23 September 2023
Stella was my nurse yesterday. They were a little late bringing me back and a little late getting started. Stella’s computer had died and she had to use other nurses’ when they weren’t on them.
The CBC with Auto Differential showed white blood cell count normal, red blood cell count, hemoglobin, and hematocrit as low. Interestingly, only the Neutrophils relative were high and the lymphocytes relative, neutrophils absolute and lymphocytes absolute were normal. Strange.
The Comprehensive Metabolic Panel showed my sodium low, my glucose high (197) my ALT (SGPT)) as high (liver function) and total protein as low. That’s a little different from last time. For some reason, they didn’t check my magnesium level but gave me the full dose.
I finished both saline and magnesium IV around 4:15 pm so that was around 3 hours at the infusion center. It certainly made a difference from how I felt when I went in and when I came out.
While getting the infusion, someone completed their chemo and got to ring the bell.
I made it back to the house around 5 pm and UPS had not delivered my Apple Watch. Who knows when it will get here. They allow you to actually track the UPS vehicle but it never seems to get anywhere close to my house. Later, they sent me a notice it would be delivered on Monday. Perhaps.
Today is the first time I’ve felt the chemotherapy is cumulative. I slept eleven hours last night. Usually, the day after a hydration infusion, I have a burst of energy but not today. I didn’t do my morning walk and I probably won’t clean the pool filter today (I was supposed to yesterday). Hopefully, I can do a touch up house cleaning and get the clothes washed.
My peripheral neuropathy is worse. It started as just some numbness in the toes and now its spread to all the toes and the soles of my feet. I think I have some in my hands as well.
I continue to have bloody discharge from the nose. It’s not really a nose bleed like I had as a kid but a lot of blood when I blow my nose. I still have my eyebrows, at least. I don’t have to break out the sharpie yet.
Tuesday will be my 6th treatment with Taxol. Strangely, they have me booked only through October 3rd to make 7 Taxol treatments. I’m supposed to have 9. I’ll have to ask Dr. Velez about that. I assume they only book a specific number in case the situation changes. Taxol is the anticancer drug and I’ll be glad to be through with that with either 7 or 9 treatments. In reality, the every three weeks of Herceptin (monoclonal antibody) has some of the same side effects as Taxol (including diarrhea). Looks like I’ll be wearing adult diapers for at least a year.
Looks like napping during some football games is on the agenda for this afternoon. Stay tuned!
