Nasty Side Effects

So, it has been interesting the last few weeks with the chemo drug. It and I just aren’t seeing eye to eye! It has been giving me lots of side effects and at times they are quite painful. The hands have been red, hot and swollen. The finger tips will feel almost rubbery at times and then at other times they are very cold and will have a pale blue hue! Nausea has been quite nasty, sometimes the meds work and sometimes they don’t. The feet have been picked on the most by the drugs. Very tender heels and the balls of the feet. And blisters – holy crap! Remember when you got new thongs (flip fops for the younger generation) and you always got a blister on your foot. Well one maybe would be ok – but had 4 and 5 on each foot – between the toes! Ouch. And the temptation to break the blister was so there, but I was good and left them alone!

Phoned the nursing line three times – which I have never done, and the nurses are so good and of course they are ones that I have had in the chemo room. Had Trace on Thursday and he said not to take the evening pill and if still felt the same way on Friday, not to take the morning pill and phone into the nursing line. He also said to stay off my feet as much as possible and to not do dishes – now that one I liked!! I did have to call, and got Shelley – she listened to what I had to say, and said she would go and talk to Gary and call me right back. Oh I would say less than 4 minutes before she called me back – Gary had said to go off the drugs and would see me in a week anyways. Gary had said that once the side effects started to affect my daily life, then off the meds. Monday phoned in again and got Phil and he said just take care of the feet and the hands.

Friday was blood work day and a visit to see Dr. P. Brian and Patrick were both with me. The gals in the Medical Day Care are great – funny and caring. Though had one nurse who was from Royal Columbian and I swear she was an older Heidi – hair pulled into two buns on each side of her head!! Gained 1 kilo – I wasn’t too happy with that – most women will agree with that – we like the scale to go down not up! Gary said my numbers were good – within range – though my tumour markers were up to 257 – and he didn’t seem to be overly concerned, but it will get watched for sure. He asked how I had been since going off the meds a week ago. Said it had gotten worse (which I was told by Shelley) and that the feet were very sore as were the hands. He checked out both. I told him that I was not happy with the drug at all. He said I could quit I right now or try and see what it would be like at ¾ strength. I would be taking 6 pills a day rather than 8. He also said I had the CT scan coming up and then we would see if there was any shrinkage in the tumours. If not, then possibly do another drug cocktail. Patrick asked him about my memory loss – lovely child!!! I said chemo brain. And Gary agreed – they don’t know why chemo brain happens. And Brian mentioned my light headiness. Gary asked how often it happened and how long it took for it to go away. Another thing to keep an eye on. I had good heart and lung sounds – I like that. He gave me a new Rx for anti-nauseau and I have had them before.

I am having the bone scan on Tuesday and asked him if I was going to have to wait 3 weeks (that is when I see him next) to get the results. He said that those scan results take a little longer, but I could call him on Friday or Monday and ask to speak with him. He said he would call me back with the results. Which will be just fine, thank you very much! I am a little impatient when it comes to getting results!

Went out to the waiting area as we always do, when one of the chemo nurses, Olivia, came over and sat and talked with me about calling the nursing line, just some tips on handling the hands and feet. Then she went away and then came back again – said that Gary was only giving me 10 days worth of the meds and that someone from the nursing line would be checking up on me – so getting a weekly call from them. Then out comes Gary – this never happens!! Just backing up what Olivia had said. Went and got my meds from the pharmacy and will see Gary on March 1^st.

Went to my Women with Metastatic cancers group session on Wednesday. It was pretty upbeat for the most part, had a new gal join us which is nice to see. Some of the other women who hadn’t been for a bit were there and we had a lot of laughs this week and less tears. We may cancel the next meeting as it is during the Olympics and well, it will be chaotic around the cancer clinic!

Had fun working in my garden in the front the other day. Meghan and her kids were over. So Ryan who is 2 ½ helped us too! I moved him to the other side of the garden and gave him a little shovel and he moved dirt around! Managed to plant bulbs in two large planters (with the much needed help of Brian!). Meghan is good at working in the garden – so she cleared out a good amount of the weeds that had sprung up with our spring-like weather. And we planted a bunch more bulbs. These were bulbs that should have been planted in the fall. Oh well, better late than never!! Once I finish this blog, shall go out again – it is a beautiful spring day here – yeah, I know it is still winter, but tell Mother Nature that.

Seeing as Patrick will be leaving soon for basic training, we had a “Mug-Out” for him at one of the local pubs!!! He had a great time, though I think his head hurts just a little today!! Brian presented him with a boson’s whistle – which he will so get used to hearing once he is onboard one of the ships. And of course no one took pictures of this and there were a few cameras around. Everyone had a great time – think there were about 25 people there – we took over the entire patio at one point! Was nice seeing some of the kids he went to school with, his cadets friends, relay friends, family friends and most importantly, family – Shannon and Meghan were both there. His swearing-in ceremony is on the 11^th and he flies out on the 20^th. Will be quite in the house with him gone.

Think that is about it. No – that is not all! Brian is officially a Commissionaire – looked quite dapper in his uniform when they took his picture for his licence. So may not see much of him during the Olympics – with him working and me volunteering as well.

The Olympics start on Friday and everyone is getting excited – we just want some more snow on the local mountains! And our Canadian athletes are going to do Canada proud and bring home some gold!

That is all for now. Next posting will be March 1^st unless there is something thing oddball with the bone scan and don’t think there will be anything. And will tell you about my volunteer stuff that I will be doing during the Olympics – it is going to be fun!!

Go Canada Go!!!!