Nancy declared herself half-way done with her chemo this morning!
No film at 11 today but more news to follow in the coming months as she did mention something about a party in October once this is all over and done.
Yesterday wound up very positive by the time we left the hospital. The 80 meq of potassium can do wonders when you're as depleted as she was. More hydration today and tomorrow and then 11 whole days off. The bad part is that I have to go back to work...
xoxo
Wednesday, August 15, 2007
Tuesday, August 14, 2007
Stuck in Them Electrolyte Blues Again
Live and learn, live and learn....
Being tired, fatigued, being cold all the time, not much energy, everything is a big effort, these are some of the common side effects of the chemo but they are also indicative of low electrolytes. (Click here if you've forgotten your electrolyte lesson.) My first reaction was "What did we do wrong to let this happen again?"
Nothing really. We found out today that this will show up about 6 or 7 days after chemo and her last treatment was 6 days ago. Her blood counts were just okay too. White blood cells a little low but not enough to delay her treatment today.
The day started out with a mild level of anxiety in anticipation of the treatment to come. Nanc was just a little nervous about the day thinking about what happened during the last IP Taxol infusion and all the pain she had to endure. Anxious to the point of nausea is a better way to describe it...
So they started the IP Taxol a little after noon and damn if the same thing that happened last time didn't start all over again. Intense pain in her arms and legs that made her just absolutely nuts! She tried to describe the pain but the best she could do was "It just feels like I want to rip my arm out of it's socket."
So they suspended the chemo infusion and called the Dr. and the pharmacy to find out if this is related to the chemo or wtf? It turns out that it more than likely is not related to the chemo because it started only 30 minutes after the IP infusion started. That is not enough time for the chemicals to enter her bloodstream and cause that type of a reaction. They concluded that it was probably one of her pre-meds that caused the reaction - all of which are delivered IV - directly into the bloodstream. Now we just need to find out which one.
So much for a smooth day at the old infusion center...
So at 2:00 PM PDT, the infusion is back on, Nanc is resting comfortably, nurse Cindy is back at lunch and Dr. Lang is still in surgery.
Film at 11...
xoxo
Being tired, fatigued, being cold all the time, not much energy, everything is a big effort, these are some of the common side effects of the chemo but they are also indicative of low electrolytes. (Click here if you've forgotten your electrolyte lesson.) My first reaction was "What did we do wrong to let this happen again?"
Nothing really. We found out today that this will show up about 6 or 7 days after chemo and her last treatment was 6 days ago. Her blood counts were just okay too. White blood cells a little low but not enough to delay her treatment today.
The day started out with a mild level of anxiety in anticipation of the treatment to come. Nanc was just a little nervous about the day thinking about what happened during the last IP Taxol infusion and all the pain she had to endure. Anxious to the point of nausea is a better way to describe it...
So they started the IP Taxol a little after noon and damn if the same thing that happened last time didn't start all over again. Intense pain in her arms and legs that made her just absolutely nuts! She tried to describe the pain but the best she could do was "It just feels like I want to rip my arm out of it's socket."
So they suspended the chemo infusion and called the Dr. and the pharmacy to find out if this is related to the chemo or wtf? It turns out that it more than likely is not related to the chemo because it started only 30 minutes after the IP infusion started. That is not enough time for the chemicals to enter her bloodstream and cause that type of a reaction. They concluded that it was probably one of her pre-meds that caused the reaction - all of which are delivered IV - directly into the bloodstream. Now we just need to find out which one.
So much for a smooth day at the old infusion center...
So at 2:00 PM PDT, the infusion is back on, Nanc is resting comfortably, nurse Cindy is back at lunch and Dr. Lang is still in surgery.
Film at 11...
xoxo
Monday, August 13, 2007
Things to Get Excited About These Days
Good blood counts
No wait at the doctor's office
No wait for the bathroom at the doctor's office
No pain during chemo infusions
No pain at all
A quick visit to the infusion center
No visits to the infusion center
A good night's sleep
Regular movements
A nurse who doesn't say "I'm not real good at this, but let's give it a try"
Working taste buds and food that actually tastes like you remember
Having the Dr. one day say "You're cancer free."
That's the short list. Some of the other stuff I can't post for fear they'll ban the blog...
So the fog sort of listed this afternoon just in time for day 8 tomorrow. Nanc says she'll consider this thing half done on Friday.
She also said she wasn't going in for treatment tomorrow. (Yeah, and Roger Mahoney has nothing to hide.)
Watch this space for an official declaration later this week as Nanc declares herself officially half way through her treatments.
xoxo
No wait at the doctor's office
No wait for the bathroom at the doctor's office
No pain during chemo infusions
No pain at all
A quick visit to the infusion center
No visits to the infusion center
A good night's sleep
Regular movements
A nurse who doesn't say "I'm not real good at this, but let's give it a try"
Working taste buds and food that actually tastes like you remember
Having the Dr. one day say "You're cancer free."
That's the short list. Some of the other stuff I can't post for fear they'll ban the blog...
So the fog sort of listed this afternoon just in time for day 8 tomorrow. Nanc says she'll consider this thing half done on Friday.
She also said she wasn't going in for treatment tomorrow. (Yeah, and Roger Mahoney has nothing to hide.)
Watch this space for an official declaration later this week as Nanc declares herself officially half way through her treatments.
xoxo
Saturday, August 11, 2007
Side Effect of the Week
Bone pain.
From the Neupogen web site:
"In clinical trials, the most common side effect was mild to moderate bone pain, reported in approximately 22% of patients. In most cases, bone pain was controlled with a non-narcotic pain reliever, such as acetaminophen."
Mild to moderate, right. That's like when they tell you in birthing class that you will experience "discomfort" during labor. I remember when Nanc was in labor with Atley and he was coming out head first but he was facing up rather than down. "Sunny Side Up" it's called. Anyway, it can cause fairly painful back labor. She looked at me at one point and said something like "Discomfort, hell. This f*&$ing hurts!" She may argue the exact wording but the sentiment is right on. Trust me. I was there and remember, I have a better memory than she does.
To visit the relativity theory again, on a scale of 1 to 10, one person's 5 could be another person's 9. Nanc was pretty high up there last night and this morning. So we finally called Dr. Lang and it seems she was supposed to be taking Loratadine (Claritin) which helps that particular side effect. We thought she was only to take it if getting an injection of Neulasta, which is the longer acting version of Neupogen. They both help raise the white blood count so that you can stay on schedule for your chemo treatments. This is doubly important in her case as they are also trying to gather more data on the protocol at the same time.
Needless to say, it hurt like hell and added to the nausea the last couple of days. Obviously we are still learning as we go on. I figure we'll have this thing nailed out by the time it's all over and we're eating proscuitto and figs somewhere in the Tuscan countryside....
xoxo
From the Neupogen web site:
"In clinical trials, the most common side effect was mild to moderate bone pain, reported in approximately 22% of patients. In most cases, bone pain was controlled with a non-narcotic pain reliever, such as acetaminophen."
Mild to moderate, right. That's like when they tell you in birthing class that you will experience "discomfort" during labor. I remember when Nanc was in labor with Atley and he was coming out head first but he was facing up rather than down. "Sunny Side Up" it's called. Anyway, it can cause fairly painful back labor. She looked at me at one point and said something like "Discomfort, hell. This f*&$ing hurts!" She may argue the exact wording but the sentiment is right on. Trust me. I was there and remember, I have a better memory than she does.
To visit the relativity theory again, on a scale of 1 to 10, one person's 5 could be another person's 9. Nanc was pretty high up there last night and this morning. So we finally called Dr. Lang and it seems she was supposed to be taking Loratadine (Claritin) which helps that particular side effect. We thought she was only to take it if getting an injection of Neulasta, which is the longer acting version of Neupogen. They both help raise the white blood count so that you can stay on schedule for your chemo treatments. This is doubly important in her case as they are also trying to gather more data on the protocol at the same time.
Needless to say, it hurt like hell and added to the nausea the last couple of days. Obviously we are still learning as we go on. I figure we'll have this thing nailed out by the time it's all over and we're eating proscuitto and figs somewhere in the Tuscan countryside....
xoxo
Friday, August 10, 2007
Whoa...
cu·mu·la·tive
Pronunciation: 'kyü-my&-l&-tiv, -"lA-
Function: adjective
1 a : made up of accumulated parts b : increasing by successive additions
It's the 'b' definition that will give you an idea of what the last two days have been like. Nanc is definitely feeling the cumulative effect of the chemo, particularly the nausea and fatigue. She still has an appetite but is very nauseous all the time. We are staying on top of all her anti-nausea meds but, whoa, this is some serious stuff.
Yesterday was a hydration day and when she got home, she got back into bed around 6 and pretty much stayed there until I got up at 6:15 this morning. She will climb out of the hole in the next 2 days or so, but the hole has certainly gotten deeper this time around.
More hydration is scheduled for today and tomorrow, which she's fighting because the trip to and from Cedars is so draining. But Danika and I keep reminding her of the payoff at the end of the cycle and how good she felt last time. That pretty much stops the complaining...
I have been neglecting to introduce you to a very important member of her team at Cedars. Arden is a social worker who spends her days wandering around the cancer center, holding hands with patients and family, offering support, steering people to pain management and other psychological help if needed. She is part of the total care that they provide that helps turn a potentially total nightmare into something one can actually handle. I just can't imagine anyone having to go through something like this having to put up with the red tape of a big HMO. We are very grateful to have the coverage we have.
We ran into her one day in the hallway when Nanc was having a particularly bad day, nothing was going the way we had planned and she was very frustrated - ready to walk out and just quit the treatment. And who should happen down the hallway but Arden. That serendipity thing again!
Anyway, her calming effect was almost immediate and everything worked out, obviously. We just don't know where we'd be right now without people like her and all the angels at Cedars and beyond. Help comes from so many unexpected places it continues to amaze...
xoxo
Pronunciation: 'kyü-my&-l&-tiv, -"lA-
Function: adjective
1 a : made up of accumulated parts b : increasing by successive additions
It's the 'b' definition that will give you an idea of what the last two days have been like. Nanc is definitely feeling the cumulative effect of the chemo, particularly the nausea and fatigue. She still has an appetite but is very nauseous all the time. We are staying on top of all her anti-nausea meds but, whoa, this is some serious stuff.
Yesterday was a hydration day and when she got home, she got back into bed around 6 and pretty much stayed there until I got up at 6:15 this morning. She will climb out of the hole in the next 2 days or so, but the hole has certainly gotten deeper this time around.
More hydration is scheduled for today and tomorrow, which she's fighting because the trip to and from Cedars is so draining. But Danika and I keep reminding her of the payoff at the end of the cycle and how good she felt last time. That pretty much stops the complaining...
I have been neglecting to introduce you to a very important member of her team at Cedars. Arden is a social worker who spends her days wandering around the cancer center, holding hands with patients and family, offering support, steering people to pain management and other psychological help if needed. She is part of the total care that they provide that helps turn a potentially total nightmare into something one can actually handle. I just can't imagine anyone having to go through something like this having to put up with the red tape of a big HMO. We are very grateful to have the coverage we have.We ran into her one day in the hallway when Nanc was having a particularly bad day, nothing was going the way we had planned and she was very frustrated - ready to walk out and just quit the treatment. And who should happen down the hallway but Arden. That serendipity thing again!
Anyway, her calming effect was almost immediate and everything worked out, obviously. We just don't know where we'd be right now without people like her and all the angels at Cedars and beyond. Help comes from so many unexpected places it continues to amaze...
xoxo
Wednesday, August 8, 2007
Anticipation...
Can you hear Carly Simon singing? It's the first thing that popped into my head when Nanc described her feelings about round 3. When I got home from work and saw the anxiety in her shoulders, I knew she wasn't what you would call "excited" about the proposition of two chemo treatments in a 24 hour period. Imagine that!!
Anyway, once we got here, got the scheduling conflicts worked out, got settled with Erin, one of her
favorite nurses, (I need to take her picture!) the first IV treatment went just fine. Especially after the IV Benadryl!
So Wednesday morning brings the IP treatment with the platinum drug. There is still some muscular discomfort that we think is a hold-over from the surgery that pops up when they start the IP infusion. It takes some maneuvering to get comfortable but some pillows and a silly romantic comedy seem to help.
Allow me to introduce the next of Nancy's angels, nurse Cyndy (not a typo.) You want to talk about a nurse that can make you feel at ease and comfortable, she is the one! A very cool mother of three, she's been doing this a long time and is just amazing at dealing with curve balls and sliders. Her abilities went a long way in making today a much better day than it could have been. Nanc used the term "motherly" to describe her and then broke into tears when she started thinking about her own mom and, I am sure, her battle with cancer...
So we got home early and are awaiting Sara, the acupuncturist, for treatment #2. Atley called from the Dr.'s office himself today and has a fever of 102 and a nasty case of pharyngitis. Guess he won't be visiting any time too soon...
So I started this post at about 10:15 this morning and it's now almost 8 pm. That's how the days go sometimes...
More tomorrow.
xoxo
Anyway, once we got here, got the scheduling conflicts worked out, got settled with Erin, one of her
favorite nurses, (I need to take her picture!) the first IV treatment went just fine. Especially after the IV Benadryl!
So Wednesday morning brings the IP treatment with the platinum drug. There is still some muscular discomfort that we think is a hold-over from the surgery that pops up when they start the IP infusion. It takes some maneuvering to get comfortable but some pillows and a silly romantic comedy seem to help.
Allow me to introduce the next of Nancy's angels, nurse Cyndy (not a typo.) You want to talk about a nurse that can make you feel at ease and comfortable, she is the one! A very cool mother of three, she's been doing this a long time and is just amazing at dealing with curve balls and sliders. Her abilities went a long way in making today a much better day than it could have been. Nanc used the term "motherly" to describe her and then broke into tears when she started thinking about her own mom and, I am sure, her battle with cancer...So we got home early and are awaiting Sara, the acupuncturist, for treatment #2. Atley called from the Dr.'s office himself today and has a fever of 102 and a nasty case of pharyngitis. Guess he won't be visiting any time too soon...
So I started this post at about 10:15 this morning and it's now almost 8 pm. That's how the days go sometimes...
More tomorrow.
xoxo
Monday, August 6, 2007
Nearly half-way there!
I know - it's been a couple of days. Remember one thing though - "No news is good news."
That means, in Nancy's own words, "I almost feel normal!" She said that Friday afternoon, or was it in the morning, I can't remember. The important thing is that she has felt half-way human the past 4 days or so. I can tell she's feeling better as the amount of specific direction increases in direct proportion to her level of comfort. I seem to do OK when she's really down from the chemo but seem to slack off somewhat in my duties when she's feeling better. How exactly does that work I wonder...
So tomorrow starts round 3. In about a week, she will be half-way done! We are more ready for this round than the previous 2 given what's been learned, even down to making sure that certain medications are pre-ordered so she won't have to wait in case she really needs them.
She is starting acupuncture with someone different this afternoon, she is eating well right now, getting some exercise walking and even putting in a few hours of work. The first appointment is at 4 tomorrow and she'll be in overnight for the IV treatment. Then they'll start the pre-meds for the IP treatment at 8 Wednesday morning. Barring any complications, we should be home by 4 Wednesday. I'll keep you posted....
xoxo
That means, in Nancy's own words, "I almost feel normal!" She said that Friday afternoon, or was it in the morning, I can't remember. The important thing is that she has felt half-way human the past 4 days or so. I can tell she's feeling better as the amount of specific direction increases in direct proportion to her level of comfort. I seem to do OK when she's really down from the chemo but seem to slack off somewhat in my duties when she's feeling better. How exactly does that work I wonder...
So tomorrow starts round 3. In about a week, she will be half-way done! We are more ready for this round than the previous 2 given what's been learned, even down to making sure that certain medications are pre-ordered so she won't have to wait in case she really needs them.
She is starting acupuncture with someone different this afternoon, she is eating well right now, getting some exercise walking and even putting in a few hours of work. The first appointment is at 4 tomorrow and she'll be in overnight for the IV treatment. Then they'll start the pre-meds for the IP treatment at 8 Wednesday morning. Barring any complications, we should be home by 4 Wednesday. I'll keep you posted....
xoxo
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)