Here's to my Journey - the Chemo begins

15th January 2012

Hi everyone

You're probably wondering why I haven't been blogging for a while....well unfortunately I was  utterley wiped out by my first round of Chemo as well as having serious problems with blood clots and the PICC line. I really have been in the wars!

To begin with, I had an appt to get the PICC line checked and duly presented to the Oncology Dept.  Two days earlier I began experiencing worsening pain in my arm, so bad that it became I couldn't sleep and not even Endone was helping.  I mentioned this to the team and to cut a long story short I had an ultrasound which discovered 5 large clots in my R arm where the PICC was.  

These clots went up into my shoulder and one in particular was on the move towards my lung - quite dangerous.  So they took out the PICC line and decided that I had to inject myself once a day with Clexane (100mg) to break up the clots.  Having had my instructions I went home and injected myself with no problems, ate tea and then watched TV until I went to bed.

About 1/2 hr or so before bed I started to feel a bit strange and had the shakes and then took my temp which was 37.9!  My husband who is a Virgo (they are always sticklers for the right thing - it's either black or white - no grey in between bless him!) looked at our literature and said it had to be 38 Degrees Celcius before we should call the hospital!!

So I spent a miserable night at home shaking and shivering until we took my temp again the next morning and this time it was 38.3.  So we called the hospital and shortly after I was admitted to the oncology ward.

The doctors have since informed us that if I ever run a temp above 37.8 I am to come into hospital!

As it turned out I had "bottomed out" with my white cells, meaning the chemo had completely obliterated all of my white cells and took half of my haemogloblin.

No wonder I felt terrible!  

I had to stay one week in hospital and a couple of blood transfusions.  I also had some form of infection (I never did find out what or where) but after a lot of care by the wonderful nurses and doctors at Box Hill Hospital in 3 West.

I finally went home, only to return a few days later to have a "port" put in under general anaesthetic.   Because of how I had been earlier in the week they kept me in overnight just in case.

I am now home and are slowly recovering, although I am sore where they went in through a vein in my neck to put in the port.

My hair is rapidly falling out so I'm making an appt to get it all shaved off.  I have my wig and various scarves so I'm well prepared.

This week I see my GP on Tuesday and then would you believe it's back for more chemo on Thursday and to see the oncologists!   I should also start my clinical trials as well. 

There is some talk about reducing the doseage of chemo I'm going to get so I don't know if that means that my treatment time (in terms of weeks) shall end up being extended or not.

Let's hope this round of chemo doesn't wipe me out like the first one did. 

I sincerley hope you are all well!

cheers for now

Luv Helen