FOLFOX #3 turned me into a tourist!

Round #3

So … I did well this round as I didn’t have a reaction during infusion. Woo Hoo! Seems the double Benadryl push, one at the beginning and one half way through works for me. So glad to get through an infusion without a reaction.

One thing though is that I felt crummy before half way … remember I am at a 6 hour infusion now. I actually curled up in the recliner with a warm blanket and fell asleep. Never done that before and that’s really not like me. Always have to be awake and alert and sitting next to the emergency exit. Ha! And my oxy pins and needles started in my toes before I even finished the infusion instead of waiting for the next day as it has been doing. I just felt terrible when I left. Went home and went straight to bed until the next morning. Not like me at all. Usually the dex keeps me up for at least 1 ½ days before I can sleep.

This round the flu like symptoms were even worse and I had a lot of back, hip and leg pains. I’ll have to discuss this with the onc as we are really watching the “spots” in my spinal and pelvic area. Maybe the pain means the chemo is working on them. I finally broke down and took pain meds one day this round. I keep getting the lecture from the onc and pain management team that I should stay ahead of the pain and I know this but, I really don’t want to have to put any more additives in my system than I absolutely have to. It just seems that chemo is enough poison without adding anything else. Plus with my intestinal problems I don’t need the constipation that pain meds add as with the adhesions and hernias that makes it so much more painful. Take care of one pain and add to another? Guess I have to decide at any given time which pain is worse … bone pain or intestinal pain.

So, this time I was getting frustrated with my pump bag and having it over my shoulder like a purse and I finally did something I said I’d never do … I put it around my waist like a fanny pack!!! Yes !!! I went for the tourist look. It’s really quite interesting. Having bought the $1.50 for 2 pair of gloves deal at Target (pronounced Tar chay) I now feel so decadent. I can wear a new color each day of the week! Got so cold the other night I got up in the middle of the night to put a cap on my head as my ears were freezing. So Now I sport my 5FU pump in fanny pack/tourist mode wearing a knit cap and sporting colorful gloves! I think today I’m changing into a snazzy pair of bumble bee gloves … black with yellow stripes. Kind of goes with the pins and needles from the neuropathy. Already feels like I have bumble bees in my gloves!

Oh not to mention, I didn’t realize that you could cry glass shards. Waz up wit dat? I was talking with someone about having Thanksgiving without my friend who recently died and my eyes got a little teary. Well let’s just say that there was no way I was going to actually cry … just a little bit of watery eyes and it felt like I had glass in my eyes. YIKES - don't blink! Damn this neuropathy from the chemo.

So round #3 down … next is #4. Each round is an adventure.