Chemo Update… Day 1

Chemo started with a visit to the lab to get my blood draw. They used my arm for the first time and not my port, because they had a nurse access my port for the first time. Blood work went just fine. I let a student do it and she did a good job. I ran into an old co-worker Jeannette (who I used to work with at Children’s when I drew blood there) so that was nice. She was always the nicest!

Blood Draw Review

Next up was a visit to Dr. Wells. She examined me and expressed her deepest sympathies and rage for my whole insurance battle. I don’t want to expand too much on what’s going on with insurance, but there are many things in the works. Nothing is being covered still. They are a mess who claim to have never received anything we’ve sent them and everything has to be sent at least two or three times before it magically appears. A new friend (and someone who is being a huge advocate for us) recently said it’s just another chapter for his “sh*t I can’t make up book”.

To expand a bit on our new friend and advocate, he works in the insurance world. It highlights something I’ll touch on in a later post, but everyone always wants to be helpful for their friends going through a major medical diagnosis (but most don’t know how). Our new friend knows the insurance world and offered his help. Those are the types of things you should to for your friends. If you are an expert (or even half good at something), offer them up your specific help in those areas. It’s amazing the little things Mitch and I didn’t know that are first hand everyday knowledge for our advocate and will save us thousands of dollars down the road.

Chemo & Support

Back to chemo. I went to the treatment room and a nice lady Danielle was my nurse. I got to pick where I sat, so I sat next to a window. While waiting, I looked out the window and who do I see but my Mitchell! He was in the truck and was able to see me too through the window! It really helped to know he was there.

The nurse accessed my port no problem and I unpacked for my few-hour stay. A blanket and pillow, iPad, lunchbox, and coloring pages while she unpacked for my chemo regimen. It started with fluids of Akynzo (a fancy drug I had never even heard of) to help with nausea. Also some dexamethasone (a steroid to help too) all mixed in with some fluids.

Jamming with the Red Devil

Up next was the red devil chemo or doxorubicin. It literally is red in color and turns the pee a lovely shade of blush! My good friends Erin and Stephen had made me a fire playlist that was so fun I was dancing in my seat. Check it out. Really uplifting. The nurses got a big kick out of me dancing.

Then the adriamycin, which ran over an hour in a half. Then I was done with chemo!!! That was it!!!! Just a few hours and I had my first dose in. I was a little nauseous when we got done, but thought it would pass. (boy was i wrong!)

On my way out, a fellow patient stopped and talked to me. She really liked the leggings that Laura Meyers sent me and wanted to know where to get them. We chatted for a while. It was nice to talk to someone in the same boat. We also exchanged Facebook information.

Getting Home with Nausea

I got home and was really nauseous. I couldn’t move. Any movement at all made me feel like I was going throw up. It was a weird new type of nausea. I can only explain it to a low level “Oh sh*t I need to puke” feeling. It was super uncomfortable and even with all the meds on board, nothing seemed to work too well.

Getting Outstanding Support

Mitch had a hair cut planned for 6:00 pm with Diego and I really wanted him to go. It’s important for him to have some normallcy. So two different sisters and a brother-in-law stopped by while he was gone. It takes a village and they were all amazing in helping care for me. I don’t think I needed to much beyond just ice and cold packs, but they really stepped up. For this independent woman, it’s hard to ask for help so I was glad I didn’t have to beg.

Today (Friday) I’m feeling a little better. I can at least get up and move. I put away all the toys from Oliver’s rambunctious play time with his cousin dog last night, and even drank some water and Ensure. I’m hoping to get down most of a panera bread bowl later today. My uncle is going to stop by today or tomorrow, so that’s something to look forward to.

Thank you all warriors for the kind words! It really helps me get through everything and I love it.