Chemo journey, part I
I successfully completed my first chemo session, and am happy to report that I survived to tell the tale.
The rest will be cut for those who don't want the gory details.
Last Tuesday I went in for chemotherapy. Before I was actually hooked up to anything, my oncologist checked me over. When I asked about anti-nausea medicine, he said, "Oh, you won't need any. Taxol only produces nausea in 35 - 50 % of people. It's not like AC." I insisted on a prescription anyway. He also said that while both Taxol and Neulasta (white-blood stimulant) produce pain, most people get by on Tylenol. I didn't insist on prescription pain medication (this is forshadowing, folks.)
I was hooked up to the IV for around four hours. It wasn't that bad, although it did burn most of the time. As a bonus, I got a free quilt. There's a quilting group in Columbus that provides quilts for anyone going through chemotherapy. I was also told that because of the toxins in my body, I had to put the lid down and flush twice after using the bathroom, so as not to contaminate my family. In other words, I have become a toxic waste dumper.
That evening I didn't feel too bad. I felt shaky and drained, but that's about it. That night I couldn't sleep, and felt positively manic from one of the drugs they'd given me so my body wouldn't reject Taxol.
The next day I mostly felt out of phase. Something unusual was happening in my body, but didn't get in the way. That afternoon, I had to go in to get a shot of Neulasta. You see, chemotherapy works by killing cells, including cancer cells. Unfortunately, it also kills white blood cells. Neulasta makes new white blood cells. I had to get a shot in my stomach! (In all fairness, finding out I had to get a shot in my stomach was worse than actually getting the shot.) That evening, I felt achy, as if I had the flu. "Oh, good," I thought to myself. "If this is chemo, I can handle it."
The next morning the pain woke me up at 7:00 a.m. The marrow in every bone of my body hurt. Have you ever read "The Little Mermaid"? The little mermaid becomes a maiden, with legs instead of a tail. Every step she took was like a dagger in her foot. Yeah, it was kind of like that. Fortunately, I did have a lot of oxycodone left over from my surgery, which took my pain from a 7 (on a scale of 1 - 10) down to a 4.5.
Friday was the same as Thursday, but this time with severe nausea. I took an "unneeded" anti-nausea pill, and felt better in half an hour. Fortunately that was my only real bout with that scariest of chemo side effects. Needless to say, I did not make it to braider's birthday party. (Happy birthday, Mary!)
I felt a bit better on Saturday, although still not up for going out, so I missed Red Dragon.
Sunday was much better. While still not feeling 100%, I was able to go to Pagan Pride Day, which was wonderful. I went to a healing circle, and met a woman who talked about managing her pain through cancer 10 years ago. I got her e-mail, and will be in conact with her soon. (adventurine and sister_shaman, I sent healing energy to you. I hope you don't mind. If you do, let me know.) I then went to the Rune Magic workshop and Engery Manipulation workshop, both of which were excellent (despite the anti-Wiccan bigotry of the last presenter.) I debated whether or not I should go to the main ritual or go home and take a nap. As I was trying to make up my mind I ran into viedesante, and so I talked to her instead.
So the pattern seems to be chemo on Tuesday, flu-like symptoms on Wednesday, down for the count on Thursday and Friday, recovering on Saturday, and more or less functional on Sunday. Every other week. Five more times.
P.S. to chronarchy: I will be at PSA tonight.
P.P.S. to GH fans: I had dream about the shocking new direction General Hospital will take - exploring the forbidden romance between Nicholas and Sonny.
The rest will be cut for those who don't want the gory details.
Last Tuesday I went in for chemotherapy. Before I was actually hooked up to anything, my oncologist checked me over. When I asked about anti-nausea medicine, he said, "Oh, you won't need any. Taxol only produces nausea in 35 - 50 % of people. It's not like AC." I insisted on a prescription anyway. He also said that while both Taxol and Neulasta (white-blood stimulant) produce pain, most people get by on Tylenol. I didn't insist on prescription pain medication (this is forshadowing, folks.)
I was hooked up to the IV for around four hours. It wasn't that bad, although it did burn most of the time. As a bonus, I got a free quilt. There's a quilting group in Columbus that provides quilts for anyone going through chemotherapy. I was also told that because of the toxins in my body, I had to put the lid down and flush twice after using the bathroom, so as not to contaminate my family. In other words, I have become a toxic waste dumper.
That evening I didn't feel too bad. I felt shaky and drained, but that's about it. That night I couldn't sleep, and felt positively manic from one of the drugs they'd given me so my body wouldn't reject Taxol.
The next day I mostly felt out of phase. Something unusual was happening in my body, but didn't get in the way. That afternoon, I had to go in to get a shot of Neulasta. You see, chemotherapy works by killing cells, including cancer cells. Unfortunately, it also kills white blood cells. Neulasta makes new white blood cells. I had to get a shot in my stomach! (In all fairness, finding out I had to get a shot in my stomach was worse than actually getting the shot.) That evening, I felt achy, as if I had the flu. "Oh, good," I thought to myself. "If this is chemo, I can handle it."
The next morning the pain woke me up at 7:00 a.m. The marrow in every bone of my body hurt. Have you ever read "The Little Mermaid"? The little mermaid becomes a maiden, with legs instead of a tail. Every step she took was like a dagger in her foot. Yeah, it was kind of like that. Fortunately, I did have a lot of oxycodone left over from my surgery, which took my pain from a 7 (on a scale of 1 - 10) down to a 4.5.
Friday was the same as Thursday, but this time with severe nausea. I took an "unneeded" anti-nausea pill, and felt better in half an hour. Fortunately that was my only real bout with that scariest of chemo side effects. Needless to say, I did not make it to braider's birthday party. (Happy birthday, Mary!)
I felt a bit better on Saturday, although still not up for going out, so I missed Red Dragon.
Sunday was much better. While still not feeling 100%, I was able to go to Pagan Pride Day, which was wonderful. I went to a healing circle, and met a woman who talked about managing her pain through cancer 10 years ago. I got her e-mail, and will be in conact with her soon. (adventurine and sister_shaman, I sent healing energy to you. I hope you don't mind. If you do, let me know.) I then went to the Rune Magic workshop and Engery Manipulation workshop, both of which were excellent (despite the anti-Wiccan bigotry of the last presenter.) I debated whether or not I should go to the main ritual or go home and take a nap. As I was trying to make up my mind I ran into viedesante, and so I talked to her instead.
So the pattern seems to be chemo on Tuesday, flu-like symptoms on Wednesday, down for the count on Thursday and Friday, recovering on Saturday, and more or less functional on Sunday. Every other week. Five more times.
P.S. to chronarchy: I will be at PSA tonight.
P.P.S. to GH fans: I had dream about the shocking new direction General Hospital will take - exploring the forbidden romance between Nicholas and Sonny.