First Chemo Treatment

Michael, my sister, and I met with the Dr. before the first treatment. I was sweating bullets and could hardly contain my emotions. I had written down a number of questions. In the midst of that, Michael and the Dr. and my sister all joined in on a joke. I asked some question, and the doctor started with an answer that led Michael to say, "If a truck starts out from the east coast going xx miles per hour," then the Dr. said, "and a bus starts from the west coast going xx miles per hour", and my sister finished with, "what's the bus driver's name". We all exploded with laughter.

On chemo day, you always get weighed (yuck) and you alwalys get blood drawn. Those two things are non-negotiable. I will meet with the Dr. the next two weeks and then depending on how blood counts go, may only meet with him every other treatment. It's all dependent on your bloodwork, side effects, and what you need.

We went into the chemo bay with the beautiful view of the Flatirons. I started to cry. My anxiety level was so high. The first nurse tried to get two veins in my left arm--one rolled and the other disappeared. The nurse who had done our chemo class got it right into a vein in the right arm.

They start you off with a 10-minute anti-nausea medication that should work about 24 hours. Then they start your chemo drug. One of the side effects could be a burning sensation at it drips into your body. I waited for it--I didn't get that. We sat there for 30 minutes as the bag emptied and chatted.

Then it's off to scheduling to set up your next appt. Michael and I went to the Great Harvest Bread Co. where I had a half sandwich. Then to Dairy Queen for a cone.

I did take a 3.5 hour nap when we got home. Ate a little dinner. I still felt good. I did have a headache (still have it a bit), but that was it. Every now and then, a microsecond of nausea, then fine.

I won't start my daily pill until early next week, as it had to be ordered from a pharmacy company. So, there is still some unkown there. I also know that things can change as more of the drugs get into my system. So, I am not skating on a cloud, I know that things can change. At this time, however, I choose to think that they will stay like this.