It’s been tough this week... the side effects have started. My left arm has been in pain where the Neulasta injection was given. This is the drug that boosts my red cells. From my elbow to my shoulder especially at night, I have a throbbing pain. During the day, I seem to be OK, but the pain gets so intense it wakes me up. I’ve tried three different pain meds, and Oxycontin is the best, it’s also the heaviest narcotic I have. The doctors and nurses are baffled as to why the pain is so isolated, but believe it should diminish.
But as the experts say, the Chemo drugs are working if I’m having these side effects. So I’m going to tough it out, deal with these little issues, and get to the next Chemo session on June 2. Wish me luck!
Monday, May 30, 2011
Sunday, May 22, 2011
Chemo Round 1
It's been an interesting first weekend after Chemo. Overall, I'm feeling
OK. More aches and pains than I expected, I think mostly from the
injection they gave me on Friday which goes right into the bone marrow to
create more red blood cells; it prevents anemia and other fatigue issues.
My left arm where they gave me the injection is really achy. Ice & heat
seems to be the only therapy to help.
I have been taking the anti-nausea pills, pain meds, and drinking lots of
water. I'm not sure I've fully figured out the right formula, so I'm
still playing with the combination of drugs they gave me to help ease the
aches, and nausea but trying not to put myself in a coma for the entire
day. I have been sleeping at night about 10-12 hours...it's been a long time since I've been able to do that.
The chemotherapy session itself went reasonably well, barring a few issues.
The newly installed port nestled nicely in a very bruised chest did give
the nurses some problems. They were unable to draw blood from the port
to the extent they needed to fill 7 vials, so I still needed to get an arm
poke. The port did work for the chemo after they tipped me on my head,
rolled me to one side and suddenly all was right with the world and the
drugs began to drip in. I did get to sit upright through the session,
thank goodness. They are certain this will go better the next time. The
session itself took a little over three hours including seeing the doctor,
making notes for the study I'm in, and letting the drugs drip in.
Yahoo! One down and just seven to go.
Continued thanks for all the support.
Cathy
OK. More aches and pains than I expected, I think mostly from the
injection they gave me on Friday which goes right into the bone marrow to
create more red blood cells; it prevents anemia and other fatigue issues.
My left arm where they gave me the injection is really achy. Ice & heat
seems to be the only therapy to help.
I have been taking the anti-nausea pills, pain meds, and drinking lots of
water. I'm not sure I've fully figured out the right formula, so I'm
still playing with the combination of drugs they gave me to help ease the
aches, and nausea but trying not to put myself in a coma for the entire
day. I have been sleeping at night about 10-12 hours...it's been a long time since I've been able to do that.
The chemotherapy session itself went reasonably well, barring a few issues.
The newly installed port nestled nicely in a very bruised chest did give
the nurses some problems. They were unable to draw blood from the port
to the extent they needed to fill 7 vials, so I still needed to get an arm
poke. The port did work for the chemo after they tipped me on my head,
rolled me to one side and suddenly all was right with the world and the
drugs began to drip in. I did get to sit upright through the session,
thank goodness. They are certain this will go better the next time. The
session itself took a little over three hours including seeing the doctor,
making notes for the study I'm in, and letting the drugs drip in.
Yahoo! One down and just seven to go.
Continued thanks for all the support.
Cathy
Thursday, May 19, 2011
Who Knew The Port Could Be So Difficult... (May 17, 2011)
The port didn't go quite as well as I hoped. The surgeon wanted to put the port on the left side to spare my right side, but couldn't get it in. She had warned me about the blind stick and the trouble she could run into with muscle wrapped around it, and it's location behind the clavicle bone. I woke with pain running up and down my left arm all the way up to my neck (a second stick), but the port was on the right side. Ice packs on both sides. Oddly enough the right side doesn't hurt much at all compared to the left. A 15 minute surgery was 90 minutes.
Here we go again with the pain meds. As I'm just waking up from my fog at 4:00pm. The surgery was at 8:30am.
I hope to be at work tomorrow. Larry may have to bring me, but I'm so determined to starting treatment on Thursday. I can't get done unless I get started.
More to come as the journey continues.
Here we go again with the pain meds. As I'm just waking up from my fog at 4:00pm. The surgery was at 8:30am.
I hope to be at work tomorrow. Larry may have to bring me, but I'm so determined to starting treatment on Thursday. I can't get done unless I get started.
More to come as the journey continues.
Tuesday, May 10, 2011
Back to Work & Special Thanks
Back to Work
Dr. Hatfield gave me my walking papers today to go back to work. The
infection has been taken care of, and I'm ready to start treatment. The
port for Chemo will be surgically put in on May 17th, so I can begin
treatment on May 19th.
The first five weeks of my journey have been riddled with ups and downs.
But I continue to move forward and keep only the good momentum going. You
never want a dramatic moment like finding out you have cancer to help you
see life with greater clarity, but I'm not sure you can stop the emotions
and feelings from rushing over you. I love life, my family, my work &
friends, and when you have strong feelings like this, you don't want to
quit, you just want to get better. Getting knocked down has become my
motivator.
Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure
I plan on attacking this disease with full force, as the large scale effort
to fight breast cancer continues. In that regard, I want to personally
thank all of my family and friends that came out to walk with me at the
Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure on Mother's Day. Yes, I walked the
entire route surprising my doctor because the amount of exercise I've had
in the last five weeks has been so limited. However in all honesty, I was
exhausted once we got home.
To everyone that supported the Pink Ribbon Race for the Cure by donating
time or money, thank you. What's nice about the Race for the Cure is that
it's a local fund raiser, so most of the money stays in Minnesota to
supports the many women who struggle with so many issues that surround this
disease along with the continued research done to find the cure
(approximately $2.8 million was raised). Keep your prayers and good
positive thoughts coming for me, and for all the many women who need your
continued support. I am blessed with a lot of love and support, and know
this will power and guide me through this journey.
Thanks,
Cathy
Dr. Hatfield gave me my walking papers today to go back to work. The
infection has been taken care of, and I'm ready to start treatment. The
port for Chemo will be surgically put in on May 17th, so I can begin
treatment on May 19th.
The first five weeks of my journey have been riddled with ups and downs.
But I continue to move forward and keep only the good momentum going. You
never want a dramatic moment like finding out you have cancer to help you
see life with greater clarity, but I'm not sure you can stop the emotions
and feelings from rushing over you. I love life, my family, my work &
friends, and when you have strong feelings like this, you don't want to
quit, you just want to get better. Getting knocked down has become my
motivator.
Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure
I plan on attacking this disease with full force, as the large scale effort
to fight breast cancer continues. In that regard, I want to personally
thank all of my family and friends that came out to walk with me at the
Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure on Mother's Day. Yes, I walked the
entire route surprising my doctor because the amount of exercise I've had
in the last five weeks has been so limited. However in all honesty, I was
exhausted once we got home.
To everyone that supported the Pink Ribbon Race for the Cure by donating
time or money, thank you. What's nice about the Race for the Cure is that
it's a local fund raiser, so most of the money stays in Minnesota to
supports the many women who struggle with so many issues that surround this
disease along with the continued research done to find the cure
(approximately $2.8 million was raised). Keep your prayers and good
positive thoughts coming for me, and for all the many women who need your
continued support. I am blessed with a lot of love and support, and know
this will power and guide me through this journey.
Thanks,
Cathy
Tuesday, May 3, 2011
Slow & Steady
I went to see Dr. Hatfield yesterday, she performed the surgery last Monday
4/25/1,1 to take care of the bacterial infection. She was pleased with my
progress. This is especially good since last Friday 4/29/11, she changed
one of my two antibiotics, giving me another week before I complete the
dosage. The change came after the infection control doctors did the
analysis on the particular bacteria and decided that drug Augmentin would
kill the bacteria. Great, I'll have to do a chaser of Imodium to digest
this drug.
The doctor also pulled out the last of my drains, Yahoo! This greatly
reduces the risk of further infection, but I'm not quite out of the woods
just yet. I get to shower, but have to use what looks like surgical scrub
to wash with, yuk! This doctor will see me one more time next Monday May
9th, and if all is well, she'll give me the clearance to go back to work on
Tuesday May 10th. I'll still have to put the Port in before treatment
starts, but that doctor won't even consider until the week of May 16th,
which is the same week they would like to start Chemo. Once the doctor
gives the green light next Monday, these other to-do's will start to move
forward. Slow but steady progress.
Note From Cathy's Team:
Last chance to sign up to walk with us this Sunday. Cathy's Kick-Ass Cancer Crew would love to have you join us and walk the 5K this Mother's Day. (Sign up ends tonight at 10pm online) Team registration is closed but you can sign up as an invidiual walker, pick up your race materials at the mall and still walk with our team. (Bag pick up times/locations listed on cure website) An option is to walk up and register the day of the event or if you couldn't quite get registered, feel free to meet up with our group. Our group is meeting at 8:15am in front of the outside entrance of Sears. The walk starts at 9am. Parking is chaotic, give yourselves plenty of time. Recommend carpooling, light rail or having someone drop you off. Hope to see you all there.
4/25/1,1 to take care of the bacterial infection. She was pleased with my
progress. This is especially good since last Friday 4/29/11, she changed
one of my two antibiotics, giving me another week before I complete the
dosage. The change came after the infection control doctors did the
analysis on the particular bacteria and decided that drug Augmentin would
kill the bacteria. Great, I'll have to do a chaser of Imodium to digest
this drug.
The doctor also pulled out the last of my drains, Yahoo! This greatly
reduces the risk of further infection, but I'm not quite out of the woods
just yet. I get to shower, but have to use what looks like surgical scrub
to wash with, yuk! This doctor will see me one more time next Monday May
9th, and if all is well, she'll give me the clearance to go back to work on
Tuesday May 10th. I'll still have to put the Port in before treatment
starts, but that doctor won't even consider until the week of May 16th,
which is the same week they would like to start Chemo. Once the doctor
gives the green light next Monday, these other to-do's will start to move
forward. Slow but steady progress.
Note From Cathy's Team:
Last chance to sign up to walk with us this Sunday. Cathy's Kick-Ass Cancer Crew would love to have you join us and walk the 5K this Mother's Day. (Sign up ends tonight at 10pm online) Team registration is closed but you can sign up as an invidiual walker, pick up your race materials at the mall and still walk with our team. (Bag pick up times/locations listed on cure website) An option is to walk up and register the day of the event or if you couldn't quite get registered, feel free to meet up with our group. Our group is meeting at 8:15am in front of the outside entrance of Sears. The walk starts at 9am. Parking is chaotic, give yourselves plenty of time. Recommend carpooling, light rail or having someone drop you off. Hope to see you all there.
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