Neulasta & being "expanded"

My Neulasta shot was Tuesday afternoon, and let me just say it was not pleasant! They need to give it in your fatty tissue (God knows I have lots of that!) so I picked my tummy flab. The needle is tiny, but the drug can't be "pushed" in fast, it has to sort of linger a bit and that hurt!!!! It stung, a lot!! I hate needles anyway, but this particularly sucked! Jen was there holding my hand, and I was totally crying! After the nurse was done, it was fine. No more pain, but after I get "hurt" like that and cry I always feel a little fragile and wimpy, so I was definitely a little down. The nurse said if I was going to feel this wonderful "bone pain" that I've been hearing so much about, it should happen within the 1st 12 hours. They prescribe Allegra for it (Odd, right?) and I could take as a preventative if I wanted. But I felt like there is already so much crap in my body, I'd rather wait and see if I actually feel it. So miracle of miracles, I felt fine when I woke up on Wednesday! I was scared to say it or tell anyone I felt OK because I was scared to jinx myself. I knocked on wood all day! But still, no pain!

Wake up Thursday, same thing, no bone pain - a friggin' headache that I can't seem to get rid of - but no bone pain! I'm a little nervous all day for my appt. with Dr. Lee to be expanded - again the needle is what I dread! We all (Dee, Arthur, Emma, Skylar and me) arrive for my appt at 4:15 to be told Dr. Lee is running 2 hours behind due to an earlier emergency! Crazy, huh? Anyway, we sit and wait. I get called back (only 1 hr and 15 minutes late). His PA removes my stitches that he put in 2 weeks ago. Then she gets out her little magnet finder thingy to find the port in each of the expanders. It's a cool little tool, anyway I am beyond nervous. But, not sure if I've told you this yet, but most of the feeling in my "breasts" is gone, and mercifully, the ports were located in a non-feeling area, so the needle didn't hurt!! Then she attaches a big, fat syringe of saline and pushes it in. I'm choosing not to look, but truly there was no pain!! Now, because the expanders are a little fuller, my muscles are back to being a little more tender, but nothing as bad as I thought it was going to be!! So thank goodness!!

So we all go to dinner, then a trip to Target. At this point I am starting to feel very achy in my legs and lower back, not to mention my friggin' head!!!!!! Anyway, I'm walking slower, maybe even with a little limp. Seriously?? I'm actually considering using one of those Little Amigo thingys they have there to ride around in!! SO THIS is what "bone pain" feels like?? Not so fun. Do you remember when you were a kid, and you would get leg aches or growing pains (or whatever they called them in your family) in your legs? That's what this feels like. I can feel it in my hips and down my femur, which I think is causing my lower back to hurt. I can feel it in my sternum (chest bone) and in my shoulders down to my elbows. I took an Allegra as soon as I got home then took a very hot bath and I was like a different person! A miracle! So I fell asleep pretty easily only to be woken up but this awful pain again at 12:40! So I try the bath again - helps for about a minute - and so here I am at 2:45 in the morning talking to you all!! I can take the Allegra only once a day - poopy, huh?

I might go try to take some tylenol and try to sleep. We'll see...

much love,

monique