I was going to title this, The Slow Drip, because all the doctors said that the first one goes in slow to be sure that you tolerate it ok, but the actual infusion was the fastest part! It only took less than 15 minutes for all the chemo to go in. And I'm happy to report, I had no adverse reactions as I feared. I didn't drop dead from a stroke, I wasn't allergic to it, I didn't go pale and have an epic nose bleed and die and I didn't have a spike in blood pressure. It was actually quite uneventful. Thank God!!! As always, I had ten million panic attacks for no reason.
I must say, if you ever need chemo, I highly recommend Jefferson Hospital in Philadelphia! The entire staff is so comforting and nice, welcoming and helpful. First I saw Dr Glass, the neuroncolgist. He checked my labs, and gave me the green light to go downstairs to the infusion room. Once I got down there, my tech Daniel gave me and Jim a tour of the whole oncology ward. He showed us where all the bathrooms were, the snack room and the heated blankets! He showed me how to work the recliner, the call button and the TV. He gave me a care packet and books on possible side effects and living with chemo and things to look for and when to call the doctor. He again, as Nurse Kevin upstairs did, took my weight and my pressure. In less than an hour, my pressure came down and so did my WEIGHT!! I lost four pounds !!! Just by riding the elevator downstairs!
Before the infusion my pressure was 117/73. All the docs always joked my pressure would not be the cause of my death. I always run low.
I also got my own nurse. Every time I go back, I'll have nurse Katie. She's my nurse. I was impressed that the chemo is not prepackaged. The pharmacy makes it up when you arrive. Also, before you get infused, two nurses check your identification bracelet with your special concoction. Katie also gets points for having no trouble getting the vein! Oh and, Dr Glass already bumped it up to every two weeks instead of every three.
So then Katie hung the bag and programmed the machine. As I watched it drip, I took my "first infusion selfie" I'm on my phone and blogger is being a douche and won't let me add a photo 😡.
Anyway, they let my husband come back there with me, you're allowed one person to sit with you. I was given a benedryl orally before the infusion, and an antineausea was mixed in with the not so slow drip. In less than 15 minutes it was over and they took my pressure to see how bad it was elevated. 130/83. Still within normal range!! We left after I made my appt for next time which happens to interfere with a party I was looking forward to. I'm still going to the party after. I don't care.
I fell asleep on the way home, woke up at a wawa Jimmy stopped at and had a new super power- a super strength dog ability to smell. And the smell was - wet dog. Awesome!
Jim got us lunch and fruit smoothies, we stopped and got new chains for his saws and picked up the kids from our awesome friends- the Campione family! I slept on and off and I was exhausted. But when we got home, I couldn't sleep. I've since gone from extreme fatigue to wide awake multiple times. If I don't remember to drink, I end up with a disgusting metallic taste in my mouth, which does not mesh with the wet dog smell I smell. But I really can't complain. I do not feel sick. I did not puke, I did not anything that I feared.
And thank you so much to the Campiones who let my kids stay at their house and play with their kids so mine could have fun and not worry about me!! We love you guys!!
I felt good enough to make dinner tonight, then I got very tired. So my son made me a "comfy bed on the couch" where my trusty pup Blake laid with me and we took another selfie that I can't show you cause I'm blogging from my phone, and now I'm wide awake!
Day one- done! My whole lifetime more to go !!
