First day of chemo today.
Not as bad as I imagined. - It never is.
Not a lot of sleep last night. Woke up at 04:00 for the normal "morning wee" and couldn't sleep anymore. My gastritis thought it needed a bit of attention as my stress levels were high and they don't like each other. It was so much pain in my stomach that I couldn't sleep properly anymore. Managed to get breakfast down my throat because it needed to be done before heading to hospital.
We were called in and Mum and M were able to stay with me throughout the whole session. The nurse was so kind and inspirational, she explain everything as if was my first time dealing with chemo and that felt good. When it concerns to ourselves the nursing goes a little out of the window and we're not rational anymore.
The nurse started asking if I wanted to try the cold cap. Everybody speaks so much about it but there's so many divided opinions. I wanted to try it on, but had a strange feeling I wouldn't cope with it. And I wasn't far from being right.
I've requested to try it under the condition I would take it off straight away if I couldn't cope. The nurse chose the size medium for my head - I'm glad at least I'm not big headed - and slid it in my head - It felt horrible, so tight and uncomfortable. I Can't even imagine the cold that would make it expand even more and get it even tighter. - I hesitated and the nurse straight away realised it wasn't for me. Tears rolled down my face, not sure if it was disappointment or just because the whole situation took control over me and for a second I was not in control and frustration came out in a form of tears.
The nurse was amazing dealing with it. She gave me a hug and tried to explain to me that is not used that much as most of the people don't really tolerate it but it was worth to try it on and at least I know. - I won't die stupid now.
My chemo regime is Epirubicin and Cyclophosphamide for 4 cycles three weeks in between them. And after that I'll start Paclitaxel for another 4 cycles. But before she started giving me the chemo was time for Dexamethasone 8mg tablets - after the good old friend Omeprazole - and a good lot of Ondasentron intravenously for the sickness. Inserting the gripper in my portacath was less painful than I'd imagined - I had never asked my patients before and this is giving a whole new experience. - The gripper is a special needle that goes inside the rubber part of the portacath (as I showed on the picture two posts ago) and only penetrates a very thin layer of my skin so it doesn't hurt as much, it hurts more the fact that the whole area is still bruised than the actual needle. I had a saline bag put through just to flush the line and another bag with the Ondasentron. Great experience so far as for the first time didn't feel any drugs going up or down my arm - Oh happy days! - I really didn't like that feeling.
This was followed by a bag of fluid whilst the nurse pushed the drug in very slowly with a big syringe, 5 syringes in total and they both made me have a weird taste in my mouth. - I can only describe as the smell of old hospitals, if anyone can relate. Another bag of fluids was put up to flush all of it around my body. Good thing is, that was half of my fluid intake for today so that's great!
After it all felt a bit lightheaded for about an hour after and then felt normal. - Oh P, you just wait a few hours so you stop feeling normal again. - Bang! 17.00 and tiredness hit, head felt heavy, legs and arms felt heavy and uncomfortable and asking for bed. And that's exactly what I gave them.
Although was a very emotional day for all of us we are still smiling and being positive that together we'll kick Cancer's arse, and we have friends and family looking after us.
And then got home to a special gift that came from heaven!
P.x
Not as bad as I imagined. - It never is.
Not a lot of sleep last night. Woke up at 04:00 for the normal "morning wee" and couldn't sleep anymore. My gastritis thought it needed a bit of attention as my stress levels were high and they don't like each other. It was so much pain in my stomach that I couldn't sleep properly anymore. Managed to get breakfast down my throat because it needed to be done before heading to hospital.
We were called in and Mum and M were able to stay with me throughout the whole session. The nurse was so kind and inspirational, she explain everything as if was my first time dealing with chemo and that felt good. When it concerns to ourselves the nursing goes a little out of the window and we're not rational anymore.
The nurse started asking if I wanted to try the cold cap. Everybody speaks so much about it but there's so many divided opinions. I wanted to try it on, but had a strange feeling I wouldn't cope with it. And I wasn't far from being right.
I've requested to try it under the condition I would take it off straight away if I couldn't cope. The nurse chose the size medium for my head - I'm glad at least I'm not big headed - and slid it in my head - It felt horrible, so tight and uncomfortable. I Can't even imagine the cold that would make it expand even more and get it even tighter. - I hesitated and the nurse straight away realised it wasn't for me. Tears rolled down my face, not sure if it was disappointment or just because the whole situation took control over me and for a second I was not in control and frustration came out in a form of tears.
The nurse was amazing dealing with it. She gave me a hug and tried to explain to me that is not used that much as most of the people don't really tolerate it but it was worth to try it on and at least I know. - I won't die stupid now.
My chemo regime is Epirubicin and Cyclophosphamide for 4 cycles three weeks in between them. And after that I'll start Paclitaxel for another 4 cycles. But before she started giving me the chemo was time for Dexamethasone 8mg tablets - after the good old friend Omeprazole - and a good lot of Ondasentron intravenously for the sickness. Inserting the gripper in my portacath was less painful than I'd imagined - I had never asked my patients before and this is giving a whole new experience. - The gripper is a special needle that goes inside the rubber part of the portacath (as I showed on the picture two posts ago) and only penetrates a very thin layer of my skin so it doesn't hurt as much, it hurts more the fact that the whole area is still bruised than the actual needle. I had a saline bag put through just to flush the line and another bag with the Ondasentron. Great experience so far as for the first time didn't feel any drugs going up or down my arm - Oh happy days! - I really didn't like that feeling.
This was followed by a bag of fluid whilst the nurse pushed the drug in very slowly with a big syringe, 5 syringes in total and they both made me have a weird taste in my mouth. - I can only describe as the smell of old hospitals, if anyone can relate. Another bag of fluids was put up to flush all of it around my body. Good thing is, that was half of my fluid intake for today so that's great!
After it all felt a bit lightheaded for about an hour after and then felt normal. - Oh P, you just wait a few hours so you stop feeling normal again. - Bang! 17.00 and tiredness hit, head felt heavy, legs and arms felt heavy and uncomfortable and asking for bed. And that's exactly what I gave them.
Although was a very emotional day for all of us we are still smiling and being positive that together we'll kick Cancer's arse, and we have friends and family looking after us.
And then got home to a special gift that came from heaven!
"There is nothing prettier in the whole wide world than a girl in love with every breath she takes."
P.x
No comments:
Post a Comment