The Port

Round 2 turned out to be much worse than Round 1 and I was sick longer – 10 days rather than 1 week. I got a very sore throat on day 7 but it didn’t stop me from eating. That day I wanted to eat everything in sight and I had major hunger pangs all day that wouldn’t go away even after I ate something. In the evening I felt so fat and bloated from eating all day and even though I still felt really hungry I just decided I wasn’t eating any more. About an hour later it felt like my stomach was on fire and that lasted into the night. The homecare nurse came the next day and she said she would talk to the Pharmacist at the hospital to see what I could take. He suggested I continue with one of my anti nausea drugs (Domperadone) and even though it wasn’t really nausea that I felt, the pills helped. He also suggested another one for my doctor to prescribe but it took 3 days to get a hold of him to call in the prescription. The Domperidone helped quite a bit but I still had that burning in my guts until I got the new pills. On day 11 my tongue cracked. You couldn’t see it by just looking but if I put my fingers on either side and spread it apart you could see these little tiny cracks all over the tip of my tongue. That was pretty painful for a couple of days too. The second 10 days have been much better.

Last week I got to see my doctor – an appointment I made 2 months ago! He gave me some things to try so my symptoms maybe won’t be so bad next time. On Thursday we went to Saskatoon again and I got my new port put in. This was much easier than getting the PICC line since I had an idea of what to expect. It was great getting the PICC line removed and I didn’t even feel them pull it out. This one is much the same in that there is a tube that threads into a vein in my bicep and loops around like an upside down U and ends up somewhere in my chest. Instead of these two 4 inch tubes sticking out of my arm I now have what looks like an upside down bottle cap just under the skin. It has a rubber top that is supposed to be good for up to 500 needle pokes. They can use this to administer the chemo drugs and also to take blood. (Only now it has to be the on call doctor or there just two nurses at our hospital that can take the blood from the port). For now my arm is bruised and a little sore (and very itchy so I guess it is healing already).

Round 2 - April 8

First I saw the oncologist Dr. A. on Tuesday April 7. I wasn't too sure about him at the first meeting but he is starting to grow on me. At least he seems to have a sense of humor. I told him that this PICC line is very uncomfortable, itchy and quite cumbersome hanging out of my arm and that I would really like to get a port so that I can have a shower. He said it isn’t that they don’t take the ports out but that it is considered surgery to put it in and another surgery is required to remove it. I said I would be okay with that so I am scheduled to get the port on Apr 23. YAY

He said my blood was “not bad” so I was ready for round 2 on Wednesday. This time I was placed in one of the chairs by the front desk to get my chemo. I found it hard to sit in one position for 2 ½ hours (my feet couldn't even touch the floor) – not good for someone with a bad back. I will try for a room with a bed next time. Once again I felt really good until about 3 hours after and that night I had the worst night so far. I took my anti nausea drugs early and went to bed at 7:30. Sometime during the night I started feeling better. He upped my pills and that seemed to work for the second day but day 3 and 4 haven’t been so great. This morning Murray made coffee and I couldn’t even stand to be in the kitchen or to have his cup of coffee anywhere near me. I never had any reactions like that the last time.

I am starting to get accustomed to seeing my bald head in the mirror (at least it isn't quite so shocking as at first) but it looks like I am losing my eyebrows too :o(

So that is two down and just one more of this cocktail to go. Hopefully the next mixture they give me won’t be as bad for me.

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