Poor Chemo Experience

Most chemo treatments are not fun but I've gotten use to the routine. Today was a different experience. Today I was scared.

My one o'clock appointment meant I got in at 2. They are so busy, that's pretty normal. They hooked me up to my usual chemo bag and left it to drain in. When it finished, they started to flush the line and my port with saline. It was then that I got very ill. I passed out briefly (they say) and then threw up violently. After emptying my stomach they decided to move me to a bed while they sorted out what was going on. The movement brought more puke. I was sweating and cold. My vision was doubled. Sandy was called from work. When he got there I wasn't moving, could only give one word answers sometimes, and looked very bad. The doctor was working on the problem.

He said there were two possible causes, both remote. One was that I had had a reaction to the chemo. This was odd because its the same stuff I've had for more than 6 months. The second was that the chemo had triggered something in my head. A CAT scan was done to check the second possiblility. If it was the first one, I would improve on my own.

By the time the CAT scan was done, I was feeling much better. The CAT scan didn't show anything obviously wrong and they said I could go home. Sandy drove and I dozed. They had pumped me full of anti-nausea drugs and steroids (boo) to settle things down, and I was beat. At home it is straight to bed and we'll see what tomorrow brings. Regardless the doctors says its 2 weeks off chemo. That suits me just fine.

night, night
Carolin

Long time since I've written

Life has been busy and nothing really new on the health side of things but I have lots of requests that "something" is better than "nothing". So here it goes.

Since I wrote last I have finished one more complete cycle (3 sessions) of chemo and have just started another. No change in that status. Same side effects as before - tired for a few days afterwards and throwing up for no apparent reason at no specific time (just kind of catchs me off guard). I will finish this cycle and then have a scan from shoulders to hips looking for "anything" they might find interesting. Hopefully this one will be clean.

May 11 I had an MRI of my neck. It is at a point where they don't expect anymore changes. I still have some limitations to how far I can turn my head. Still in pain and seeing physio twice a week. I asked about putting a plate in but he said that I would lose more mobility and the surgery is far from straight forward. To reach the C3 they would have to go through the side of my neck. This could result in lose of feeling in the lower part of my face. My running career is finished. He said that the pain afterwards from the jarring would far outweight the benefits of running and suggested walking. Walking just doesn't do it for me though. As far as skiing, well we'll see in the winter. They will continue to MRI me every 3 months.

On Friday I had a muga scan to check my heart. Certain chemo's can have an effect on the hearts ability to pump. I should have the results on Monday.

On the calendar for June is a bone scan and a MRI of my head. Pretty quiet month so far.

On the non-medical side of life has been having new carpet installed in the entire house (major disruption for at least a week), Jessica's 8th birthday, scrapbooking retreat on the May long weekend, Jessica's soccer twice a week and the usual demands of life. Next weekend Sandy and I are taking a little trip to Victoria for 4 days. I am looking forward to that.

So that pretty much sums up the last 5 weeks.

I will try to be better at writing more often.

Love Carolin