Last night I just laid in bed till 01:30. Then I got up and read.
Back to bed around 03:30, then up at 5:00. I owe the sleep bank.
The taxi arrived and we crawled in traffic to the hospital.
Chemo only starts at 10:00, but I need a blood test first. The test results will take about 2 hours.
By 08:00 I am having blood taken. They tell me to go away and come back at 10:00.
So here I sit in the hospital cafe, drinking coffee.
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Back to bed around 03:30, then up at 5:00. I owe the sleep bank.
The taxi arrived and we crawled in traffic to the hospital.
Chemo only starts at 10:00, but I need a blood test first. The test results will take about 2 hours.
By 08:00 I am having blood taken. They tell me to go away and come back at 10:00.
So here I sit in the hospital cafe, drinking coffee.
------
Evening 19:00
Wow!
Chemo sucks.
A most unpleasant experience.
I now have moments of clarity, followed by long naps.
No nausea, but I am starving.
OK enough of right now, let me tell you about the day.
At about 10:00 I met with another Oncologist. Dr. S.Bassa. She explained what was going to happen regarding the chemo today.
The main cancer fighting drug to be infused will be Paclitaxel. Combined with this will be 4 other drugs to help with the side effects.
Phenergon - Anti histamine that controls nausea, and promotes sleep.
The main cancer fighting drug to be infused will be Paclitaxel. Combined with this will be 4 other drugs to help with the side effects.
Phenergon - Anti histamine that controls nausea, and promotes sleep.
Dexona - dexamethasone is a corticosteroids. It reduces inflammation and other
allergic type reactions.
Onicit - used in the
prevention and treatment of chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting.
Cimetidine - used to treat ulcers, gastroesophageal reflux disease, and heartburn
Cimetidine - used to treat ulcers, gastroesophageal reflux disease, and heartburn
Zofer - prevents nausea after chemo. Taken with Onicit.
Paclitaxel is made from tree bark of the Pacific Yew tree. It is an old drug used to fight breast cancer from the 1960s. Annual sales are US$ 1.6 billion.
The lounge where the people getting chemo sit, is very nice. There is a coffee machine and a waitress. The chairs are big recliners. I sat and started reading. A nurse came in and started an IV. Another nurse came in and hung 4 small bags. Each had one of the four side effect helping drugs. The first two were fine, then the Phenergon.
I went out like someone switched off my switch. About 40 minutes later I awoke and saw that Paclitaxel was now feeding the IV.
I would look around, then pass out. My body got the twitches. Especially my right leg. It would jump around like a puppet leg. The jerking now kept me from sleep, and I was very sleepy.
A bit later I would look around, and see that the IV was removed. I wanted sleep, but I had to pee real bad. I stumbled to the bathroom. Lots of pee, then stumbled back to my chair. maybe 30 minutes of dozing and jerking more, then I was awake more than asleep.
I tried asking the nurse about the jerking, but my words were all slurred, and sounded like I had on a mask.
I sat back down, and jerked around for about 15 more minutes.
Now I could walk around better. I wanted to be outside. I left rooms and went outside into the parking lot. I walked all around, counting how many Chevrolet Sparks there were. Eight.
Back inside the nurse gave me a prescription to get blood checked on next Tuesday, so the results would be in by Wednesday, when my next chemo is scheduled.
I called the guy doing the repair on the beetle starter. He says it needs a total overhaul, and will cost R1100. It should be ready Friday afternoon.
I need to see the wound care lady, as it has been 10 days since the last cleaning. But with no transport, it will be difficult.
My friend gave me a ride home, and handed me about R10,000. That should tide me over.
Now I need to sleep again.
Paclitaxel is made from tree bark of the Pacific Yew tree. It is an old drug used to fight breast cancer from the 1960s. Annual sales are US$ 1.6 billion.
The lounge where the people getting chemo sit, is very nice. There is a coffee machine and a waitress. The chairs are big recliners. I sat and started reading. A nurse came in and started an IV. Another nurse came in and hung 4 small bags. Each had one of the four side effect helping drugs. The first two were fine, then the Phenergon.
I went out like someone switched off my switch. About 40 minutes later I awoke and saw that Paclitaxel was now feeding the IV.
I would look around, then pass out. My body got the twitches. Especially my right leg. It would jump around like a puppet leg. The jerking now kept me from sleep, and I was very sleepy.
A bit later I would look around, and see that the IV was removed. I wanted sleep, but I had to pee real bad. I stumbled to the bathroom. Lots of pee, then stumbled back to my chair. maybe 30 minutes of dozing and jerking more, then I was awake more than asleep.
I tried asking the nurse about the jerking, but my words were all slurred, and sounded like I had on a mask.
I sat back down, and jerked around for about 15 more minutes.
Now I could walk around better. I wanted to be outside. I left rooms and went outside into the parking lot. I walked all around, counting how many Chevrolet Sparks there were. Eight.
Back inside the nurse gave me a prescription to get blood checked on next Tuesday, so the results would be in by Wednesday, when my next chemo is scheduled.
I called the guy doing the repair on the beetle starter. He says it needs a total overhaul, and will cost R1100. It should be ready Friday afternoon.
I need to see the wound care lady, as it has been 10 days since the last cleaning. But with no transport, it will be difficult.
My friend gave me a ride home, and handed me about R10,000. That should tide me over.
Now I need to sleep again.
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