Still no chemo today!

deanna14

I still wasn't able to have chemo today. Many of my counts were worse this week than last! My platelets went from 41 thous. to 60 thous., but my WBC, RBC, HGB and Magnesium went down. So I got more IV mag today, 2 units of blood and a Neumega shot. I have to go back for the next 4 days and get Neumega shots. They didn't leave word with the chemo nurses as to what the plan was from there, so I will call the doctor in the morning. I suspect we will probably recheck blood next Wednesday. I am convinced that this is my lesson in patience. I will leave it in His hands... when I am strong enough, I will get this last treatment.

Anxiously awaiting news from Ro. I hope and pray the internal radiation is/was bearable and you are on your way to the next stage of treatment.

Hugs to all,
Deanna

nursey420

so sorry
So sorry Deanna about your chemo I was hoping and prying for good news. We can all pray for better blood for you. Keep us updated.
Good Luck
Lisa

lindaprocopio

So Sorry! ((((((Deanna))))))
I had 2 delays with my last round too, so I know exactly how frustrated you are,...or have a pretty gppd idea anyway. (I still had radiation ahead and so wasn't really DONE done like you will be.) Hope that good new blood transfused does the trick. Your body is trying to say "ENOUGH", and yet I know that you will want to get one last punch in. Expect to be on close 'safety' monitoring after you get the last infusion, and insist on it if they give you the chemo when you still have low numbers. Your counts will drop even further once you get the last round, and as much as you want all the 'doctoring' to be over, you need them to be watching you for a couple weeks after this last round and may need some shots and blood after the chemo, too.

((((Deanna))))). I know how disappointed you are. I'm so sorry that your patience is being so sorely tested.

deanna14

lindaprocopio said:

So Sorry! ((((((Deanna))))))
I had 2 delays with my last round too, so I know exactly how frustrated you are,...or have a pretty gppd idea anyway. (I still had radiation ahead and so wasn't really DONE done like you will be.) Hope that good new blood transfused does the trick. Your body is trying to say "ENOUGH", and yet I know that you will want to get one last punch in. Expect to be on close 'safety' monitoring after you get the last infusion, and insist on it if they give you the chemo when you still have low numbers. Your counts will drop even further once you get the last round, and as much as you want all the 'doctoring' to be over, you need them to be watching you for a couple weeks after this last round and may need some shots and blood after the chemo, too.

((((Deanna))))). I know how disappointed you are. I'm so sorry that your patience is being so sorely tested.

Thanks!
Thank you ladies for the moral support. I certainly make sure that they are being careful after the final treatment. I haven't gone through all of this to get sick in the last inning. I am scheduled to have a PET/CT scheduled for the 15th of June and an appt. with doc on the 22nd. He wanted the PET/CT 3 weeks after the final treatment. I don't know if he will want to reschedule these or what. I guess I will have more answers after I call them tomorrow. The nurse practitioner told me that he would probably want follow up appts. every 2 months for a while. Isn't every 3 months kind of the "norm?"

Thanks again for all of the encouragement. How is radiation going, Linda? I hope you are still tolerating it pretty well. Won't be too much longer and you will have your treatment regime completed as well. Then we will have a "cyber celebration!"

Love and hugs to all.

Teresa 61

deanna14 said:

Thanks!
Thank you ladies for the moral support. I certainly make sure that they are being careful after the final treatment. I haven't gone through all of this to get sick in the last inning. I am scheduled to have a PET/CT scheduled for the 15th of June and an appt. with doc on the 22nd. He wanted the PET/CT 3 weeks after the final treatment. I don't know if he will want to reschedule these or what. I guess I will have more answers after I call them tomorrow. The nurse practitioner told me that he would probably want follow up appts. every 2 months for a while. Isn't every 3 months kind of the "norm?"

Thanks again for all of the encouragement. How is radiation going, Linda? I hope you are still tolerating it pretty well. Won't be too much longer and you will have your treatment regime completed as well. Then we will have a "cyber celebration!"

Love and hugs to all.

chemo
Deanna, so sorry you didn't get your last chemo in yet, really do know how bad you want the treatments to come to an end. Had my 4th chemo May 18th,my new 2 months of hair growth is starting to fall out.Looking forward to hearing from Ro, hope everything went well for her and that she's at home tonight.

deanna14

Teresa 61 said:

chemo
Deanna, so sorry you didn't get your last chemo in yet, really do know how bad you want the treatments to come to an end. Had my 4th chemo May 18th,my new 2 months of hair growth is starting to fall out.Looking forward to hearing from Ro, hope everything went well for her and that she's at home tonight.

Thanks Teresa
Sorry your new hair is falling out, but soon you will be finished with your treatment and your hair will grow out for good.
I just have to be patient, I think by next week I will surely be strong enough to handle the last treatment.
I too am looking forward to hearing from Ro. I hope she is home soon.

shortmarge

deanna14 said:

Thanks Teresa
Sorry your new hair is falling out, but soon you will be finished with your treatment and your hair will grow out for good.
I just have to be patient, I think by next week I will surely be strong enough to handle the last treatment.
I too am looking forward to hearing from Ro. I hope she is home soon.

So Sorry
Deanna, so sorry to hear about having to wait again. My prayers are with you and in hope to a healing body. I know that getting this last treatment is important to you.

I pray Ro is doing well and Teresa sorry about you new hair, it won't be long before you have to comb and cut it. You are in my prayers.

MIND, BODY AND SOUL!

Hugs.

Ro10

deanna14 said:

Thanks Teresa
Sorry your new hair is falling out, but soon you will be finished with your treatment and your hair will grow out for good.
I just have to be patient, I think by next week I will surely be strong enough to handle the last treatment.
I too am looking forward to hearing from Ro. I hope she is home soon.

Deanna sorry you could not get you last chemo yet
Deanna I hope you are feeling perkier after your two units of blood. Your hemaglobin must have really been low. I hope you shots are helping you, too. Maybe next week will be the final chemo for you. I am sure it is very disappointing to have it cancelled again, but it sure is best for your body with counts so low. I pray that you will be strong enough next week.

I can't express how it touches my heart to read all of your (Linda, Teresa, Deanna and Marge) comments and concerns for me. It is so touching.

I made it through the internal radiation at the hospital. I had to have the implant in place for 28 looooong hours. They admitted me and then put a catheter into my bladder. They took me to radiology and put in the cylinder. Then they took me back to me room and put the rod with radiation in the cylinder. I was in a room by myself and could not have any visitors. The nurses could only come in briefly to give me medicines, or bring in my food trays.
I was so happy when they came to remove the implant. I had so much gas with the implant in that I had to take Lomotil (which is normally given to stop diarrhea) every 6 hours. I was afraid it would really constipate me, but luckily I have had a bowel movement already. I do have a lot of frequency with my urine though. They put me on macrobid - an antibiotic for bladder infections, so I hope it helps tomorrow. It is still uncomfortable urinating today. I am so glad to have that part of the treatment behind me (and hope I don't have to have it again). I pretty much stayed on my back for the 28 hours. The doctor told me I could roll on my side and have my head elevated, but he has never had that thing inside of him to know it is not comfortable to be anywhere, but on your back. I did not sleep very much in the hospital even though they gave me a sleeping pill, so I caught up on my sleep yesterday afternoon and last night.
I have some nausea today, too. I took compazine last night.

Teresa hope you are doing well after your 4th chemo. Sorry about you hair coming out. I am liking having the hair on my head. I will miss it when it is gone, again. I have minimal eyelashes coming back. I still have most of my eyebrows. I go Monday to the medical onocologist and will find out when I will get my 4th chemo.

Linda hope you are doing okay with your radiation, and don't have diarrhea everyday. The end of the external radiation will be here soon for you.

Marge sorry to hear about your low blood pressure and heart rate. Both my blood pressure and heart rate went up after I started chemo. I had to go on medications to help lower both the blood pressure and heart rate. Strange how we all react differently to the same medications. Hope your visit with the cardiologist goes well.

Thanks again to everyone for their thoughts and concerns. HUGS to all of you.

Auntie Shelly

Hi!
Ro: I can't imagine what that is like. One of my fellow chemo "loungers" had to have internal radiation but she did not have to stay in the hospital...she said it lasted a couple of hours and will have to do it weekly for six weeks. I hope you don't have to do it again.

Deanna: Did the 2 units of blood help? Hopefully you will feel better so when you do have your chemo the low won't be so low!

Thanks everyone for the support!

deanna14

Ro10 said:

Deanna sorry you could not get you last chemo yet
Deanna I hope you are feeling perkier after your two units of blood. Your hemaglobin must have really been low. I hope you shots are helping you, too. Maybe next week will be the final chemo for you. I am sure it is very disappointing to have it cancelled again, but it sure is best for your body with counts so low. I pray that you will be strong enough next week.

I can't express how it touches my heart to read all of your (Linda, Teresa, Deanna and Marge) comments and concerns for me. It is so touching.

I made it through the internal radiation at the hospital. I had to have the implant in place for 28 looooong hours. They admitted me and then put a catheter into my bladder. They took me to radiology and put in the cylinder. Then they took me back to me room and put the rod with radiation in the cylinder. I was in a room by myself and could not have any visitors. The nurses could only come in briefly to give me medicines, or bring in my food trays.
I was so happy when they came to remove the implant. I had so much gas with the implant in that I had to take Lomotil (which is normally given to stop diarrhea) every 6 hours. I was afraid it would really constipate me, but luckily I have had a bowel movement already. I do have a lot of frequency with my urine though. They put me on macrobid - an antibiotic for bladder infections, so I hope it helps tomorrow. It is still uncomfortable urinating today. I am so glad to have that part of the treatment behind me (and hope I don't have to have it again). I pretty much stayed on my back for the 28 hours. The doctor told me I could roll on my side and have my head elevated, but he has never had that thing inside of him to know it is not comfortable to be anywhere, but on your back. I did not sleep very much in the hospital even though they gave me a sleeping pill, so I caught up on my sleep yesterday afternoon and last night.
I have some nausea today, too. I took compazine last night.

Teresa hope you are doing well after your 4th chemo. Sorry about you hair coming out. I am liking having the hair on my head. I will miss it when it is gone, again. I have minimal eyelashes coming back. I still have most of my eyebrows. I go Monday to the medical onocologist and will find out when I will get my 4th chemo.

Linda hope you are doing okay with your radiation, and don't have diarrhea everyday. The end of the external radiation will be here soon for you.

Marge sorry to hear about your low blood pressure and heart rate. Both my blood pressure and heart rate went up after I started chemo. I had to go on medications to help lower both the blood pressure and heart rate. Strange how we all react differently to the same medications. Hope your visit with the cardiologist goes well.

Thanks again to everyone for their thoughts and concerns. HUGS to all of you.

I am happy for you
I am happy for you that you have that stage of your treatment behind you. Won't be long until you are going for your last treatment. Sorry that the internal radiation has been so uncomfortable, but at least it is over now. I am still having some issues with the bladder, but the doctor tells me that it is a side effect of radiation. He wants to complete treatment before we start heading to specialists to attempt treating the side effects. Maybe by then, they will go away! I hope that your nausea subsides soon. Glad you are getting caught up on your sleep.

I did not realize how pale I was. Now when I look at myself, it looks like I have a tan! LOL. I am scheduled for labs next Wednesday, if they are okay, I will get my final treatment.

So, it seems we are on our way....

Hugs,
Deanna

christyny631

deanna14 said:

I am happy for you
I am happy for you that you have that stage of your treatment behind you. Won't be long until you are going for your last treatment. Sorry that the internal radiation has been so uncomfortable, but at least it is over now. I am still having some issues with the bladder, but the doctor tells me that it is a side effect of radiation. He wants to complete treatment before we start heading to specialists to attempt treating the side effects. Maybe by then, they will go away! I hope that your nausea subsides soon. Glad you are getting caught up on your sleep.

I did not realize how pale I was. Now when I look at myself, it looks like I have a tan! LOL. I am scheduled for labs next Wednesday, if they are okay, I will get my final treatment.

So, it seems we are on our way....

Hugs,
Deanna

Deanna
I'm still lurking out here

I just wanted to say ((HUGS)) & let you know I'm praying hard for you, & I am thinking of you. I hope things take a turn for the better & you get what you desire on Wednesday.

I have stuck my nose in the Twilight series as a distraction for now. I think you & Linda had been talking about it on here, as well as a few of my friends. So I decided to see what all the hype was about. Its intoxicating & addictive! I've finished Twilight & New Moon both in the last 2 days lol. I think I'm living vicariously through Bella, wishing I was 17 again ha ha. Its a good fantasy world to escape to. Today I start Eclipse. If you at all like fantasy stories like Lord of the Rings, I suggest getting into Eragon, Eldest, Brisngr a.k.a. The Inheritance cylcle (book 4 is not done yet). Its Tolkein-esque, but not as tedious in my opinion. It's amusing to shop in the Teen section in Barnes & Noble, but thats where you'll find them. Just trying to return the favor.

lindaprocopio

RO: Glad you're home and the worst is over!
Ro, that doesn't sound one bit pleasant, you poor thing. But it is behind you now and it had to be done, so I'm very glad that you can move on from it now! Thanks for sharing your experience; it's always better to knoww ahead of time what is coming up.

My internals rads are a couple of weeks in the future for me, but will be the high-dose kind given as an outpatient. I have 8 more externals to go, counting the one I get this morning, with final one June 9th. I hate not knowing what the internal radiation schedule will be like for me so that I can have a 'DONE!'-date on my calendar. The Physician's Assistance hinted that my internal radiation may be completed with 3 sessions in a single week, but then was careful not to confirm that. I meet with the oncologist or the PA every Monday, so I have 2 more opportunities to get a firm plan from the oncologist. So I asked that they put a note in my file that I needed to see the decision-maker for at least one of those 2 appointments. They are so much more laid-back about monitoring you in radiation than when you are getting chemo! I haven't had any blood draws at all, and on Mondays when you meet with the doctor, they just weigh you, but no other 'vitals'. And, unlike chemo where I met with the oncologist almost every time, I usually get the Physician's Assistant for my weekly 'chats'. I love him, but he hasn't much authority for treatment decisions. I guess the oncologist is busy and I am doing so well. I have lost only 5 pounds from the diahrea, and as long as stay on the low-fiber diet and keep my sore butt coated and use the witch-hazel wipes, I feel pretty good. (I have to carefully wash all of that off every morning before I go for treatment.) WHOOPS! I better go do that! I have to leave for treatment at 9:50!!

shortmarge

lindaprocopio said:

RO: Glad you're home and the worst is over!
Ro, that doesn't sound one bit pleasant, you poor thing. But it is behind you now and it had to be done, so I'm very glad that you can move on from it now! Thanks for sharing your experience; it's always better to knoww ahead of time what is coming up.

My internals rads are a couple of weeks in the future for me, but will be the high-dose kind given as an outpatient. I have 8 more externals to go, counting the one I get this morning, with final one June 9th. I hate not knowing what the internal radiation schedule will be like for me so that I can have a 'DONE!'-date on my calendar. The Physician's Assistance hinted that my internal radiation may be completed with 3 sessions in a single week, but then was careful not to confirm that. I meet with the oncologist or the PA every Monday, so I have 2 more opportunities to get a firm plan from the oncologist. So I asked that they put a note in my file that I needed to see the decision-maker for at least one of those 2 appointments. They are so much more laid-back about monitoring you in radiation than when you are getting chemo! I haven't had any blood draws at all, and on Mondays when you meet with the doctor, they just weigh you, but no other 'vitals'. And, unlike chemo where I met with the oncologist almost every time, I usually get the Physician's Assistant for my weekly 'chats'. I love him, but he hasn't much authority for treatment decisions. I guess the oncologist is busy and I am doing so well. I have lost only 5 pounds from the diahrea, and as long as stay on the low-fiber diet and keep my sore butt coated and use the witch-hazel wipes, I feel pretty good. (I have to carefully wash all of that off every morning before I go for treatment.) WHOOPS! I better go do that! I have to leave for treatment at 9:50!!

Ro
Big, big, cyber hugs. Bless your heart that you had to do internal radiation like that. Glad it's behind you!!!

Linda, that's how my internal was done, 3x in a week.

MIND, BODY AND SOUL!

Hugs.

deanna14

lindaprocopio said:

RO: Glad you're home and the worst is over!
Ro, that doesn't sound one bit pleasant, you poor thing. But it is behind you now and it had to be done, so I'm very glad that you can move on from it now! Thanks for sharing your experience; it's always better to knoww ahead of time what is coming up.

My internals rads are a couple of weeks in the future for me, but will be the high-dose kind given as an outpatient. I have 8 more externals to go, counting the one I get this morning, with final one June 9th. I hate not knowing what the internal radiation schedule will be like for me so that I can have a 'DONE!'-date on my calendar. The Physician's Assistance hinted that my internal radiation may be completed with 3 sessions in a single week, but then was careful not to confirm that. I meet with the oncologist or the PA every Monday, so I have 2 more opportunities to get a firm plan from the oncologist. So I asked that they put a note in my file that I needed to see the decision-maker for at least one of those 2 appointments. They are so much more laid-back about monitoring you in radiation than when you are getting chemo! I haven't had any blood draws at all, and on Mondays when you meet with the doctor, they just weigh you, but no other 'vitals'. And, unlike chemo where I met with the oncologist almost every time, I usually get the Physician's Assistant for my weekly 'chats'. I love him, but he hasn't much authority for treatment decisions. I guess the oncologist is busy and I am doing so well. I have lost only 5 pounds from the diahrea, and as long as stay on the low-fiber diet and keep my sore butt coated and use the witch-hazel wipes, I feel pretty good. (I have to carefully wash all of that off every morning before I go for treatment.) WHOOPS! I better go do that! I have to leave for treatment at 9:50!!

Internal Radiation
I got my internal radiation 1 treatment a week for 3 weeks. Funny how differently things are done. Linda, I hope you get your answers soon so you can mark your finish date on the calender. I know how motivating that date on the calender can be!

Take care everyone! hugs

Teresa 61

deanna14 said:

Internal Radiation
I got my internal radiation 1 treatment a week for 3 weeks. Funny how differently things are done. Linda, I hope you get your answers soon so you can mark your finish date on the calender. I know how motivating that date on the calender can be!

Take care everyone! hugs

Internal Radiation
Ro, so happy the internal radiation is now in the past for you. Like you, I hope I never have to go through anything like that again.I was in for 36 hours.Another woman was in with me , she was in for 72 hours, poor girl. Anyway so happy your home now... Teresa