So the journey begins. Yesterday, I had my first chemotherapy treatment. The day started out at 9 am at the the West County Siteman Center (where Dr. Naughton's office is located.) They ran a CBC (checking of my white and red blood counts.) The port in my chest worked amazingly, and it didn't hurt at all! All looked good, so I met with Dr. Naughton for a quick physical exam. He gave me the thumbs up to start my treatment. An ONC nurse let me pick out a comfy recliner to start my drips. Onc nurse Jim was my caregiver and infusion provider. Greg was beside me the whole time, and even made sure they gave me the right amount of drugs. He's my protector! :)
Jim started me out with a flush of saline. The saline assists with the infusion of the chemo drugs. After about 15 minutes of saline, he then gave me an Emend pill to take orally (nausea meds.) He then gave me a drip of Decadron, which also assists with nausea. That took about 15 minutes. While the Decadron was dripping, he gave a big folder full of info about my chemo drugs and how to take my anti-nausea meds once I got home. Then came out the big guns. My two drugs, Adriamycin and Cytoxan, came in a little basket after the nurse mixed up the solution.
Jim then put up on his thick blue gloves to push the Adriamycin. Adriamycin is injected straight into the port from two large syringes. I sat comfortably in my chair reading my Caribbean magazine. The funniest thing happen just as Jim was giving me the Adriamycin. The song "Margaitaville" by Jimmy Buffet came on the radio. It couldn't have come on at a more perfect moment. I had a good laugh. I then decided that I would no longer call Adriamycin the "Red Devil." I will now call it Rum Punch! And the hang over is wicked! :)
In between, injections Jim brought over some ice chips for me suck on. He said it that would aid in preventing mouth sores. After the Rum Punch was over, he started the Cytoxan drip. He warned my that most people experience sinus headaches from Cytoxan during the infusion. Sure enough, about 20 into the infusion I felt some pressure in my eyes. It really did feel like a sinus headache. Jim gave me some Tylenol. The Cytoxan took about an hour. I then finished up the saline, and headed out the door. The whole experience was positive. I wasn't afraid at all (thanks to a little talk with God the night before!) Greg and I headed over to Dr. Dietz for a post-surgical consultation (more on that later.)
We were home by 3 pm, and I was starting to feel dramatically different. I was very sluggish and a little disoriented. My mom and dad stopped by after a weekend out at the lake house. I was glad they were there before the worst started. By 4 pm, the nausea start in and continued to get worse. It was HORRIBLE!!! It was like having a severe stomach flu and influenza all at once. Body aches and severe stomach cramps. By 8:30 pm, I was in tears and tried vomiting. Thankfully, this seemed to help. Greg said that I was white as a ghost, all color had left my face. By 9 pm, the nausea was calmer. I think the drug Zofran also assisted in calming my stomach. Poor Greg was constantly running to the pharmacy for new drugs. Zofran seems to be my golden pill. I was able to have a good night's sleep.
Today, I am still struggling with moderate nausea (no quick movements and I have to keep food in my stomach,) and I am very tired. I tried carrying a laundry basket, and found it very difficult. Overall, yesterday was harder than I thought it was going to be, and today I am surprised at how much better I am feeling. Chemo is very yucky!!! Please pray for me as I recover.
I have posted some photos from yesterday's treatments, if you are interested. Thank you for the food, cards, and guestbook entries. I am being carried in love. Love, Alicia
Jim started me out with a flush of saline. The saline assists with the infusion of the chemo drugs. After about 15 minutes of saline, he then gave me an Emend pill to take orally (nausea meds.) He then gave me a drip of Decadron, which also assists with nausea. That took about 15 minutes. While the Decadron was dripping, he gave a big folder full of info about my chemo drugs and how to take my anti-nausea meds once I got home. Then came out the big guns. My two drugs, Adriamycin and Cytoxan, came in a little basket after the nurse mixed up the solution.
Jim then put up on his thick blue gloves to push the Adriamycin. Adriamycin is injected straight into the port from two large syringes. I sat comfortably in my chair reading my Caribbean magazine. The funniest thing happen just as Jim was giving me the Adriamycin. The song "Margaitaville" by Jimmy Buffet came on the radio. It couldn't have come on at a more perfect moment. I had a good laugh. I then decided that I would no longer call Adriamycin the "Red Devil." I will now call it Rum Punch! And the hang over is wicked! :)
In between, injections Jim brought over some ice chips for me suck on. He said it that would aid in preventing mouth sores. After the Rum Punch was over, he started the Cytoxan drip. He warned my that most people experience sinus headaches from Cytoxan during the infusion. Sure enough, about 20 into the infusion I felt some pressure in my eyes. It really did feel like a sinus headache. Jim gave me some Tylenol. The Cytoxan took about an hour. I then finished up the saline, and headed out the door. The whole experience was positive. I wasn't afraid at all (thanks to a little talk with God the night before!) Greg and I headed over to Dr. Dietz for a post-surgical consultation (more on that later.)
We were home by 3 pm, and I was starting to feel dramatically different. I was very sluggish and a little disoriented. My mom and dad stopped by after a weekend out at the lake house. I was glad they were there before the worst started. By 4 pm, the nausea start in and continued to get worse. It was HORRIBLE!!! It was like having a severe stomach flu and influenza all at once. Body aches and severe stomach cramps. By 8:30 pm, I was in tears and tried vomiting. Thankfully, this seemed to help. Greg said that I was white as a ghost, all color had left my face. By 9 pm, the nausea was calmer. I think the drug Zofran also assisted in calming my stomach. Poor Greg was constantly running to the pharmacy for new drugs. Zofran seems to be my golden pill. I was able to have a good night's sleep.
Today, I am still struggling with moderate nausea (no quick movements and I have to keep food in my stomach,) and I am very tired. I tried carrying a laundry basket, and found it very difficult. Overall, yesterday was harder than I thought it was going to be, and today I am surprised at how much better I am feeling. Chemo is very yucky!!! Please pray for me as I recover.
I have posted some photos from yesterday's treatments, if you are interested. Thank you for the food, cards, and guestbook entries. I am being carried in love. Love, Alicia
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