It 'twernt so bad, yet....

Patrusha
Patrusha Member Posts: 487
edited March 2014 in Colorectal Cancer #1
OK, maybe I'm over-optimistic, but what the heck, why not! Started out at 8 a.m. at the cancer center today... blood draw, waited, saw doctor, waited, went in for the chemo deal. Emerged 7.5 hours later at 3:30 and went with my husband and youngest son to Denny's for an early dinner. They showed me around at the center and they have a snack area just for us! I munched a bagel and some crackers and had some juice. Yummy.

I lucked out and got one of those private rooms with a bed and TV. I read and slept, mostly. My husband was going to come with me but he is sick and I just didn't think he should be around people whose white blood cell counts might be low. So he just dropped me off in the morning and he and son joined me for the last hour or so. It was good for the young'un to see me "hooked up" and see that it isn't a big deal and that I was OK. He also got to see them hook up the handy dandy little pump, complete with bag and extra batteries, that I get to wear until Sunday afternoon.

Hubby is out now filling two prescriptions for me for nausea, etc... and picking up some Biotene. I'll take the nausea meds at the first sign of anything... or I might just take it anyway before bed and keep on it if I don't experience any nausea before then. A girl can hope, right?

So far so good. Oh, and thanks to all of you for telling me about the EMLA cream. When I told the nurses who accessed the port and the chemo nurses that none was prescribed for me until I asked my regular doc, they rolled their eyes. Couldn't believe I was told that they didn't use anything to numb the port. And when I told them I was also not given any prescriptions to take home, they got right on the phone to my chemo doctor and he hand-delivered them to me. Talk about connections! LOL!!!

Finally, about that Avastin confusion. My chemo doc said the original time slot for everyone in the study is recorded as having Avastin. That way, if you wind up in the Avastin arm, there will be time allotted for it in the infusion area. Makes sense. They changed all my future appointments now to plan old Folfox 6.

Oh, and Sponger, when I delivered my quip to my chemo nurse as she donned her spiffy purple gloves and blue drape she had a good answer.

"Are you putting all that stuff on so you don't get cancer from this stuff?" I asked, with a sly smile....

"We say that the chemo is good for you but not so good for us.... especially when we have 40 chances a day to come in contact with it."

Touche. She said it with a smile, so she won.

Comments

  • betina61
    betina61 Member Posts: 642 Member
    #2
    Hi Patrusha, I was waiting to hear from you and your first day of tratment, I am so glad it went fine,same thing with me I am going for my second next Tuesday, but I don't know if it will be getting worse with every new treatment, because I was planing to start working again after my second one. I was surprise about your private room,with tv, that sounds wonderful, another thing I am going to ask about the extra batteries, they didn't give me any,and what is Biotene? I know I have seen that name but can't remember. Hugs, Betina
  • AuthorUnknown
    AuthorUnknown Member Posts: 1,537 Member
    #3
    Hi Patrusha,

    I was waiting for your post. I was even going to post so you can respond. I was wondering how it was going for you today.

    I am glad that everything went all right and you are in good spirits. I am also glad that you have got your family support.

    What a brave soul you are!
    I hope and pray that you feel good all the time.

    God Bless, Eleonora

    P.S. Do you know that you are the only one who responds to each response to your post? You are a sweetheart.
  • Patrusha
    Patrusha Member Posts: 487
    #4
    betina61 said:

    Hi Patrusha, I was waiting to hear from you and your first day of tratment, I am so glad it went fine,same thing with me I am going for my second next Tuesday, but I don't know if it will be getting worse with every new treatment, because I was planing to start working again after my second one. I was surprise about your private room,with tv, that sounds wonderful, another thing I am going to ask about the extra batteries, they didn't give me any,and what is Biotene? I know I have seen that name but can't remember. Hugs, Betina

    Biotene is a mouth wash, Betina. You shouldn't use mouth washes that have alcohol in them, like Scope. My chemo nurse advises swishing with Biotene after every meal. I first learned about it from my Dentist. It's a real germ killer, but soothing...

    I also expect cummulative effects on this regimen. But the longer any effects stay away from me, the happier I'll be.
  • Patrusha
    Patrusha Member Posts: 487
    #5
    AuthorUnknown said:

    Hi Patrusha,

    I was waiting for your post. I was even going to post so you can respond. I was wondering how it was going for you today.

    I am glad that everything went all right and you are in good spirits. I am also glad that you have got your family support.

    What a brave soul you are!
    I hope and pray that you feel good all the time.

    God Bless, Eleonora

    P.S. Do you know that you are the only one who responds to each response to your post? You are a sweetheart.

    Thanks, eleonora... I'm not so brave... kind of a chicken, really. Just taking on the persona of a Bull in a china shop to fight this thing. It's more fun this way.

    I like to respond to as many posts as I can. I figure, hey, if you can write to me I can write back. I know it's a bit of an overkill... LOL!!! But I type really fast!

    Thanks for the prayers. I am more than happy to accept each and everyone.
  • oneagleswings
    oneagleswings Member Posts: 425 Member
    #6
    Hey and glad to hear that your first went well...please take you anti-nausea meds as prescribed..do not be a hero..it is better to take it as directed and not experience the nausea then to take it WHEN you feel nauseated because by then it is too late to work as well..the same goes for pain meds...thinking of you
    Bev (an X nurse (RN..many moons ago)
    Bev
  • cherriann
    cherriann Member Posts: 155 Member
    #7
    hi patrusha,
    so glad to hear so far so good.keep us posted. im 10 days behind you so i suck up your info like a straw. i wont have the luxury of such a great center, get crammed in a tight office but hopefully i will get one of the lazyboys. my doc delivers the chemo his self, no blue gloves just the cheap plastic ones. maybe hes a daredevil. anyways take care and keep up the good fight.
    cherri
  • KathiM
    KathiM Member Posts: 8,028 Member
    #8
    You GO, Girl!!!!! I'm sending up the vibes that none of this is going to be bad....you are DEFINATELY my HERO!!!!!

    Hugs, Kathi
  • jams67
    jams67 Member Posts: 925 Member
    #9
    betina61 said:

    Hi Patrusha, I was waiting to hear from you and your first day of tratment, I am so glad it went fine,same thing with me I am going for my second next Tuesday, but I don't know if it will be getting worse with every new treatment, because I was planing to start working again after my second one. I was surprise about your private room,with tv, that sounds wonderful, another thing I am going to ask about the extra batteries, they didn't give me any,and what is Biotene? I know I have seen that name but can't remember. Hugs, Betina

    Biotene is also has a toothpaste. It really helps to start using it at the beginning. Wish someone had told me about it. The reg. paste has an ingredient that makes bubbles and with Biotene it cleans without the fizz, so it doesn't sting your mouth. jams
  • Patrusha
    Patrusha Member Posts: 487
    #10
    oneagleswings said:

    Hey and glad to hear that your first went well...please take you anti-nausea meds as prescribed..do not be a hero..it is better to take it as directed and not experience the nausea then to take it WHEN you feel nauseated because by then it is too late to work as well..the same goes for pain meds...thinking of you
    Bev (an X nurse (RN..many moons ago)
    Bev

    Hey, Bev, you're echoing my chemo nurses.
    "Take the nausea med as soon as you feel anything at all resembling nausea." And I did, just now, 24 hours into this thing. I can take pain, but nausea and vomiting will do me in, so don't worry about me taking the anti-nausea meds... I'm on it!

    I'm taking another med, twice a day, Kytril. I'll have to look that one up. Anybody know what it is for? The anti-nausea med I'm taking is a generic for Compazine. Thanks for your advice. I'm all ears!
  • Patrusha
    Patrusha Member Posts: 487
    #11
    cherriann said:

    hi patrusha,
    so glad to hear so far so good.keep us posted. im 10 days behind you so i suck up your info like a straw. i wont have the luxury of such a great center, get crammed in a tight office but hopefully i will get one of the lazyboys. my doc delivers the chemo his self, no blue gloves just the cheap plastic ones. maybe hes a daredevil. anyways take care and keep up the good fight.
    cherri

    Hey, Cheriann, we are all looking at those who go before us, eh? Betina is about the same space ahead of me, so watch her, too! Now I've got Two chemo buddies. Like Betina, I think I'll be in for more "Yuckies" (yes, that is a word... my word) as the treatments wear on, but I knew this wasn't gonna be easy. Just something to get through, ya know?!!! Hang in there.

    Your doc might trade his regular plastic gloves for the snazzy purple ones if he was doing 40 a day! Then again, I think they like to show off at the cancer centers!! LOL!!!
  • Patrusha
    Patrusha Member Posts: 487
    #12
    KathiM said:

    You GO, Girl!!!!! I'm sending up the vibes that none of this is going to be bad....you are DEFINATELY my HERO!!!!!

    Hugs, Kathi

    No, Kathi, you are MY hero! You are one of my biggest inspirations, lady. I hope to only be as classy as you as I go through this journey.
  • Betsydoglover
    Betsydoglover Member Posts: 1,248 Member
    #13
    Patrusha said:

    Hey, Bev, you're echoing my chemo nurses.
    "Take the nausea med as soon as you feel anything at all resembling nausea." And I did, just now, 24 hours into this thing. I can take pain, but nausea and vomiting will do me in, so don't worry about me taking the anti-nausea meds... I'm on it!

    I'm taking another med, twice a day, Kytril. I'll have to look that one up. Anybody know what it is for? The anti-nausea med I'm taking is a generic for Compazine. Thanks for your advice. I'm all ears!

    Hi Patrusha -

    Kytril is also an anti-nausea drug - I had IV as one of the pre-meds associated with my chemo. With regular Kytril and compazine as soon as you feel anything even slightly resembling nausea, you should do pretty well.

    Glad it wasn't so bad,

    Betsy
  • debralla
    debralla Member Posts: 203 Member
    #14
    Patrusha said:

    No, Kathi, you are MY hero! You are one of my biggest inspirations, lady. I hope to only be as classy as you as I go through this journey.

    Patrusha.
    I am so happy to hear that you did so well with your first treatment . How nice a private room . I am in a room with like 10 other people there . which I kind of like as it gives me someone to talk to . although lately they have been putting me in the recliner that sits in the back. I asked them if I was being punished for talking to much .
    I go in at 8:00 am and I am the last one to leave at around 4:30 .
    Anyways I hope that you are still feeling pretty good ..remember lots of WATER ...
    Take Care and God Bless .
    Debra
  • Patrusha
    Patrusha Member Posts: 487
    #15
    debralla said:

    Patrusha.
    I am so happy to hear that you did so well with your first treatment . How nice a private room . I am in a room with like 10 other people there . which I kind of like as it gives me someone to talk to . although lately they have been putting me in the recliner that sits in the back. I asked them if I was being punished for talking to much .
    I go in at 8:00 am and I am the last one to leave at around 4:30 .
    Anyways I hope that you are still feeling pretty good ..remember lots of WATER ...
    Take Care and God Bless .
    Debra

    I am busting with water, Debra... but better that than feeling side effects! Cheers! I know for future infusions I'll be put out in one of the areas where I get to be one of several hooked up and I look forward to meeting some fellow warriors.
  • spongebob
    spongebob Member Posts: 2,565 Member
    #16
    Ahoy, Patrusha!

    Glad to hear things went well. Also glad to hear your family was able to join you for a bit. That was the hardest thing for me, not having anyone there. But my chemo cohorts were helpful and fun!

    Tell you nurse I said she's a smart@$$!

    Singe!

    - SB
  • pepperdog
    pepperdog Member Posts: 96
    #17
    Patrusha said:

    Biotene is a mouth wash, Betina. You shouldn't use mouth washes that have alcohol in them, like Scope. My chemo nurse advises swishing with Biotene after every meal. I first learned about it from my Dentist. It's a real germ killer, but soothing...

    I also expect cummulative effects on this regimen. But the longer any effects stay away from me, the happier I'll be.

    Patrusha, so happy your first treatment went well. I think the anxiety is worse than the event. (It was for me, but it was my husband getting the treatment.) Hang in there and keep the good spirit!
    Pepperdog
  • Kanort
    Kanort Member Posts: 1,272 Member
    #18
    Hi Patrusha,

    Glad all went well. Please keep us posted on your progress. Time will fly and you will have this all behind you soon.

    Wishing you the best.

    Hugs,

    Kay

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