20 October 2023
I’m sure I’ve probably had a worse two days in my life but I can’t really think of them. The one time that possibly rises to the occasion was as a kid with the flu. Most people who think they have the flu simply have a bad cold. The flu debilitated me for two weeks. I was so weak, I couldn’t get out of bed for one week. Another possible time was when I was (later) diagnosed with Legionaire’s Disease while a freshman at Ole Miss. I would count my last hospitalization where Holley kept watch with my second surgery due to the mastectomy but I was so far under with pain killers I don’t remember that, I depend on Holley’s relating of the details.
I haven’t been able to drive for the last two days and if it hadn’t been for my friends, I would have missed three appointments. Keith carried me to the cardiologist, Michel picked me up for the blood draw for my wellness and delivered me home, Dianne delivered me to the hydration infusion and Barb picked me up, bought me soup, sandwich and strawberries at Whole Foods and took me home. If they didn’t have prior commitments, everyone jumped to pitch in. I am so appreciative.
Pat was my nurse again and I told her I was like a bad penny – I kept showing up. In talking with her, she said Herceptin would be much easier on me. When I asked about the numbness in feet and hands, she said some people got over it, some people had residual effects and some people never lost the numbness. If I had know that beforehand, I’m not sure I would have gone through chemo.
As it is, I’ve barely been functional these last two day. I can barely walk, I stumble all the time, my appetite is gone and, of course, the diarrhea is back. Also while talking with Pat, she signed me up for several more hydration infusions. She said it would make life easier. Dr. Velez had not done that. That’s the type nurse she is. If she thinks something should be done, she takes the initiative and does it even without thinking.
I had the soup Barb bought me for dinner tonight. The sandwich is for tomorrow lunch and the strawberries are for breakfast. I fully intend to do my best to recuperate tomorrow. The last two hydrations did not allow me to bounce back like the previous ones. I’ll take another Xanax tonight. I did get plenty of sleep last night but it didn’t do me any good physically – I was a wreck.
Farah, Dr. Jellinger’s nurse called in two prescriptions for me: prednisone and Jardiance. The prednisone is because Dr. Jellinger is concerned with adrenal drop if I come off Dexamethasone too early. I’m to take prednisone twice a day for 5 days, once a day for 5 days and then one every other day for 10 days. During one of those off days, I’m to report for a blood test to measure how much sterol I have in my system.
Because I am on Herceptin for a year, Dr. Jellinger is concerned about heart failure with me – an additional complication of diabetes. Jardiance not only lowers your blood sugar and A1c but also helps prevent heart failure. Dr. Tepper, the cardiologist, didn’t offer any resistance other than saying the effects of the drug have not been studied for any length of time. The bad news is the one prescription is over $100.
The one problem with Jardiance is urination. Farah told me I would be going to the bathroom more frequently. I told her that was not possible. She laughed and said I might need a catheter – she was joking. In any case, I’m to drink tons of water in the morning and during the day but not at night. Any time I have to urninate, I’m to use baby wipes on (as the blood draw nurse said today when she wanted a urine sample) my “manly parts.” There’s a risk of urinary infection otherwise.
Can you see why I think this is getting towards the ridiculous?
Hopefully, I’ll be better the coming week. Keep your fingers crossed for me. Sorry this has been such a downer.
Stay tuned!
