Well, this one did not wear off quite as easily. I'll start at the beginning of this round.
The second week after the last chemo which happened to be my 43rd birthday. It was a nice way to celebrate! I felt good my energy was back and I could almost forget I had cancer (until someone looked at me...then I remembered).
My chemo day started with an appointment with the surgeon to check on my healing. The dr. waltzed in with his Napoleon like demeanor (he isn't mean, just a little confident, which I guess isn't a bad quality in a surgeon. Plus, he isn't very high in the height department either) and introduced me to his intern. Being a model patient, he released me to do everything but heavy squats in a weight lifting competition. He might have been finished with me, but I wasn't finished with him. "So, did you feel any needles last Thursday?" Looking a little puzzled, he shook his head no. "Well, I was poking your voodoo doll with needles! Why didn't you leave my port accessed? You knew I had chemo the next day!" He stuttered to get a few words out. Trying to cover his tracks, he went through the sequence of events out loud. "That was so painful! Don't ever do that to anyone again and I think you owe me a weekend at the beach!"He didn't really have a whole lot to say. His intern tried not to smirk, but didn't hide it very well either. I felt good about telling him how I felt in a humorous but frank way.
I wasn't very apprehensive about getting the port accessed this time. I knew without a doubt that it would be easier and less traumatizing than last time. But, walking in and giving my name just made me nauseated. David and I sat there just chatting about all sorts of things. When we were called back the same person that drew my blood the last 2 times I visited this place (once for my first appt with Dr. Palmer & once for chemo) was there. She is a very funny young woman and reminds me of Blair's soon to be wife Gretchen. I really like talking to her. She is a great distraction. She asked me the normal questions and then said Gina would be right in. I asked if they were taking blood today and she said yes that Gina is very gentle. Then I remembered.....they will do all of that through the port this time. I started feeling anxious and nauseated. How can she access my port while I am sitting here in this chair. I need to lay down. But, it was easy once Gina came in. Her mannerisms are calming. Her voice is as smooth as honey. The twinkle in her eye lets you know there is plenty of spunk under there. Being a southern woman, the spunk rides just right under the first layer of her being. You know it is there, but she isn't going to show it to you. She talked to me about nonsense the whole time and had the port accessed, the blood drawn and floated out the door with the same dancing motions as she came in the door.
Then the agony of waiting for the dr. She was over 20 min. late. Now I know that the later I start the chemo the later I have to go on Saturday to get the pump out. Honestly, I want everything as fast as I can get it. The faster I get it done, the faster I am finished.
I had a whole list of questions, but decided to go with the one bothering me the most and skip the rest so I could get the chemo started. The neuropathy is really bothering me. The needles in my hands make using the computer a challenge, eating, driving, writing and pretty much everything is painful. My question was - if they have to lower the dose of Oxipliplatin will that make it less effective. Dr. Palmer's gorgeous Jamaican accent made her answer even sweeter. "No. Some people just need less than others." She doesn't want to adjust it now. She wants to wait until the next round to see how it goes. She said I should start taking B6 and Calcium. There isn't research behind it helping, but it wouldn't do any damage.
So, the next step, get hooked up and let the juices flow. When Nina came in, I told her what I had told the surgeon. With her eyes as large as saucers, she said, "Did you really say that to him?" I said, "Absolutely, I did. I wasn't mean about it, but I felt he should know not to ever do that again!" A huge smile crossed her face and she gave me a big high five."
While I was hooked to the pole, I answered some emails, watched some TV, tried to sleep, looked at magazines, and played on the iPad while waiting for the drugs to make their way into my system. We didn't leave again until 4 p.m. It is a long day when you arrive at 9:15!
Thursday evening I was tired, but felt okay. The neuropathy started right away this time. Something very freaky happened this time. My hands and face started to draw up. My hands would get cramps in them so bad I couldn't straighten my fingers. I looked like a 90 year old woman. The back of my calves felt like I had danced for 20 hours in heels all weekend & through Monday. Friday I went to work the whole day and was pretty wiped. Saturday got up and around. Mom took me to get my pump out and then my energy kind of went down hill. From Saturday through Monday, I had no energy at all. The cold sensitivity was pretty brutal. This time, eating wasn't a problem, but everything I tried to drink tasted like metal and felt like needles going down. I talked with David's Aunt Brenda to get ideas about things I could try. She did suggest jello, but basically said you just have to force yourself so you don't get dehydrated. Also, a new symptom, it was like I could feel my bone marrow shrinking or something. My bones ached. This time the cold sensitivity is still here. The tingling in my hands is lasting I would say 1/4 of the day every day for the past 8 days. I am constipated. Not really sure if I am not feeling well because of the chemo or my stomach issues. David reminded me that my surgery wasn't that long ago and I am probably not totally healed yet.
My birthday was fun. I got many well wishes, cards and hugs. The boys were great! David made me utensil sections for the kitchen which don't sound great, but I have wanted them for a long time!!! :)
I got to Face Time with Wayne. Max is coming down every morning with a blue shirt on and throwing it at Wayne and saying I am wearing a blue shirt for Aunt Toni again today Dada. I love that! There is still a possibility for the coordinator job which would be great! People were donating right and left to the Relay for Life team! Mom has been helping out and even came over and fixed my juice! I am so humbled by the love and support I have been shown through all of this! So the week after my first chemo was full of wonderful things.
Hopefully I will recover fully soon from this one so I will be ready for Thursday!
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