Chemo Cycle 1: the first 13 days

I’m actually writing this on the 13th day of chemo and so far it’s been a good day. I’m feeling almost normal, and have been for the last couple of days. I can’t, however, say that for the first 11 days. Here’s the anatomy of the first 12 days:

Day 1: get first dose of Epirubicin (it’s red which usually means it’s nasty). The infusion itself only takes 7 minutes. It takes longer to get the anti-nausea drugs in than the actual chemo. Weird. Felt good for the rest of the day except for a headache in the evening that lasted for about an hour. Stomach not quite “normal”, but liveable.

Day 2: my nose is red. I look like someone who drinks too much, but I don’t drink anymore (to preserve Larry the Liver).

Day 3: along with my nose, my cheeks are now red and warm. No amount of mineral makeup covers it.  Awake til 5:30 am - all jacked up on the steroid they gave me for anti-nausea (Dexamethasone). All day stomach would be growling within one hour of eating. The anti-nausea drug Domperidone (NOT the champagne unfortunately) empties your stomach quickly to avoid nausea….so not long after eating  you are hungry again. Stomach has started feeling “funny” and I have lots of uncomfortable burps. Stomach is definitely not happy.

Day 4: nose, cheeks and now my neck and chest are blotchy red. Ugh. The disgusting burping continues and is worse after eating. I really like burping when it’s deep, gutteral and satisfying and I can burp with the best of men but this burping is NOT satisfying. It makes me feel crappy. Still jacked on the Dexamethasone and awake til 5am.

Day 5: Damn burping! My SKIN HURTS. Literally. My skin hurts…the back of my arms, my neck, almost everywhere. A light touch with my own hand causes pain. Feel sore all over. Slept like a rock - coming down off the Dexa now.

Day 6: My skin still hurts (said with a whiny voice) and the burping is driving me insane. Stomach is definitely not happy. Very tired. Deep sleep…definitely recovering from the 2 day Dexa high.

Day 7:  My skin does not hurt anymore! YAY. Had some issues with sleeping. Just couldn’t seem to go totally “under”.

Day 8: Actually seem to be slightly nauseous…I think it’s because of this “burpy” stomach. Husband bought a jug of Tums and I need them after eating almost everything. Crappy sleep.

Day 9: Stomach seems to be worse. The back of the Tums jug says it’s good for “sour stomach”…that’s how I would describe what I’ve got! And these are Ultra Strength Feeling very weak today. Had difficulty walking from parking lot into hospital for CT scan. Had to stop to catch breath and hold onto something because I was light-headed. Nurse in CT had problems finding a vein for the contrast dye. I had one glass of solution down that was threatening to come back up. Eyes clamped shut, trying deep breathing to get through it. Told nurse to get someone else to do it, and another took over and got a vein right away. She then looked at me and asked if I needed a stretcher. I declined and said I would be fine, but after another look she stated “you need a stretcher, I’m getting one”. I had no choice. Stretcher wheeled in, Lisa put onto stretcher and promptly wrapped in 2 warm blankets and then started crying. Jody the nurse who was looking after me was the first nurse I encountered at my first CT scan almost 10 years ago. She TOTALLY rocks and can find a vein anywhere. LOVE HER. Baby who is waiting for a CT and hasn’t eaten since 10pm the previous night is crying. I feel like he sounds and I cry some more. Jody brings me some sandpaper (hospital kleenex) and my next drink and manages to get me laughing. CT goes like clockwork once it happens. I realize Jody made the right call. I would not have stayed upright in a chair, that’s how crappy I felt. Upon leaving at 11:30 I decide I need chocolate milk or I won’t make it back to the car. Did a slow Tim Conway shuffle back to car, went home and hit the couch. Wonderful friend calls and asks if I need anything. I request Old Dutch BarBQ chips and she shows up with the loot and manages to make me laugh despite my sad mood and feeling crappy & weak overall. I have a shower after supper and cry in the shower. Can’t get rid of this sadness. Not the best sleep…can’t get comfy.

Day 10: Still feeling weak, light-headed, and heart gets racing pretty fast every once in awhile. A walk of less than 50 feet from the greenhouse to the deck gets my heart going like crazy. I climb the stairs and promptly lay down on the lounge chair, taking deep calming breaths. I’ve noticed this happening every once in awhile. Epirubicin is known for doing this to the heart. My MUGA scan (a heart test) is scheduled for next week so we can monitor to make sure it doesn’t get damaged. Stomach still really bothering me and I don’t feel good at all. I cry some more when a friend stops by to drop something off. I cry when my husband calls. I cry because I feel so crappy. When I feel sick I realize I AM sick, hence the tears.

Day 11: Hmmmm, what happened to the crappy feeling of the last 2 days?! Suddenly I feel normal and as if nothing has happened. Had a good long sleep til 1pm. A sunny warm day is on the way. Maybe that’s why I feel better. At 4pm I attempt to start weeding in one of my flowerbeds. My head feels like it weighs 75 pounds, I can’t find a comfortable position and I’m shaky. I guess I’m not better! I take frequent rests on the lounger in the shade but after my legs literally start to shake I decide that’s enough and give up on weeding. How will I EVER be able to look after my yard and garden this summer?? :(  On the bright side, no major stomach issues today but fast heart rate at times. Managed a quick grocery trip at 8:30pm.

Day 12: up at 11am and feel NORMAL….really normal! But, I decide to take it slow due to yesterday and how I thought I was ok but wasn’t. Husband does pancakes & bacon on the BBQ for brunch and we eat in the sunshine on the deck. Awesome. Wonderful friend drops by as we are on our way out with a massive fruit and goodie basket for us to enjoy. NO issues with stomach all day but took a Tums after supper just in case. Had some muscle spasms in ribs on our drive to get our trailer. Something that looks suspiciously like a cold sore is forming on my bottom lip. Not good. Epirubicin can cause this. CRAP. I use an acne medication because I don’t have anything else. My streak of bad luck continues when, as I’m eating fresh (SOFT) fruit salad in the evening, a chunk of one of my molars breaks off.

Day 13: Wake up at noon feeling normal AGAIN! WTF?! Am I turning a corner already? I’m not even at Day 14. Meet with oncologist in afternoon and discuss the side effects I’ve had. Got a prescription for some meds that will help with my stomach issues. The next round should be much better on the stomach. Not able to get into dentist today, going tomorrow to see what temporary measures can be done for the tooth. Oncologist and nurse not happy to hear of tooth issue in the middle of chemo and remind me we need to be careful with the mouth. Am hoping there is an easy temporary fix that will help. The edges are very sharp, it’s sensitive to my toothbrush. Bloody hell! Stupid tooth. Pick up drugs and talk to pharmacist about cold sore/chemo issue and purchase some Abreva. I’ve never paid 20 bucks for something sooo small. At least if it doesn’t help they have a money-back guarantee. I’m keeping my rcpt. Met a friend after indulging in a peanut butter milkshake at 8th Street drive-up DQ. Home for supper, no stomach issues and feeling normal. Maybe tomorrow I’ll try doing some weeding. Still no signs that my hair is losing it’s grip on my scalp. Did have a short little feeling of hair standing on end on right side of head on Saturday but nothing since. No pain, no tightness, no tingling…but it must be coming. Got a turban at the cancer centre today to use as a sleep cap. It’s red and white striped and I look like a Christmas Elf. I won’t be wearing that thing in public.

To be continued…..