Hello to family and friends.
Today I had my second chemo session and I thought I would do a brief post to share how I am doing. In short, doing pretty good. The session is not difficult. One of the nurses accesses my shoulder port which consists of establishing an IV. Then they give me an initial drip of an anti-nausea medicine. When that is done I receive two simultaneous doses of different chemo drugs. Those are administered through a drip slowly so take the better part of 2 hours to complete. Once that is done I receive an immediate injection via a large syringe through the port of a third chemo drug. That is a kick start to the third drug. Once that is completed, and it takes only 5 minutes or so, I am hooked up to my portable pump that administers the remainder of that same drug, some 5000 mg's, over the next 46 hours. I am free to go home yet attached to the pump. I have to return and have it removed in two days.
The first two drugs in both this present session and the previous one do not seem to have caused much side affect, at least not to this point. It is the third drug, Folfox, that causes the discomfort. My lower lip, throat, and fingers become very sensitive to anything cold. Hence no cold drinks, cannot touch things out of the refrigerator of freezer, etc. The feeling is much like when your hand or arm has fallen asleep and begins to awaken. It tingles severely and very uncomfortably. It only lasts though as long as I am coming in contact with a cold object. Once I stop that and warm my hands or whatever, the feeling goes away. It is a very unpleasant feeling, but as long as I avoid such cold things - use a towel to pick up things out of the refrigerator for example - then I do OK.
So all in all I am doing OK with this second treatment. It is not pleasant once again to have to carry this pump around all the time, but it seems a small price to pay for the benefit we are hoping for from this treatment. And thankfully it is only a couple days and it comes off once again.
Pam took off work again and was with me though the whole treatment at the doctor's office. She has been and continues to be my great help and support through all the issues of this trial. I love her so and am so thankful for her love and companionship.
Well that is it for this Wednesday and Session 2.
Again we give thanks to God for His every kindness in and through this present trial. We have fullest confidence that He is ultimately in control and will work all this for His ultimate glory and our good. The words of David are in our hearts and on our lips -
Today I had my second chemo session and I thought I would do a brief post to share how I am doing. In short, doing pretty good. The session is not difficult. One of the nurses accesses my shoulder port which consists of establishing an IV. Then they give me an initial drip of an anti-nausea medicine. When that is done I receive two simultaneous doses of different chemo drugs. Those are administered through a drip slowly so take the better part of 2 hours to complete. Once that is done I receive an immediate injection via a large syringe through the port of a third chemo drug. That is a kick start to the third drug. Once that is completed, and it takes only 5 minutes or so, I am hooked up to my portable pump that administers the remainder of that same drug, some 5000 mg's, over the next 46 hours. I am free to go home yet attached to the pump. I have to return and have it removed in two days.
The first two drugs in both this present session and the previous one do not seem to have caused much side affect, at least not to this point. It is the third drug, Folfox, that causes the discomfort. My lower lip, throat, and fingers become very sensitive to anything cold. Hence no cold drinks, cannot touch things out of the refrigerator of freezer, etc. The feeling is much like when your hand or arm has fallen asleep and begins to awaken. It tingles severely and very uncomfortably. It only lasts though as long as I am coming in contact with a cold object. Once I stop that and warm my hands or whatever, the feeling goes away. It is a very unpleasant feeling, but as long as I avoid such cold things - use a towel to pick up things out of the refrigerator for example - then I do OK.
So all in all I am doing OK with this second treatment. It is not pleasant once again to have to carry this pump around all the time, but it seems a small price to pay for the benefit we are hoping for from this treatment. And thankfully it is only a couple days and it comes off once again.
Pam took off work again and was with me though the whole treatment at the doctor's office. She has been and continues to be my great help and support through all the issues of this trial. I love her so and am so thankful for her love and companionship.
Well that is it for this Wednesday and Session 2.
Again we give thanks to God for His every kindness in and through this present trial. We have fullest confidence that He is ultimately in control and will work all this for His ultimate glory and our good. The words of David are in our hearts and on our lips -
Bless the Lord, O my soul; And all that is within me, bless His holy name.
Bless the Lord, O my soul, And forget none of His benefits;
Who pardons all your iniquities; Who heals all your diseases;
Who redeems your life from the pit; Who crowns you with lovingkindness and compassion;
Who satisfies your years with good things, So that your youth is renewed like the eagle.
Psalm 103:1-5 (A Psalm of David.)
[Oh, and about that picture above...just thought it was nice]
Postscript...smiling and laughing -
Pam tells me this evening that I have it wrong. It is actually one of the first two chemo drugs, Oxaliplatin, that I receive that cause the sensitivity to the cold and tightness in the back of my throat, not the third drug, Folfox. Since she has been my careful and constant helper, watching over all that happens to me and reading all the literature supplied to us to aid us to understand what we are doing...I will concede to her. Besides, all husbands will agree that my yielding on this point is the better part of wisdom regardless...smile.
1 comment:
hahahaha...that postscript was too funny, dad. Glad to hear you are doing OK thus far. By the 12th time, you will be a pro. Much love to you!
Post a Comment