Week One Down...Good Riddance!

Beginning week one of the new treatment, I thought it would be a lot like last time.  After the first week, no side effects to speak of.  After the second week, some side effects felt.  Third and fourth weeks brought fatigue, acid reflux/nausea, but didn't throw-up once and was able to maintain most of my activities.

This is going to be a different experience.  Monday, I went in for about 4 hours for hydration, steroids, anti-histamine, and then they got me hooked up to my 24-hour pump.  They kept me for 2 hours to make sure I didn't have any crazy reactions.  I found out the next day that they were worried about sending me home with the pump because of the high dosage of the drug and the risk of adverse side effects.  I went back to work with a sporty fanny pack and found my co-workers all bedecked in "orchid", the color of testicular cancer, and wearing wrist bands.  It was a sweet and much-appreciated gesture.

The rest of the night went fine.  It actually wasn't that hard sleeping with it and I didn't have any side effects.

Me with my fanny pack and pump.

 

Tuesday, I went back in and they started me on hydration, steroids and then Cisplatine,  Ifosfamide, then Mesna, before and immediately after the Ifosfamide.  They then sent me home with a vial of Mesna to take 8 hours after treatment.  The whole thing took about 8 hours and I shut down the joint with me and nurse Maria singing along to Steve Perry's Foolish Heart.  Because the treatments are taking so long they want me there from 9:00am to 4:45pm Tuesday through Friday.  All was well until about 9:00pm when my ankles started aching.  The ache slowly spread up to my hips.  Jana massaged them, which helped a lot.  By 3:00am, I had taken 1,000mgs of acetaminophen and 600mgs of Ibuprophen and was using a heat blanket without making much of a dent in the pain.  I think the Taxol causes the muscles to contract.  It felt like my bones were being squeezed and the marrow wrung out of them.  Next morning, they gave me Tylenol (didn't touch it), and a prescription for the biggest bottle of pain killers I have ever seen.  I normally avoid pain killers like the plague, but I took four within 24 hours and they took the edge off.

 

Nausea hit by the end of the week and I vomited at the end of treatment on Friday and again last night.  I was probably on my feet for now more than 5-6 hours.  Spent most of my time lying down, either asleep or close to it.  This morning I skipped the "mild" nausea pills and headed straight for the "severe" pills.  I feel like it's a priority to get food in me and keep it down.  Overall, I am feeling ok right now.  The meds make my head a little foggy, but the nausea pills help.  I find they don't make me less nauseous, but they make it harder for your body to actually vomit. 

 

Off to take my first full body shower in 10 days.  It's gonna feel great!  A huge, unqualified and sincere thanks to everyone who has reached out so far to make contact or help in some way.  We really appreciate it.