My mother's Hysterectomy

MrsBee said:

chemo port day

My mother just got back from having her chemo port attached.

She was surprised that there was no pain involved and she was awake through the whole thing.

She said if they told her she had to go tomorrow for the same thing, she would, no problem.

Now she gets to rest for two weeks until first chemo treatment.

Glad one thing's gone well in all of this so far.

I had my port put in yesterday but they did it under general anesthetics with the tube down my throat and also cut a small hole in my neck to thread the tube.  I wonder why some doctors do it one one and other doctors the other?  I also had chemo today instead of letting my incisions heal first.  Your mom's way sounds a LOT easier than mine.  I'm glad things are going so well for her!!!

Take care,

Eldri

MrsBee said:

Thanks, really hope it wasn't

Thanks, really hope it wasn't too bad for you.

I'd like to know how the chemo goes, if you have a moment now and again, and are up to it of course.

My mother starts hers in about 2 weeks.

First they gave me medication, a steroid, to reduce swelling that could be caused by the first chemo drug. That took about 15 minutes.  Then they gave me one of the chemo drugs that took about half an hour; then the second chemo drug that took an hour.  There were two nurses there who kept asking me if I was feeling ok - was I getting itchy, did I feel light-headed, anything out of the ordinary?  I was fine and was there for about three hours.  My chemo nurse said some kinds of chemo can take double that time so I guess it depends on the type of cancer and the type of chemotherapy.

The nurses told me to drink, drink, drink.  I could drink anything I wanted except alcohol (I don't drink anyways) but if I drank something with caffeine, I still had to drink eight 8-ounce of non-caffeinated liquid - soup, water, juice, soda, coffee, etc. all counted toward those 64 ounces.  She also told me to get real ginger ale - not the diet kind.  She said to open the can and let it sit in the fridge so it stays cold.  She said that has really helped people who get nauseaous.  I also have two different kinds of nauseau drugs and an anti-anxiety medication to take if I need it.  I take my steroid medication tomorrow, Thursday and Friday.  

I'm also set up for blood work on November 6th and November 16th with my next chemo on the 17th.

It went MUCH better than I thought it would.

Take care and let me know how your mom's chemo goes.  How old is she??

Eldri

MrsBee said:

First chemo treatment Monday

My mother just found out her first chemo treatment is this next Monday morning.

We were expecting a liitle more time for her to recover from hysreectomy.

She's only just starting to get some of her energy back-for example,

she  gets completely exhausted from just taking a shower. 

I sense that she's nervous about the whole thing.

Wish we knew exactly what was going to happen.

 

 

 

chemo day is actually pretty easy.  You get to set in a comfortable chair and wonderful chemo nurses and volunteers wait on you.  they bring warm blankets and snacks  while you sit.  My chemo room has TVs that you can watch, a lot of people read or nap.  I play on my Ipad, draw, or color in an adult coloring book.  It does take awhile  They have to access your port and start a saline solution, and run the premeds before they start the actual chemo.  I have always had  a day or two feeling pretty good before the side effects hit.  Hoping for the best for your mom.  She is lucky to have a caring daughter.  Hugs and prayers, Lou Ann

MrsBee said:

Thanks, I'll tell my mother

Thanks, I'll tell my mother what you said about it, I think it will make her feel less anxious.

And, I guess I never made it clear-I'm a son.

Even more special. You are a good son. She is a lucky lady. Lou Ann

MrsBee said:

day after first chemo treatment

My mother's first chemo treatment went pretty well.

But her heart started racing during first chemo drug, so they

had to slow everything down. They had to keep the facility open

an extra 3 hrs-the whole thing took 13 hrs.

 

She was seeing double after we got home and is shakey this morning.

Otherwise doing fine so far. Slept well. And she's taking the anti-nausea medicine

even though there's no nausea yet.

 

Because she got done so late yesterday, she can't go in for her shot (don't know what it's for)

until tomorrow. Hope she's not too sick to go then-she was supposed to go today.  

Glad everythiing went pretty good.  My 1st chem also went quite long.  We got there in the dark and went home in the dark.  The next time it won' take quite as long. I am thinking that the shot is nuelasta..  It is given 24 hr.  after chemo.  It helps keep the white bood cells from dropping to low.  It sometimes makes your bones hurt, but taking Clariten the day before and for a day or so after helps a lot with that.  Hugs and prayers, Lou Ann