And an Amen for Emend!!
Sorry for the delayed update for those of you who are not FB or PP friends.
I've discovered the miracle anti nausea drug called Emend and am painfully sorry that I didn't know about this back in September during the treatment from hell. My whole chemotherapy experience would have been drastically different. This drug is obscenely expensive ($175 for 3 pills) so it's only prescribed to those with a drug plan. (for my international readers - while our government health care covers my Doctors visits, tests, hospital visits, meds administered in a hospital and all my chemotherapy it does not cover prescribed drugs. Many people though have additional medical insurance through their workplace to cover drugs. Ours also covered my prosthetic ever 2 years and 4 mastectomy bras a year)
Having said, without a drug plan Emend is worth it's weight in gold and I would have gladly paid for it out of pocket if need be.
This time 6 weeks ago I was in the hospital pumped full of Zofran, antibiotics and fluids because of dehydration due to vomiting.
This time 3 weeks ago I was on the couch in a tedious balance with nausea wondering what would send me over the edge and into the barf bowl.
Right now, I've just finished a bowl of rice crispies, a cup of coffee and I have not felt nauseous even once since Thursday. I do have the hint of queasiness but I think it's mostly due to the mouth watering. (can't escape that side effect it appears.
Last night I had a bit of a scare though. I had a pain in my chest and in my back. I was this close to going to the hospital for fear that I was having a heart attach. See, the chemo I'm on can effect the heart, I have to go for a stress echo in a couple of weeks and I know that in women, often times a heart attack presents differently than the standard 'pain in the chest, left arm tingly'. In fact, a friends mom died with a misdiagnosed heart attack because the pain presented in her back.
The pain however passed and my hear didn't seem to be doing anything wonky. If it happens again though, I'll go get it checked out. You can never be too careful, I just don't relish being in a germy hospital with my weakened immune system.
My friend/coworker came to visit yesterday. She brought a plant and card from the staff. It was lovely and it made me feel good to know they were thinking of me. I know I've complained that I've only heard from a couple of them and it hurt my feelings but I really do understand that it's most likely just a case of people not knowing how to handle it and feeling awkward. I get it. Anyhow, I plan to go into work in a couple of weeks when my immune system is stronger and thank everyone personally. I also want to talk to the principal about possibly coming in a day or two to volunteer and perhaps a back to work plan for the new year. I know my class is in a bit of chaos. My friend thinks I'm nuts to be considering going back this year at all, apparently my stress level will be through the roof but frankly my mind needs the challenge and I think bringing order to chaos will do me a world of good. I miss it desperately.
So there you have it. Today is my last day with Emend and then it's just my Zofran and steroids to help me manage the nausea but I think the worst of it will have been passed. I'm so glad this was the way I ended the FEC portion of my treatment and I'm anxiously (nervously) looking forward to Taxotere.
Halfway done baby!!
Saturday, November 5, 2011
Wednesday, November 2, 2011
Just So Bored....
Wow. Incredibly bored today. Of course, by this time tomorrow I'll be longing to feel this way but for now...wow. Just so bored.
I could make muffins. I could finish my sister in laws quilt....I'm almost done. I could write. And yet none of that appeals to me right now. I'm at that point where I'm so tired of being in the house and under stimulated that my brain is starting to melt. And this is why I could have never lasted as a stay at home mom. More power to those of you who do it, I'm in awe because I'd go freakin' nuts. It's not like I'm stuck at home, for the most part I feel fine and can go anywhere and do anything but even that, there's only so much to do. I want to go back to work and I'm anxious now, excited even at the prospect of going back early.
I went to the hospital this morning to have my pre chemo blood work done. They have to measure my white blood cells, platelets, billirubin, all that good stuff to make sure I'm healthy enough for them to kill me slightly. The lab has a new set up now. When you go in you take a number and wait to be called to register. Chemo patients get priority so once I've registered I'm first in but it often takes 15-20 minutes just to get my turn to register.
So today I'm sitting patiently, waiting for my turn to register. I was number 37. They were at 31. It was quite crowded, not really any extra seats, Sean usually waits outside the clinic on a bench.
An elderly woman came in, was unsure about what to do, where to get her number, she couldn't see well (she later told another patient she'd had a stroke and couldn't see well) Another patient helped her and she sat down. Her husband came in shortly after (probably parking the car)
A pregnant lady, sitting next to the elderly lady, moved over and offered the seat to the woman's husband. A few minutes later I get called up. I gave my requisition form in and sat down again. The elderly lady gets called up next. While she's at the counter a younger woman (my age I'd say) comes in with her husband, takes a number and sits where the old woman's husband had been sitting. Her husband leaves the lab, she takes her purse and plops it on the chair that the old woman had been sitting on. As this is going on, another old woman with a cane came in.
The first old woman (the one who'd had the stroke) is done checking in now and shuffles back toward her seat. She and her husband see the purse and the husband says "Can you move your bag?" The young woman says "Oh, no my husband was going to sit here." So I stood up and said to the man, "Sir, your wife can sit here." The young woman looks at me and says "Ugh, fine, okay" and moves her purse for the old woman. So I then motioned for the other woman with the cane to take my seat. I got a look and a half from the young woman. I'm not sure why. They called me in for my blood draw right after that.
I'm always amazed at the ignorance of others. Seriously, you need to save your seat for your clearly able bodied husband (and granted there may have been something wrong with him but he sure as hell appeared healthy and able to me) instead of letting this old woman who can barely see and walk to sit down? I shouldn't be so catty and judge like that but come on....
Well, this is it until I'm feeling better from my treatment tomorrow. Hopefully it won't be horrible and the new drugs will help reduce the side effects. But if you're so inclined, a quick prayer that it's not horrible would be much appreciated. See ya soon!
I could make muffins. I could finish my sister in laws quilt....I'm almost done. I could write. And yet none of that appeals to me right now. I'm at that point where I'm so tired of being in the house and under stimulated that my brain is starting to melt. And this is why I could have never lasted as a stay at home mom. More power to those of you who do it, I'm in awe because I'd go freakin' nuts. It's not like I'm stuck at home, for the most part I feel fine and can go anywhere and do anything but even that, there's only so much to do. I want to go back to work and I'm anxious now, excited even at the prospect of going back early.
I went to the hospital this morning to have my pre chemo blood work done. They have to measure my white blood cells, platelets, billirubin, all that good stuff to make sure I'm healthy enough for them to kill me slightly. The lab has a new set up now. When you go in you take a number and wait to be called to register. Chemo patients get priority so once I've registered I'm first in but it often takes 15-20 minutes just to get my turn to register.
So today I'm sitting patiently, waiting for my turn to register. I was number 37. They were at 31. It was quite crowded, not really any extra seats, Sean usually waits outside the clinic on a bench.
An elderly woman came in, was unsure about what to do, where to get her number, she couldn't see well (she later told another patient she'd had a stroke and couldn't see well) Another patient helped her and she sat down. Her husband came in shortly after (probably parking the car)
A pregnant lady, sitting next to the elderly lady, moved over and offered the seat to the woman's husband. A few minutes later I get called up. I gave my requisition form in and sat down again. The elderly lady gets called up next. While she's at the counter a younger woman (my age I'd say) comes in with her husband, takes a number and sits where the old woman's husband had been sitting. Her husband leaves the lab, she takes her purse and plops it on the chair that the old woman had been sitting on. As this is going on, another old woman with a cane came in.
The first old woman (the one who'd had the stroke) is done checking in now and shuffles back toward her seat. She and her husband see the purse and the husband says "Can you move your bag?" The young woman says "Oh, no my husband was going to sit here." So I stood up and said to the man, "Sir, your wife can sit here." The young woman looks at me and says "Ugh, fine, okay" and moves her purse for the old woman. So I then motioned for the other woman with the cane to take my seat. I got a look and a half from the young woman. I'm not sure why. They called me in for my blood draw right after that.
I'm always amazed at the ignorance of others. Seriously, you need to save your seat for your clearly able bodied husband (and granted there may have been something wrong with him but he sure as hell appeared healthy and able to me) instead of letting this old woman who can barely see and walk to sit down? I shouldn't be so catty and judge like that but come on....
Well, this is it until I'm feeling better from my treatment tomorrow. Hopefully it won't be horrible and the new drugs will help reduce the side effects. But if you're so inclined, a quick prayer that it's not horrible would be much appreciated. See ya soon!
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