Yesterday was a day full of differing emotions. I took pictures of myself, the Women's center at UAB, the IV after it was started, the IV machine during Bag 1 and then again during Bag 2. My chemo nurse, Karen, was great. I can imagine how horribly difficult her job must be to be surrounded by cancer all day. Lunch for her was eaten standing up and a bar area between the two chemo areas within our chemo room, that was she could monitor us. I of course, interrupted her lunch.
I learned that I am not on Carboplatin and Taxol but on Carboplatin and Taxotere. I am sure there are differences, okay I know there are differences in the two T's but when I researched it the Benadryl was so in control I couldn't begin to tell you what they are. I will say this, Poor Karen had a hell of a day with me.
When the IV was first started blood was drawn so that we can do the BRCA testing, 1 & 2. I learned there is only one lab in the country that does this testing and that the cost for me could be $0, $375 or $4000. Guess I will figure that one out when it gets here. It is a hugely important test and I should have my results within 10-14 days. Yes a little nervous because I figure I carry the gene but I have this going on right now so I am trying not to let it get me.
After the blood draw Karen began giving me saline and then ultimately added Benadryl and more steroids. The Benadryl is an attempt to stop an allergic reaction to the chemo drugs. Well as luck would have it, I had an allergic reaction to the Taxotere. They give you 20 mins, 15 mins in I thought I was dying. Karen and the nurse in the adjoining area, stopped the drug, gave me another bag of Benadryl and a shot of Hydrocortisone. Dr. Estes, who I must say was completely good looking, came in to check on me as the reaction was subsiding. He told me that the reaction happens in about 15% of patients. YAY Me! I was told to watch for back spams, like labor pains. Mine actually started in my stomach and gravitated to my back. I also felt like my face was on FIRE! I told Dr. Estes that at that point during labor I screamed for an epidural.
The rest of the day there was fairly uneventful. Having so much Benadryl in me made it a little hard to walk to the restroom but I managed. At the end Karen gave me a shot of some thing that starts with an "L" to boost my white cell counts which hurt like hell and is supposed to give me some bone pain. I think I fell asleep almost as soon as we got into the car. I remember being hungry and Mom asking me what I wanted to eat and remember telling her I would wait until I got home. That is it for the drive home.
We walked in the door and got my stuff settled and I released Mom from her duties. I took a pork chop out of the fridge ate two bites and about threw up. Bed, I needed my bed. I laid down and cat napped til Lorissa got home. Finding something for dinner was almost impossible. I finally settled on Honey Nut Cheerios and Lorissa asked a neighbor to take her to McD's. Next time I do better. Next time I prepare dinner before hand. I spent the rest of the night sleeping and when I was awake, trying to find something to eat. Cheese and crackers, NOPE, Milkshake, NOPE. I finally forced myself to eat an apple and peanut butter but it was crunchy PB which sucked.
Today I feel ehhh. Everyone said I would feel good today but I don't feel good, I feel Ehhh. I've had to take the anti-nausea meds but there has been no vomiting. I have finally eaten, well I drank an Orgain and ate a little cereal so I could take my steroids. I could sleep again and may in a minute close my eyes for a little while. I have a lot to do and really need to feel good today. I was sort of counting on it. The day is still young. For what I have to do I can do it in a short amount of time sooo....I think now I shall take a nap.
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