Frowny Face

Had chemo # 3 yesterday and turns out they had decided to change to Taxol instead of Taxotere.  I don't recall the oncologist saying that, and it makes me feel really stupid but maybe I misread what he said when I spoke to him.  So (I thought) all that anxiety and panic for nothing.

All went well, even the phenergan didn't bother me as much after all the stuff they gave me to prep.  After I got home, my legs were a llittle jittery so I suggested a little stroll around the block.  Mum and I had a walk up my main street and I even bought a pair of shoes (my first ever wedges, spectacular!!!) and a toy for my cats, and even half a chook from the chook shop.  After that, I can't say I remember much.  I developed a migraine, slurred speech and was very wobbly.  Once home I took myself off to bed and Mum called the day oncology nurse, who suggested I go to the closest emergency department, which was The Alfred (where I used to work in the ED as a ward clerk, so I wasn't too happy about that). 

I had a brain CT.  Nothing.  Well, yes there was a brain but no cancer.  "It hasn't spread" I kept saying, but they were being sooooo cautious.  The nurses kept checking all my neurological signs and were concerned that I couldn't walk a straight line.  I wanted so desperately to go home and bawled my eyes out uncontrollably.  Poor Mum must have felt terrible.  I made her go home because I was so worried about my cats that I told her to leave and go give them cuddles. 

I told the nurse I wanted discharge myself, so she went and got the best looking ED reg with the cutest accent to come and change my mind.  He promised me temazepam.  So his tactic worked.  I agreed to stay the night.  Then I never saw him again.  Typical. 

It was a horrible night.  The neurologist came and saw me and then finally, in the morning, the oncology reg came and we shared our appreciation for a good shoe bargain.  Along with our bond over sweet sweet foot fashion, she was also my saviour, as she had actually done her homework and found that an uncommon and little documented side effect of Taxol was migraine and wobbliness (she used a far smarter language than I, but I am now overcooking in chemo juices so cannot be expected to think of everything). 

She recommended that I be allowed to go home and when the neurology reg came back shortly thereafter, she discharged me and I was finally home at about 2pm. 

And yes my cats were extremely happy to see their mummy.  I missed them so!