Busy Week

Chemo #15

Not sure what I was doing here when Patrick took the picture!!! Think I was talking to the new patient.

It has been a busy week medical wise!!! And heat wise - the heat wave has hit again. But no one had better complain!! We had a wee bit of rain last week and some cooler and much appreciated temperatures. Though the PNE starts on Saturday and that could mean a change in the weather!!! I am going Monday or Tuesday with Meghan and Ryan - thinking more Tuesday -as VanCity members and one guest get in for $5 - so that saves $20! I like that!

Monday, Brian and I both had an appointment to see our family doctor. By the time we got out of there, we had 6 Rx between us plus I had one waiting at the pharmacy I had called in earlier - so 7 in total! Thank goodness we have insurance and BC Pharmacare or these would have cost us close to $600!!! In the end $34.

Tuesday, it was time to see Dr. Pansegrau. Nothing out of the ordinary with this visit. The liver is looking ok - harder to see of course with an ultrasound, but keeping in line with my tumour markers. He has said that I will be having the pre-meds before each chemo session so as not to have the allergic reaction with the eye again - so that will add about half an hour to the session -but that is better than having a reaction. I did forget to tell him about the ringing in the left ear which is now constant and a bit of ringing in the right ear which comes and goes. Will have to write it down for when I see him in three weeks. I will be having a CT scan before cycle 4 to see how this set of drugs is working and more than likely an ultra sound of the liver as well.

Relaxing after the premeds - they made me sleepy and cold this time.

Patrick came today for my chemo appointment as he may be gone shortly to join the Armed Forces. At least with me having the port in, he will be ok - he hates needles!!! I didn't make him come into the room where they put it in! And Meghan stopped by to say hello.

Patrick and I.......

I had Julie today - and she was quite nice and not quite as chatty as the other gals but a very good nurse. I mentioned it to her that I had forgotten to tell Dr. P about the ringing in the ears. She asked how bad it was, and Leslie picked up on it as well. Told her it is 24/7 in my left and about half that in the right. She called Dr. Johal (Dr. P is on holidays) and he changed one of the chemo drugs - took me off the Cisplatin and put me on a sort of sister drug to it - Carboplatin which has very few side effects - wahooo. So that took a while to sort out, the file had to go down to him and he had to physically change it and then the file went to pharmacy and eventually it came back to the chemo room. Once that was all settled, then Julie started me on the pre-meds for allergies and that takes about 25 minutes - then had to wait about 20 minutes after it finished to get it through my system. Then started my two chemo drugs. At one point, when Julie was at lunch, I asked Leslie what my numbers were. The red count was good 131 but my white count - I just about didn't get the chemo done - I was 1.0 - so now I have t be very careful with my health and checking my temp more often. Don't want to end up in the hospital. My chemo drugs are already at 75% because of the allergic reactions. And ya know, twice in hospital in a year is enough!!

Julie and I
People keep asking me how I am so upbeat all of the time. For the most part, I am, but there are times when I am down - I usually try and not show it. My friend "Pink Lady" asked me about it the other day and what about the depression. It is there, it is hard not to have it. There are the meds I take and they do help. When I am not as spunky as I normally am, I will be reading - more than usual - and will just find a place and read. And if it is a good book, then it is finished quickly! Or I just go very quiet. I find night time is the worst - when I go to bed, more so after I have had tests done - it is the what if factor that kicks in. And there is nothing you can do about that - it is there and in your head.

My hair started to come back and now it has stopped growing again - and it comes out hair by hair - it won't all go, just thin out. And I don't like it - I want my hair back and my eyebrows (they are sort of there, but blonde) and the eye lashes (same they are there but thin and light - and damn it I need a 7x mirror to put on mascara!!!). I know, greedy aren't I!! I really want to know what the final colour and texture will be in the end!!! Any wagers?? And damn it, have to shave again!!!

I have been on chemo for a year now - give or take a few weeks. I thought I would be back at work in August. Now it is looking like at least next year. 2010 - seems like such a long time. I miss working and I miss the people contact. And I would not be honest in that I miss the money!!! And my train friends! Morning and afternoon ones!

Well that is it until next Thursday when I have my next chemo appointment. It should go a lot faster - the regular time which should be about 90 minutes!!

Caio and feel free to leave a comment - I love to get them and read them.... and I have changed it so that you don't have to put in the "verification words" - so that should make it a bit easier.

Roni