OK, I was suppossed to go for chemo on Thursday along with dr. appts with 3 different doctors.
*Dr. Lee wanted to check on the breast infection,which is still there, so he kept me on the Levaquin and added Bactrim, together pretty powerful antibiotics. I need to keep eating my yogurt! if the infection doesn't go away by next week, it might lead to hospitalization and IV antibiotics. Worst case would be if that didn't work, then the expanders would have to be removed. But I'm trying to stay calm and positive.
*Dr. Shah just wanted to check in with me. I'm not sleeping great or eating too well, but overall not too terribley bad.
*Dr. Lohta (oncological internist) said I didn't need to see him. (thank goodness).
*Dee (Ott's mom) and I met Chrsi for a lesuirely lunch, which made me 1/2 late for chemo!! Not a great start, plus I did not have my lab work done yet. So off to what turned out to be a little crazy day! I got my 2 , (you read it right, 2) anti-nausea drips, plus I had to take my oral one. Then they started the taxotere, which they dip very slowly to look for reaction - ususally the 1st or 2nd treatment. Sure enough, I felt a little trouble breathing - a weird feeling, like my chest was tight, but it made me cough a little. So I told the nurse. She very calmly turned of the iv drip, and said a few people would be coming into help her. OK, seriously, like 8 nurses coming walking with a strong sense of urgency asking what patient?? They each had a very specific duty; blood pressure, oxygen, pulse/ox, callin Dr. Shah, etc, etc. I stayed calm and of course started making jokes, prompting a nurse to ask Dee why I was making jokes. Anyway, they pushed a bunch of benadryl, watched me for an hour, and sent me on my way with no chemo!! I was very disappointed thinking that the only "good chemo" now can't be used on me, etc, etc.
*Dr. Shah called me before 8 am the next morning with news that she had decided to change me to adriamycin - a ver old drug that does have some cardiac risks along with it. I got little teary, as my own mother died of actual heart failure from chemo therapy, but that was 30 years ago and I don't even know if it was the same drug! Still, old traumas die hard! Anyway, Dr. Shah wants me to saty as close to schedule as possible, so she put me in for Monday a.m. with an echocardigram scheduled for next Monday.
**All went well on Monday, no reactions and a much shorter chemo time, as they can run both drugs together. They upped the anti-nasuea meds by adding 3 more! I gues the ardiamycin is such pretty nasty stuff. It's Wed. pm and so far so good! I have been taking the meds religiously, although you need a friggin' PhD just to figure out the 17 different medicenes I'm on right now!!!
**Work is going well, and I had an exceptionally good day, today! I work with so many great people who are so caring and willing to help, it really is great. Although there is a litle evidence of mouse poopy on my windowsill, s let's hope we can get rid of that bad boy before it runs across my foot and gives me a real heart attack!
**Tomorrow (Thursday) I go in for the wonderful Neulasta shot and for expansin by Dr. Lee. Hopefully the infection in the breast is gone and all with go well. please cross your fingers, do the voodoo, say a prayer, send a good wish or vibe - whatever it is you all out there do. I could really use it tomorrow!!
Please excuse all the typos, I'm not editing tonight as I had a rough night with my oldest child and she has worn me down!!
much lve and peace to you al
m
Its been such a crazy week that I finally got a chance to check the blog. It sounds that things are going well even though you had to change drugs and all. I am interested to hear about the infection. Hopefully it is a thing of the past! Remeber you can call if you need me. I am planning to call on a weekend but I brought so much stuff home, I doubt if I get much time. Even though I am fussing about being busy - I can cancel anything at your notice. Work can always wait over friends!
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