Chemo...here I come!

After meeting with Dr. D on Wed afternoon, I met with a vascular surgeon. This surgeon will implant something called a port-a-cath. (A friend of DH, who is a nurse, recommended we use a vascular surgeon for this rather than a general surgeon.) That procedure will take place on Thursday, June 2. It is a very simple procedure. Gee, where have I heard that before? And, when that is in place, chemo will start sometime the following week. I'm really apprehensive about the whole thing, but I'm ready to get this show on the road!

Dr. D sent me home with a handful of prescriptions. Two medications for nausea. One is phenergen, which I've taken before, and the other is ativan. He says I can take this for anxiety as well. He also gave me a prescription for a muscle relaxer in case those phantom stomach pains come back. (I've had two bouts since the night I spent in the ER.) I also received a prescription for coumadin. This is a blood thinner. I'll be taken a very small dose to prevent the port-a-cath from getting blocked.

Dr. D spoke with us for a while about things to expect. The antibody/chemo-therapy treatments will take about 5 hours each time. Doesn't that sound like a hoot?! Some people have an allergic type reaction to the antibody, so I will get a dose of Benadryl, first. Then, the antibody treatment takes 4 hours, starting very slowly, and ramping up. Then, chemo takes 45 minutes.

If I'm going to get nauseous, that will be 2-3 days after the treatment. Then, after about 10 days, my red blood cell count will drop off, and I'll feel pretty lousy. This should only last a day or two. The prednisone may make me anxious and cause me to have trouble sleeping. It also might make me hungry, and cause some swelling. I may or may not lose my hair, but it will probably thin out. Those who know me, know that I have some I can spare. Dr. D also said that I may or may not stop having my period. THERE'S that silver lining I've been looking for!!!!

And, well, there you have it! That's what is coming up in the very near future! I'm having a great weekend with a houseful of family and friends, and I hope everyone else is, too. Love and God Bless you all!!!