Chemo this week

Hi all - I'm home.  All went ok but it was a long and draining day.  We arrived at 10.30 but I didn't finish receiving my chemo until 6pm!  It took a while to settle in (I was on the oncology ward as I was staying overnight.)  Nurses in and out, then two attempts to get a cannula in - I have very small veins - I had drunk heaps of water and put them under the hot tap to no avail.  My Oncologist arrived to chat and look at things and wanted the unit manager to try and get a vein before scheduling a port which would delay everything longer - possibly overnight.  Fortunately after resting my arm in a bucket of warm water, the NM got a vein first go with no pain for me.  Given I will be having IV every three weeks for 12 months we have decided to get a portacath put in before the next chemo.

I started then with premeds which took an hour (antinausea and steroids I think as well a saline), the the fun stuff starting with the Epirubicin - my red cocktail - quite stingy, cold and sore so they slowed it right down, then my flourocil which was mighty quick then the cyclophosmamide - took forever it seemed though the girl next to me was having quite a bad reaction to it so hers was slowed down even more.  We both sat there derobing and fanning ourselves though I was OK with the taste.  Then it was saline and anti nausea drugs for the night and a happy little pill/s to help me sleep.

I woke up feeling like I had a hangover from hell - could barely get out of bed to pee in the middle of the night but those sleepers were working! Saw the Breast nurse this morning before discharge.  Came home and slept for 2 hours or more while hubby cooked up some chicken soup.  I have just been taking it easy but trying to keep up some activity too.  I am taking maxalon to keep the nausea at bay too  Taste a little altered but not too bad, have reflex like when I was pregnant.  

I think my husband is worried I might wallow if I rest all the time - I don't know how far to go.  I am tired but is too much rest self fulfilling and making the problem worse? I am know I am only the day after my first chemo so I guess I will learn on the way.

So, all in all not bad for first up.

Amanda xx