On May 11 I met with Dr Rooney to discuss what was going on after my first chemo treatment. I told him about the trip to the hospital, the sleepless nights, the constant sleeping during the day, having no energy. We realized two of the medications I was taking cause drowsiness and should be taken at night only. (One of those was prescribed 3 times a day, hence the need to nap all the time). We acknowledged the fact that chemo makes me dehydrate and very quickly so having IV Fluids the next day is a good plan. We also learned that in the three weeks since my first chemo treatment I did NOT lose any weight. He told me that was encouraging and it sounds like I am right where I should be.
Off to chemo we went.
On Wednesday we went back for the fluids and I was not feeling well at all. I asked if I could lay in the bed instead of using a chair. The infusion process is three hours long. No problem, they moved me to the bed and also scheduled me to come back in on Friday for another liter of fluids. I went home on Wednesday, went to bed and pretty much stayed there until it was time to go for the second infusion on Friday. The bed was not available, it had been reserved for me but someone didn't know that. So they put me in a chair and said they would move me as soon as a bed became available. They took my blood pressure and it was 70/40....they moved the other person out of the bed and put me in it. When I left my BP was 90/60. I was very tired when I got home and went to bed. Saturday, Sunday and until 2:00 on Monday I felt GREAT! I was up and about doing things in the house and actually sat outside for a while. At 2:00 it hit me, I was very tired. I laid on the couch but did not sleep. Yesterday and today have been sluggish days but I am not sleeping all day now. Changing the medication to nighttime only has helped a lot.
Wednesday, May 19, 2010
The days after the first round of chemo
I was told everyone responds differently to chemo.
I was told the fatigue from chemo is cumulative, just like the fatigue from radiation.
The day after my first treatment I seemed fine when I first got up at 8:30. I ate breakfast and took all my pills. At 9:00 I said to Jim I don't know what just happened but I need to lay down now. I made it to the couch and slept until 11:00. I seemed to be ok after that for a while. Took my mid-day pills around 2:30 and at 3:00 experienced the same thing ....had to lay down...this time until almost 6:00.
The second day after chemo I don't think I ever got out of bed. On Friday I spent most of the day laying down, I had no energy. The BCBS Case Mgmt nurse called on Friday around 3:00 to see how things were going and I told her not well I was pretty sure I was dehydrated. She spoke to Jim and told him to get me to the hospital for IV Fluids as it is the weekend and I will only get worse.
We went to the ER where they infused 2 liters of IV Fluids. I definitely felt better after that but not great. Saturday I felt better and the BCBS nurse called again to check on my progress. Sunday was an ok day. On Monday I was up and out of bed and moving around again. The BCBS nurse suggested I call the Dr and ask them to make an appointment for me to receive IV Fluids the day after chemo. The Dr's office agreed to that.
The first week of May I spent in bed.
I was told the fatigue from chemo is cumulative, just like the fatigue from radiation.
The day after my first treatment I seemed fine when I first got up at 8:30. I ate breakfast and took all my pills. At 9:00 I said to Jim I don't know what just happened but I need to lay down now. I made it to the couch and slept until 11:00. I seemed to be ok after that for a while. Took my mid-day pills around 2:30 and at 3:00 experienced the same thing ....had to lay down...this time until almost 6:00.
The second day after chemo I don't think I ever got out of bed. On Friday I spent most of the day laying down, I had no energy. The BCBS Case Mgmt nurse called on Friday around 3:00 to see how things were going and I told her not well I was pretty sure I was dehydrated. She spoke to Jim and told him to get me to the hospital for IV Fluids as it is the weekend and I will only get worse.
We went to the ER where they infused 2 liters of IV Fluids. I definitely felt better after that but not great. Saturday I felt better and the BCBS nurse called again to check on my progress. Sunday was an ok day. On Monday I was up and out of bed and moving around again. The BCBS nurse suggested I call the Dr and ask them to make an appointment for me to receive IV Fluids the day after chemo. The Dr's office agreed to that.
The first week of May I spent in bed.
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