Is this my life? Started Chemo.

Yesterday was my first day of chemo. Dr. Wong did not order a port to be put in because I only have four infusions. I was relieved to not have to deal with that, but this also brings up another fear. They need to find a good vein in my forearm and then only have my left arm to work with since they took out the lymph nodes from the ride side and I have already had some issues from that. But the nurses are really good in the infusion center and know what they are doing. 

It was pretty overwhelming at first. They called me in right away once I arrived and gave me a choice of a couple chairs – both right by the nurses station. Mitch helped me get settled. My chemo is called Taxotere and Cytoxan (TC). The Taxotere is the one that can cause an allergic reaction. There are a lot of prep meds you take the day before to help lesson this and again intravenously before they start the Taxotere. Because of my asthma I also take that just before. This is also the drug that can cause neuropathy in feet and hands. So 15 minutes before the chemo started Mitch helped be get ice packs strapped to my hands and feet. Pretty soon I was so numb that the cold didn’t bother me. The infusion chairs recline and have heated seats. They also put a heated blanket on me. So I stayed comfortable and warm. I was quite relieved once we got the Taxotere started and no reaction. The woman in the chair next to me had a serious reaction to her Taxo. That is a much stronger one that I hope I don’t have to take. It can cause heart issues. It was refreshing to watch how they handled it and got her totally under control fast. She had to terminate her treatment until after she sees Dr. Wong. That would be hard. 

You have to drink so much water starting the day before chemo. By the time I was in the chair I had already had two quarts. I had to keep getting up during my treatment and take my IV cart with me. I got pretty good at that. We were there for about three hours. By the time we left I felt kind of light headed. It was good to get home. I was feeling ok other than just not feeling myself. I was really craving fish. So we went for an early dinner to the Fish Market. That may have been a mistake to eat a full meal. The night was pretty rough. But once I got in bed for a bit I felt more under control. I slept for 5 hours. Which is pretty good since one of my drugs is Decardron, which is a steroid. I have a hard time with sleeping while on steroids.

I packed some Ireland travel books to bring with us. Mitch read me some things from it. It was nice to have something to take my mind off of the chemo and plan for something to look forward to. I am so grateful he was with me. It would have been so overwhelming without him. I am sure that if I had more than four infusions, that I would get used to it and do it on my own.

Keeping up with exercise is important. I did my stationary bike riding yesterday. Of course that was mid afternoon before I began to not feel so good. I want to do what I can to stay healthy. I have now lost 60 pounds with Weight Watchers, and I don’t want to go backwards. I have an oncology dietician who is helping me keep on a good plan. I am grateful for all the help I get.

I am prepared as well as I feel like I can be. I even went on Monday to a recommended store to get some hats and scarves and choose a wig out. The hats and scarves are more comfortable, so will probably wear those more. But good to have the wig for certain occasions. I feel like it can be a full time job just taking care of myself at time. But I plan to set up my sewing machine soon and start to do some things I don’t generally have time to do. Something to keep my mind off of all that is going on.