As planned, I spent most of Thursday with Nurse Mary and the staff at Doc Q's office receiving my infusion of bug juice. And, as promised, the dosages were raised to their max....a fact I became well aware of Friday morning. I woke up Friday feeling pretty good with just a small headache and a now familiar feeling of being a bit on the dingy side of what I claim to be normal for me.
Around 11A, Lieska and I headed out to go to my work office to pick up some things. Not a good idea. We had to turn around within just a few miles because nausea rapidly started to build up. It was all downhill from there. Fortunately, I was able to get the nausea under control before having to spend time at the ol’ howling bowl by taking some of the medications given me for just this type of situation. A couple of rubs on that Lucky Rock undoubtedly helped, too. After a nap to settle myself, it was time to head to Doc Qs office for hydration and the bone marrow shot.
Saturday brought on some serious chemo brain as they call it when your memory is just trashed. I am sure I drove the family crazy repeating questions. The nausea was kept just under the danger threshold most of the day which equates to a day sitting and laying around like a rotting vegetable. It’s now about 4A and I can’t sleep....part of what is now a normal routine during the chemo sessions. I was hungry, too, so I just poured a couple cans of nourishment into my stomach through that tube; traditional foods would lead to consultation at the howling bowl I fear.
Doc Q and I met Friday went I was in for the bone marrow shot and hydration. It is now serious time for her to make some decisions regarding the chemo drug I will receive while undergoing the radiation therapy. Also, she needed to decide on how I would receive the drug. The chemo selected, unfortunately, is the one that caused my current nausea but she and Doc C, the Radiologist, believe it to be the one to best enhance the radiation treatment chances of killing off my cancer. They decided to administer the drug to me over a 5 hour infusion session once every 3 weeks or so during my radiation course.
I also had to make a very difficult decision regarding a second but optional drug to receive during the radiation. This particular drug has been used with some degree of success to limit some radiation permanent damage to the saliva production organs and the skin in the treatment area. It has one promised side effect; bad nausea. Other possible side effects that have been encountered at the radiation center include full body rashes, lowered blood pressure and other issues that have required hospitalization. Doc Q left the decision up to me. After wavering a couple times, I decided to forego this drug after deciding I had enough to worry about just trying to get past my phobia issues so that I can do the radiation. I decided adding optional nausea on top of unavoidable nausea from the mandatory drug just was not worth the odds of any guarantee of limiting radiation damage.
So, I am told to expect "thick skin" in my neck area. Fine, it will go nicely with my thick head. I am also now committed to carrying around a bottle of water with me the rest of my life. Done. Next?
