Update on the treatment.
Source Google Free Image Search
I’ve not been up and around much, I’m getting a thorough kicking from this and no mistake. This post will probably sound whiney and self-indulgent. I’m hoping it doesn’t, but unfortunately, that’s how I’m feeling right now, so apologies before I start.
If you recall, I was diagnosed with malignant neoplasm of the rectum in April. I’ve had the round of radiotherapy, with chemo tablets running at the same time. I had a break of three weeks (shortest three weeks that I can remember!) and last Wednesday, I started the intravenous chemo.
Source Google Free Image Search - This is a neoplasm on corn... not the one I have (I hope!)
I went into the hospital as bright as I could, which was cheerful and optimistic. In the waiting room, a little old lady sat in a chair. We said hello and she asked if it was my first time. I told her yes.
“I thought so, you’ve still got your hair,” she said.
Oh!
“I hope I’ll be keeping it,” I said with as much of a smile as I could muster, and I sat down.
“If I have to lose it, I’ll just shave it and lose it at my pace, when I say so,” I said.
She nodded as though she understood – and why wouldn’t she?
“Mine is shaved under this,” she said, touching her hair.
“Oh, that’s a nice wig,” I said. “I wouldn’t have guessed it wasn’t your real hair.”
“They do help with buying a wig if you want one, and the wigs are really good quality these days,” she said.
Good to know!
Her nurse came in to take her for her treatment and I was left alone in the waiting room.
The nurse came for me next and took my weight – way heavier than I want to be, but the doctor has advised I try to gain as much as I could prior to the treatment because… well… more on that later.
Blood pressure and a few questions later, I was led into the treatment room. Because of Covid, the usual treatment room has been moved down into the basement so the vulnerable patients can avoid foot-traffic of the hospital population so as to minimise contact with potential infection.
Rachael introduced herself as my treatment nurse and she took me into the room itself.
The first stop was the toilet where I washed my hands thoroughly.
Then I was taken to a chair with a table, a pillow, a machine on a portable stand and a trolley at the side. I sat down, and she explained everything - I haven’t taken it all in yet… Meds, treatment, side effects – the whole shebang.
She explained the meds – 7 different tablets, some I’ve had before ( large chemo tablets, sickness meds and diarrhoea meds) but I also have three days of steroids, a smaller chemo tablet, and a mild antibiotic. For someone who avoids taking tablets if at all possible, this is a LOT of meds twice a day.
One of the things I also remember is:
The intravenous chemo doesn’t like the cold – I know it sounds odd, but here’s what it means for me. I can’t use the ‘Cold Cap’ – the cap to help keep blood flow from your head to minimise hair loss – but the good news is, this chemo treatment doesn’t affect the hair so I should experience a bit of thinning, but no major loss.
Because of the cold issue, my hands and feet will be affected drastically – pins & needles whenever I touch anything cool. Not only the hands and feet, but also other parts of my body will feet the effects. It means I cannot use the fridge and especially not the freezer. Cold drinks are off-limits as it makes the throat spasm and feel like it’s closing up which can and does induce panic attacks – the only cure for which is a warm drink.
I have to be sensible with this – and remember about the cold thing!
The nurse fitted a canular to the back of my hand and started the treatment. The machine on the portable stand pumps the chemo drugs into my vein at a steady and constant rate. Rachael called for a check on my meds and I went through date of birth, address, name etc. She fetched me a cup of coffee and I settled in for the two and a half hours of treatment.
My hand - the skin is terrible at the moment, not to mention, the bruise is starting to reduce in colour and size
I have to say everyone is really friendly and happy to help. They are very busy of course and I’m glad I took my crocheting but I will be having the next treatment in my left hand.
After and hour and a half, I really needed to pee, so I asked how to safely and correctly unplug the machine (mine only, of course, not the guy next to me). The nurse that helped me told me she called the portable stand ‘The skinny dog’ that you take for a walk. Let me tell you, that dog has five wheels and no sense of direction!
I got back and settled down again. Half an hour later, I needed to pee again! When I got back, the pump alarmed. It had stopped working. After a few tries to get it restarted, Rachel figured out the bung was faulty and fitted a new one.
Half an hour later, another pee run and the pump stopped again. This time it was because the treatment had finished! The nurse used the saline bag to ‘flush’ through the chemo and she also injected some steroids.
When that had finished, I could go. I had started feeling a bit dizzy – I guess a bad feeling of being ‘drunk’ is the best way to describe it. My left hand lost strength and spasmed (thumb towards my wrist, didn’t have any strength in it).
The nurse that had checked me in came to sit with me as I phoned my husband to fetch me. He couldn’t hear me properly so the nurse spoke to him and explained he’d have to come and fetch me.
I ambled down to the reception and waited for him. Then we went outside. My right hand and forearm were starting to feel tingly because of the meds. I got in the car like an old invalid and we set off.
I tried to speak but my voice wouldn’t work. My left hand and fingers spasmed again and I started to get worried. Frustrated and a little tearful, I sat in silence for the rest of the ride home.
When we got back, @s0u1 checked symptoms and side-effects of chemo and assured me loss of strength in extremities is an expected side-effect.
The drunken dizziness became progressively worse over the rest of the evening. Our daughter arrived with supplies and a couple of dresses she’d bought for me. I hated to see the expression of worry on her face. When they left, I went to bed to try and sleep off the bad trip.
Sleep… ah, I remember that concept.
OK, I’m tired now, I’ll continue this maudlin little tale later. Thanks for reading.
One day down. Seems like they have a lot more drug things o counter act side effects I suppose that is good. When my wife had chemo she lost here hair, but it grew back after the fallout, a bit thin at times but still it grows. They never told her about the cold effects, but I guess winter time in Alaska it would be hard to avoid the cold.
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Hi Michelle, I haven't been to Stimit for a long time (I was your subscriber) and then I met you here in Hive. This message breaks my heart. I wanted to chat with you before, but I hope I can do it in the future! I hope your health is better!