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