flip over my lesson plans for the sub. Then it was straight back to bed until about 3:00pm. My appetite started to return. I ate three meals eggs, pasta, steak. Everything went through me, but at least I had an appetite! Low grade fever of 99.3.

Thursday
Back to work today. Still hesitant with food. Very tired. After work I heated up leftovers for dinner and went straight to bed. Low grade fever of 99.5.

Friday
Went to work and immediately after Scott and I went to the oncologist for Herceptin. Went out to dinner after oncologist. My appetite is back. Energy...not so much. Low grade fever 99.5. Although 99.5 is not truly a fever, I have sweats like and chills like it is a higher fever. Wendy tells me that the magic number is 100.4. If my temperature reaches 100.4 I need to call the oncology office day or night... still have diarrhea.

Saturday and Sunday
Still have diarrhea and a low grade temp on and off. Tired. I keep asking Scott why I am so tired all the time. He keeps catching me closing my eyes while sitting up. The fatigue is frustrating.


So there is the week in review. Sounds like a blast, no?