Thursday, July 29, 2010
F@(% Chemo, BTW
Yes, F@(% Chemo. That's the second time I've done 4 rounds AND made it look pretty easy I'd say. I'm done, for what better be a LONG, LONG time...
Chemo Round 8 (07/22/10 - 07/25/10)
Got up early, couldn't believe how tired I was, and made the drive to Seattle. Managed to get through traffic and the construction on the pass without any difficulty. Got to my morning appointments and then, after seeing my doctor, went to the hospital to check in. Got checked in, went up to my room, changed, and laid down because I was tired already.
In meeting with my doctor I asked to have CT/MRI scans completed on Monday 7/26, since I would be there, in order to establish baseline, and even get my Neulasta administered by a nurse, rather than self...
Ifos was started at around 1:30 and dripped for around 4 hours then that has to be followed with Mesna at around 4 hours after that. I'm not sure how in the course of those days, but somehow the Ifos started being administered later and later. I asked them to bump it back up because I'm so sick of the hospital, no offense to the staff, and they were able to accommodate me with that. Had a pretty eager "fellow," I guess, or whatever you call a doctor while they are still in some form of student status, who kept making me do different "excercises" to test my motor skills and check for swelling etc etc. Unfortunately for students, I'm a very stable patient and there was nothing remarkable that happened to me. Listen to my breathing, get my vitals, ask me to eat, chat a bit, sleep. Exciting I know...
They did have a Code Grey, which I'd never heard of before, on my floor and wing! I'm told it's a call for all available personell including some security because a patient is not quite cognizant of reality/or even hallucinating and may need to be restrained. In this case the patient needed to be restrained in 5-points and they even walked by my room surrounded by people as they tried to corral them into their room. It was minor really, but the patient was screaming and carrying on at the nurses telling them that they weren't real, that they were film crews or something. I know that some of the chemo can cause hallucinations, but I was told that the patient was a drug abuser so I'm not sure if that was their problem or not.
So, They locked that patient down and then released me the next night... I got de-accessed around 9:30, showered and out by 9:45. Drove to my pal Allan's, talked a bit then went to sleep. Slept most of the next day, ate, then went to my CT/MRI scans. Got done with those around 5 and met up with Allan and we went to Zeeks, or is it Zekes, Pizza and had a nice sit down.
Later my ride came, we dropped my niece's car at her friends, and then we hit the long road home.
And, now I just wait till I get better from all the drugs and then get on with things.
In meeting with my doctor I asked to have CT/MRI scans completed on Monday 7/26, since I would be there, in order to establish baseline, and even get my Neulasta administered by a nurse, rather than self...
Ifos was started at around 1:30 and dripped for around 4 hours then that has to be followed with Mesna at around 4 hours after that. I'm not sure how in the course of those days, but somehow the Ifos started being administered later and later. I asked them to bump it back up because I'm so sick of the hospital, no offense to the staff, and they were able to accommodate me with that. Had a pretty eager "fellow," I guess, or whatever you call a doctor while they are still in some form of student status, who kept making me do different "excercises" to test my motor skills and check for swelling etc etc. Unfortunately for students, I'm a very stable patient and there was nothing remarkable that happened to me. Listen to my breathing, get my vitals, ask me to eat, chat a bit, sleep. Exciting I know...
They did have a Code Grey, which I'd never heard of before, on my floor and wing! I'm told it's a call for all available personell including some security because a patient is not quite cognizant of reality/or even hallucinating and may need to be restrained. In this case the patient needed to be restrained in 5-points and they even walked by my room surrounded by people as they tried to corral them into their room. It was minor really, but the patient was screaming and carrying on at the nurses telling them that they weren't real, that they were film crews or something. I know that some of the chemo can cause hallucinations, but I was told that the patient was a drug abuser so I'm not sure if that was their problem or not.
So, They locked that patient down and then released me the next night... I got de-accessed around 9:30, showered and out by 9:45. Drove to my pal Allan's, talked a bit then went to sleep. Slept most of the next day, ate, then went to my CT/MRI scans. Got done with those around 5 and met up with Allan and we went to Zeeks, or is it Zekes, Pizza and had a nice sit down.
Later my ride came, we dropped my niece's car at her friends, and then we hit the long road home.
And, now I just wait till I get better from all the drugs and then get on with things.
Wednesday, July 21, 2010
Final round
Final round begins tomorrow with an early (7:30) blood draw, then a meeting with my chemotherapist and then a hop over to the hospital for the dope.
Really looking forward to this because this has just felt so, so, so long and then I get to start doing more again. More running, funning, sunning, and gunning, I like to say, but really getting out more is the key...
Just an early drive up there in my neices car so I can drop it off or her when she comes back to the states for a bit!
Really looking forward to this because this has just felt so, so, so long and then I get to start doing more again. More running, funning, sunning, and gunning, I like to say, but really getting out more is the key...
Just an early drive up there in my neices car so I can drop it off or her when she comes back to the states for a bit!
Tuesday, July 13, 2010
Chemo Round 7 (07/03/10 - 07/07/10)
They gave me the option of Saturday or Tuesday for the admit. I'm trying to get through this stuff as fast as possible, and after all the delays, I took Saturday. I've been non-plussed with this whole experience lately and the experience in the hospital is getting to me as well so I'm just trying to get this done.
The absense of Adria in my chemo regime is noticable and nice; I'm deffinetly not feeling as near a zombie as before. Ifos still has some effects on me, but I'm much more tolerant of them. Also, I don't have to stay in the hospital as long...depending on when I go in... and that is a relief as well. My chemo Dr. is the attending at the hospital these days so that is kind of interesting to see her daily so she gets to see how I'm doing with the chemo rather than hear about it.
They unhooked me at 10 on Tuesday night and said I could stay or go. I left and drove home as fast as I could.
Almost done...then I can get on with things, no real getting back to things...
The absense of Adria in my chemo regime is noticable and nice; I'm deffinetly not feeling as near a zombie as before. Ifos still has some effects on me, but I'm much more tolerant of them. Also, I don't have to stay in the hospital as long...depending on when I go in... and that is a relief as well. My chemo Dr. is the attending at the hospital these days so that is kind of interesting to see her daily so she gets to see how I'm doing with the chemo rather than hear about it.
They unhooked me at 10 on Tuesday night and said I could stay or go. I left and drove home as fast as I could.
Almost done...then I can get on with things, no real getting back to things...
Thursday, July 1, 2010
Finally scheduled for next admit
Had problems pinning them down for my next admit...Finally got them to get me in this Saturday 7/03.
Yesterday, the stars aligned and I was able to go out and play with the team. It was nice to see everybody there and I got some encouragement which I appreciate. They're off to a tourney this weekend. Good Luck Lorax!
Yesterday, the stars aligned and I was able to go out and play with the team. It was nice to see everybody there and I got some encouragement which I appreciate. They're off to a tourney this weekend. Good Luck Lorax!
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