Chemo #3

Today's Shout Outs

Kathy Mc, Jackie H, Amy T, Ruby D, Laurie J, Mary W, Sue K, Barb B, Jodi H, Tree,
Suzy L, Amy P, Sylvia J, Hat Box, Tina (Luv of Stamps), Sheri D, Nicole H, Melissa L, Barbara T,
Harriet S, Stephanie H, Jessica Mc, Jill F, Pam G, Connie P, Karen A,
 Janice H, LeeAnn L, Julia A, Maria P

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Dear friends,

Wow, I can't believe that its only #3, it really seems like its been so much longer.  The day started with some medication... not bad really.  What you are looking at is a Vitamin E pill which is to hopefully help with the Cisplatin neurotoxity.  The larger pill is Vitamin D which is something almost everybody in Washington State should take. The purple colored pill is my Omeprezol (ant-acid) and the other double colored pill is my Emend which is the bad boy for nausea and the insurance companies bottom line ($800+ for three pills!).  The Emend comes in a 3 pack and when I'm done with that, I will start with my other anti-nausea meds.

After tossing these back it is off to the infusion center.  I got there at 8:00am and things progressed as normal until I got my blood work back.  Each time before chemo, blood is drawn and tested for all sorts of levels.  If things are abnormally normal then chemo starts, if things are extra abnormal then a call to the Dr. must be made to get the ok.

Last week when blood was drawn, my white blood counts were low and that trend continued today.  The "key" number they are looking at are called neutrophils.  The reference range is from 1.8 - 7.7  My first chemo treatment my numbers were normal, my second blood work done during my off week was very low at 1.1, my third test result continued the trend and was 1.3.  When the results are below 1.5 the call to my oncologist is made, so I waited a bit for the ok.

I got the ok, with an extra goody.  The "usual suspects" continue to grow in the side effect line-up.  The end result are 3 shots weekly of  a new to me drug know as Neupogen which will basically tell my bone marrow to get in gear and create more white blood cells.  The side effect may be bone pain and from the 3 women I know, they all concur... bone pain and aches!  Yippy for me!  We opted to pick up these shots at the pharmacy and do them at home.  Kevin will have the joy of giving me three injections a week rather than us taking three trips to the infusion center every week, which was just not going to work for us.

Blood work #1:  5 items that were abnormally high or low
Blood work #2:  7 items that were abnormally high or low
Blood work #3:  9 items that are abnormally high or low

The day proceeded as normal and we were getting ready to leave, but then the portable infusion pump with the 5FU decided to rebel so we had to wait around and ended up with a new pump... just a small delay, we got out of there at 4:15pm.  A long day, but we had a lovely dinner waiting for us when we got home (big thanks go out to Cheri for a fantastic Shepherds Pie!!)... all is good at the Renz household.

And finally, I'm muddling my way through tonight's post (although to be honest Kevin is doing a heavy edit for me tonight).  I am extremely tired, but its strange.  I literally feel like my eyelids weigh 10 pounds... its like slow motion blinking.  I'll catch myself just staring at something, nothing in particular and then realize I should really look at something else, again all in slow motion.  I've already cat napped most of the evening.

So, that's it for me.

Until next time.

-Katie