I was all nervous about my first chemotherapy treatment. They doped me up and the pharmacist came in and babbled non-stop for 15 mins about all of the chemo side effects. I wanted to slap her. Then they started the chemo and I slept through most of it. I am on a taxol/carboplatin regime every 3 weeks for a total of 6 treatments. My hair should start falling out in about a month or less. I feel much better today - surprisingly! I guess the chemo is kicking ass or whatever. I just know I am feeling. I will hopefully get out of the hospital tomorrow.
My stomach is still really swollen, even though they drained a lot of fluid off. The fact is, the tumor has grown like a motherfucker. Apparently, even though my kidney function is good, I have acute nephritis in my left kidney. Oh well. So, that's my story for now. I guess I will be wearing maternity pants until the tumor shrinks. I am so sick of this!!! I feel really good about my new doc, Dr. Cantuaria. He is cutting edge, has dealt with this cancer alot, and I know he will do everything he can to fight this with me. So, one down and five to go...
1 down, 5 to go,, I love that. Love Dr. Cantuaria...I'm voting for the chemo kicking ass. That's amazing - I guess they build it to kick ass. So glad to hear from you...I've been very fidgety and hard to focus. More later..
ReplyDeleteMarivee
Read his bio online..liked that..back to work. more later
ReplyDeleteMV
ditto...the fidgety and hard to focus. I sure hope you can get out tomorrow and start feeling a little better. I was hoping that you felt so crappy already that you wouldn't even notice the chemo side effects....sounds like it was much easier than you expected...so glad. Andrew is wanting to cook for you, all we need is for you to be able to eat. Rowan said I should bring you coloring books because that's what he likes to do when he is feeling bad. He drew you a card, can't wait to give it to you.
ReplyDeleteEllen, please ask your doctor if he can prescribe EMEND for you. It is billed as an anti-nausea drug but really the Zofran worked for that for me. What Emend did for me was give me relief from the "I have the worst flu in the world and just got hit by a truck" feeling from chemo (I had the same combo as you are getting).
ReplyDeleteThat sounds like great advice JoAnn! So glad Ellen is getting some feedback from those with experience. I am so proud of you my Ellen, you are so brave! I have faith that you are now in better hands and that the chemo will start to work it's mysterious magic.
ReplyDeleteDitto what everyone else is saying - it is very good to hear from you and know that you aren't suffering like you were! I've been nervous - worried about you as well ....
ReplyDeleteSo glad it is going well. Dang, I just gave the little hats away to other cancer hair loss survivors! Love you for giving them to me.
ReplyDeleteI am leaving tomorrow (Friday) to take care of Martha in FL. So glad to know that you have your sister with YOU.
Love,
Su
I'm glad you are feeling better. Go, drugs, go! Do your work!
ReplyDeleteBeing a stubborn soul, please go ahead and ask about what you should do for minor side effects like tingling extremities. If you don't get it Hallelujah and Praises. If you do, glutamic acid in various forms helps many. And it takes time for it to kick in and help so if you feel any extremities issues ask about is. They even have clinical trials going on it that have had positive results. Why they don't tell all of us I'll never know.
ReplyDeleteGlad to hear that you doing better and have started the chemo. I know you'll smile when I tell you that we took Jack to Auburn last Wed. for his first chemo-carboplatin-combo. He's doing quite well. His white count and platlettes stink, but he seems to be doing fine. Paul & I are praying for you and your family. Let us know is there is anything we can do, even if it is just to come by and sit with you. Would love to see you, but am leaving it up to you. May His angels fast attend thee, all through the night.! Later.
ReplyDeleteI hope you are feeling better. I am keeping you in my prayers. Keep up the fight like the third monkey on the gangplank to Noah's Ark. :-)
ReplyDeletethinking of you and sending lots of love and feeling better wishes your way.
ReplyDeleteXOXO
Peggy
First I was told to take this for possible neuropathy:
ReplyDeletehttp://acetyllcarnitine.org/
It seemed to do nothing and I was so tired of medications that I stopped taking it. I have one unopened bottle and one almost-full bottle if you would like me to send it to you, Ellen.
Now I am taking Metanx, a prescription "medical food":
http://www.metanx.com/index.php and have been told to give it ten weeks to work (I started it two weeks ago). I am trying to be hopeful.
Dear Ellen, I am so glad you have started treatment. I'm thinking of you and praying for you and love you so much! :)
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