My appointment was scheduled for 11 am...of course you wait in the waiting room alot longer...I got into 'my' room at 11:45, spoke with the nurse - they took more bloodwork for the clinical study, I was given a saline solution and then we began the treatment. The nurse stayed with me/us (Charlie was with me) for the hour. The drug is called: Panitumumab. Once that hour passed, I began two other drugs which took another two hours. All this went through my port. A nurse sprayed this 'freezing spray' on the port so the needle wouldn't hurt going in...and it worked! No pain! I was also given - before the second drug, an anti-nauseous and steroid (to keep my energy level up). I was done by 4:15.
Charlie stayed with me the entire time...except for when the nurse 'froze' my port and started it...he was afraid that he might pass out...he came right back in and stayed the entire time! I think that is good for him...he is finally able to sit and not do anything...although he did ask me several times if there was anything he could do for me.
During the chemo treatments with all this fluid going in...it also came out...I had to go to the bathroom several times within two hours...and boy, did I go! and go! and go! I think all that fluid and more came right out!
Told you, this would be in detail!
After the treatment was complete the nurse gave me the pump. I wore it on the way home as a shoulder bag and then when I went to bed I put it around my waist. This pump is to be removed in 46 to 48 hours later....now I go back on Friday at 1:45 pm. The pump delivers small amount of the Folfox6 (I think that's what I'm getting in it) every few minutes and there is a low beep - I guess that is to let me know it's working. I got all the instructions from the nurse...if the line gets pinched there will be a loud beep or if something is wrong...I call the company or the office (depending on what time it is) and they will walk me through.
When I got home, Sam had dinner cooking. Paul was at the gym and Fay was watching her TV shows. I was really hungry. We were able to eat at the center, which Charlie did...but I wasn't all that hungry. I had baked Oatmeal cookies the day before and I munched on them during the treatment. I was starving and ate alot for dinner and snacking too!
I came up here, to my computer and email you all...I wasn't really tired...my eyes were heavy because I didn't sleep all that well the night before. After getting up twice during the night, I got up this morning at 8:30 and so my day begins.
Right now (Thursday morning), the only side effect I feel is when I take a bit of anything...I get this 'awakening feeling' in my mouth...it's just the first bite...after that its fine. The nurse and doctor said that I have to be careful drinking or eating anything really cold...it will make my throat hurt and feel like it's closing up. Drinking water that was in the bottle and not refrigerated...gave me that type of feeling...so I keep it in my mouth a second more before swallowing.
