12 September 2023
The Xanax last night did the trick. I slept the entire night through and the alarm waked me at 6 am. I was a little ditzy when I first got up but the second cup of coffee did the trick. I arrived at the cancer center just a little after 9 am for a 9:30 appointment and they actually took me back early.
Stephanie is my nurse again today. She’s the one with great axenic technique. Sadly, I had to ask her name because I’ve had a different nurse four of the five times. I just start calling them senior lapses. She had no sooner gotten with a saline drip that Dr. Velez’ nurse Danielle appeared and asked about my well being. I told her it had been a rough few days. I also mentioned the telephone call from nuclear medicine during the week and asked about the echocardiogram. I showed her my log of medication/diarrhea.
Stephanie had no sooner gotten the port flushed and blood drawn when Dr. Velez stopped by. He said when the echocardiogram lab gets backed up, they often go through nuclear medicine and can get the same readings they need – hence the mystery of nuclear medicine vs. echocardiogram was solved. I suspect they also charge more in nuclear medicine.
Danielle and Dr. Velez both suggested a midweek hydration infusion and a cancellation of the Filgrastim injections. Apparently, they are satisfied with my white blood cell count (how I don’t know since it was low last check) but I’ll go with it. Dr. Velez also put in a prescription for Imodium AD. He also provided a printed coupon with GoodRx that supposedly gives me a good discount. However, my insurance seems to give even a better rate for prescriptions than GoodRx. I’ll check both. It’ll save significant money. The prescription is for 120 pills with 3 refills. The cost for 120 with GoodRx will be about $30. Over-the-counter cost was around $70.
Dr. Velez wants me to take Imodium AD every four hours and only use the Lomotil every 6 hours. I’ll still alternate until my diarrhea gets under control.
I’m waiting on the blood tests to see where I am deficient. I’ll know more what to expect today once they come in.
Stephanie started the magnesium drip already since she anticipates it being low.
10:20 am
The magnesium did indeed come back low (normal is 1.9-2.7) and mine was 1.7.
The Comprehensive Medical Panel just arrived. Sodium was low, chloride was high, anion gap (checks acid/base balance of blood) was low, glucose was high (248), calcium was low and alkaline phosphatase (measures liver/bone health) was high and total protein (function of liver or kidney problems) was low.
CBC with Auto Differential showed white blood cell normal, red blood cell low, hemoglobin and hematocrit were low, neutrophils relative was high, lymphocytes relative were low, neutrophils absolute high and lymphocytes absolute were low.
Next up will be the pre-infusion cocktail of Benadryl, dexamethasone, pepsid, and zofram. Then I can start the Taxol then the Herceptin.
Stephanie started with the Herceptin. It’ll take around 30 minutes and then the Taxol will be an hour. They’ve upped the rate of the infusion since I’ve not shown any ill effects for the previous 3 infusions. Less time here.
The Larousse Gastronomique did arrive yesterday and thankfully it was in English. I will need a magnifying glass to read it but it is everything I thought it would be. It is an encyclopedia, historical record, and recipe book, all in one.
Also yesterday, I noticed my night blooming cereus had bloomed.
10:48 am
Stephanie is admistering the pre-infusion drugs. Good stuff!
Maybe, just maybe I’ll get out of here around 2:30 pm. They stop the magnesium while the other stuff is dripping but they’ll finish that up after the Herceptin and Taxol. Stephanie decided to do the Herceptin first this time.
The Herceptin finished at 1 pm and now I’m back finishing half of the magnesium and the rest of the saline (for hydration). I feel pretty good at the moment – much better than when I first walked in. I might make it out by 2 pm. I won’t know what to do with the extra time.
Now, if only my appetite for something besides sugar kicks in. I don’t need a 248 reading for glucose.
Stay tuned!