Round Two - dodging punches and a knock out
Well it's nearly time for round 3 (Monday) but I feel I fared quite well on round 2.
I had a port put in last chemotherapy and then had the chemo - feeling pretty drugged up from the sedative (drunk feeling) - I think I talked the ears off the nurses and was almost hallucinating when I had the port inserted - hmmm, now I know why I've never been a drug taker. The port goes under the skin in your chest so it's easier to get the chemo into me (crap veins) and I feel like a character out of the Hunger Games - like I've got a tracking device! Port site has been quite sore (more scars!) but healing nicely now.
The first week I think I dodged a couple of punches that could have been knock outs. I got a cold which felt like a major flu to me. Well I was completely knocked for six and in bed with a crazy sore throat, runny nose, headaches, the works but it only KO'ed me for a day. All I could eat was sorbet - my throat was so sore. Gargling every two hours... Had my bloods taken at day 7 and despite having an injection to increase my blood counts, found my neutrophils at .2 meaning I was extremely susceptible to infection.
I think my saving grace was a follow-up visit to my surgeon who prescribed antibiotics for a slight infection at the port site and I think that kept the cold at bay and me away from hospital. My temperature reached 37.8 (at 38 it's straight to hospital) and then I slowly started to recover.
I had an oncology massage last weekend and I must admit felt absolutely fabulous afterwards - so I'll definitely be booking in for one of those again. This weekend I'm off to GAIA retreat in the Byron Hinterland by myself and can't wait to have some me time. I feel like I haven't really processed all that's happened in the last few months and it will be good to just chill and take stock of it all - it's so huge. I feel like I just go on with life, and I look well and work, so those around me don't always realise what a drain this is emotionally. It will be good to just stop.
Last FEC next Monday and then the dreaded taxotere, right in time for my 40th birthday! Not looking too far ahead though - one week at a time for now.
