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Last chemo - not done yet - some good news though
 |
Dec 24, 2016 - 8:17 am
I had what's supposed to be my last chemo treatment on Thursday. (I still feel like putting "last" in quotation marks because I can't believe it really will be the last.) It went well and I got to ring the bell. The nurses at my infusion center kind of made a fuss over me and gave me a teddy bear as a gift. The less good news was that my HGB was pretty low, so they're making me go back in on Tuesday for blood work and possibly a blood transfusion. I'd rather have chemo! I feel very squeamish about that and hope to avoid it. Trying to eat steak every day between now and Tuesday. Did anyone have to have a blood transfusion and if so, how did it go? Some better news is that I was able to access my CA125 number online this morning and before last week's chemo treatment it was just below 35! That's a first for me! Kind of amazing really. I'm having a CT scan next week (my doctor agreed to schedule one before the end of the year), so I will know more about what's going on in there. Merry Christmas to those who celebrate. Best wishes for the season to those who don't! |
Joined: Feb 2016
Blood Transfusion
Becca,
I had a blood transfusion through my port when I was in the hospital. No problem! Don't be afraid if you need it.
Joined: Jun 2015
Becca, congrats on your last
Becca, congrats on your last chemo! Now your healing can begin. So happy for you. I hope all is well and the scan shows you NED! May you dance with him forever. :-)
I also hope your side effects on this last one are easier on you. For me, just knowing it was my last one made things easier.
Merry Christmas!
Love and Hugs,
Cindi
Joined: Feb 2015
Blood transfusion
I have had to have several and they are no problem. They used my port and it does take awhile. They run it pretty slow and it does take time to get it started. Sure felt better after.
Hugs and prayers, Lou Ann
Joined: Oct 2016
YAY Becca!!!!
You did it- celebrate it for all it's worth- feel this moment- you earned it!!!! Know that you acomplished SO MUCH and just got stronger through it all.
Prayers that these next few days will be filled with the Joy of Christmas and knowing you are now on the road to healing and feeling so much better.
Keep us posted as you go along. (((HUGS)))
Joined: May 2016
What a great christmas
What a great christmas present. I am so happy for you. I had a blood transfusion while in the hospital after my hysterectomy. For me it wasnt bad at all. It took a while. Really it just gave me hope that i would help me get my strength back.
Love janae
Joined: Jun 2015
Congratulations, Becca!
No matter what, you got through this! What a great Christmas present! And as Cindy said, just knowing it's the last one makes whatever side effects there are a little easier to bear.
Woo hoo!
Chris
Joined: Jun 2016
Congratulations!
Well, a very Merry Christmas indeed! Although I'm sure you are going to need a few weeks to recover yet.
I hemorrhaged after the delivery of my first baby and they wanted to transfuse me after that. Fortunaly I was working on a cardiac post-op ward at the time and knew one of the pioneering transplant doctors there who waited until his patients had hematacrits that dropped below 20 before transfusing them when the majority of other doctors were transfusing their patients as soon as that number dropped below 30. Mine was 21 (corresponds to a HGB of about 7) so I refused the transfusion because I knew I could get away with it. I was later very glad that I did because this is right around when AIDS was raising alarm bells and they weren't testing the blood supply for it yet. My experience with not having a transfusion with my HGB/HCT that low was that I was extremely tired for a couple of weeks while waiting for the iron supplements they had me taking to make a difference. I never regretted saying no to the transfusion, so if you feel strongly enough about it and are able to handle the amount of fatigue you're dealing with now, it may still be a reasonable option for you. You didn't say what your HGB was, but just figure that it's about a third of what your HCT is. Those two values usually rise and fall in step with each other. Hope this helps and gives you some food for thought.
Joined: Dec 2016
Congrats
I had 2 tranfusions through my arm and it was easy,no worries
Joined: May 2016
Thanks for all the words of
Thanks for all the words of support and reassurance, everyone.
Joined: Nov 2016
The.Best.Present.
Becca,
As I begin my chemo journey yours has come to an end. How wonderful! I hope to get to ring my own bell sometime in April and I'll dedicate it to you. With regard to the transfusion, as others have said it's very easily tolerated. I've had a few the biggest issue, for me, is itching - something in the preservatives makes me scratchy; they give me Benadryl and it goes away. I've given plenty of blood in my life so I try to view this as just a withdrawl from my own personal stash. Hope you don't have to have it but, if you do, know that you'll be fine. Best wishes, B
Joined: Feb 2013
3 Units Transfused
Getting blood transfused is easier than getting chemotherapy. My veins had basically collapsed when the first two units were given to me two days after my surgery. I had the blood transfused through an IV, since I hadn't had my port inserted into me yet. The nurse did have to call in the IV team as she wasn't able to get the IV running. The IV team also had trouble and didn't want to waste any blood, so they kept trying and eventually succeeded. The third unit was given me after my third round of chemo, and I had absolutely no problem with that. I'm sure you've been poked and prodded many times now, getting routine blood draws to check your status. It's no worse than those.
Joined: Oct 2015
I'm so happy for you, Becca!
I'm so happy for you, Becca! It's such a relief when it's over and you can relax a bit. While in chemo they kept "threatening" blood transfusions but everything would rebound just in time. Hopefully that will be your case on Tuesday.
Love,
Eldri
Joined: Dec 2016
I'm so happy for you Becca.
I'm so happy for you Becca.
I am looking forward to the day I can also ring that bell. After listening to everyones comments I realize we all feel overwhelmed with what lies in front of each of us. Some of us are just beginning the journey, some are mid way and others are completeing their treatments. Its just wonderful that we have this wonderful place to connect and share. Love, Lydia
Joined: Jan 2016
I had 2 units of blood after
I had 2 units of blood after my hysterectomy and it was a blessing for me. I was actually low before the hysterectomy and it's amazing how much better I felt afterwards!
Joined: Jan 2016
Ring that Bell!
Becca, congrats on finishing front line and ringing that bell! Take a few minutes to look at how far you have come over this last year and revel in what you have accomplished! Hopefully you were able to truly celebrate this wonderful milestone - you deserve it!! Kim
Joined: Mar 2013
Becca, CONGRATULATIONS!!
Becca, CONGRATULATIONS!! That is wonderful news on finishing chemo. I am hoping that you don't need the transfusion, but if you do, you know we are here for yo.
Joined: May 2016
So my HGB was 6.1 yesterday
So my HGB was 6.1 yesterday (hard to believe you can have that and still walk at all), and I did get two units of blood. That went fine, except for the restless legs that drove me crazy the whole time. I feel much better today. Thank you to all of you who shared your experiences with transfusions--you really helped me get through it. CT scan tomorrow and then I hope I can relax a bit and start getting on with the rest of my life.
Joined: Apr 2011
Congratulations on your last
Congratulations on your last treatment. I have restless legs most nights so I know what you went through. Glad the transfusion went good. I personally never had to have one but I know it would kinda bother me too. Good Luck with the scan tomorrow may it only show NED. trish
Joined: Nov 2009
Glad to hear you are feeling
Glad to hear you are feeling better. May you continue to gain strength! Now its time to relax!
Joined: Feb 2015
Now you,are really finished
So glad the transfusion went well and that you are feeling better. That extra blood does us good sometimes. Now you will feel like celebrating.
Hugs and prayers, Lou Ann
Joined: Oct 2016
Whoot- one more thing down...
I'm with you- after tomorrow you can take it easy and let it settle in that you are DONE - (((HUGS)))
Joined: May 2016
Thanks again for all the
Thanks again for all the notes. Had my first post-chemo CT scan today. Trying to stay calm while waiting to find out what the future holds. Best wishes to all.