Chemo begins.....(day 1 of 4)

Day 13

Pretty slow start to the day, not enough sleep that's for sure.  With the new line in, even though the tubes are softer, I just find it really hard to come to terms to sleeping on that side.   Dr Fedorenko says it's find, move your neck, it's all good but my head just won't come to terms with it.

Paul also has a slow start in, the carers are constantly at our beck and call, looking in on the outside with love and only so much they can do to help us through this.  I'm so happy they have each other and it seems they had a little well deserved downtime together last night (late) which would have done them the world of good.  The emotional toll is so much about those of us here going through treatment that I think they are often forgotten as they watch us go through it all.

Starting Chemo - equipment used feed fluids

And now we wait for the first day of Chemo to begin.....  This is the HUGE!  There is a saying in the HSCT community "no chemo no cure".  This is what we want - halting of further progression and maybe possible improvement, so exciting!.

Bottles come in around 10.50am and so it begins.  6 bottles in total - another long time to hold the bladder yes "It's all about the wee!".  Bottles are comprised of 3 x Cyclophosphamide (chemo), 1 x Mesna (protect the stomach), 2 x flushing.  Should take about 3 hours.

Very weird feeling (I must say this nearly every day).  I don't really feel like reading, watching anything just drifting and talking to Paul.  Have a lovely FaceTime with the family, mum's fold washing, kids playing x-box, nice to just feel like I'm a part of it.  They had a great day out and managed to tease me with photo's of hamburgers and chips from Grill'd, if you know this place you will know my mouth was watering.

Didn't feel nausea in the stomach but I guess it was nausea in the head..  It felt constantly woozy, almost out of body.  That feeling where you have a hangover and you think you are okay but then you move a little and it's a big 'nope, not okay'.. 

Sam came down for a chat which was a nice distraction.  Talking about visiting during ISO and she cracked me up, I couldn't stop laughing, it's nice to laugh when everything is so serious!



Boiled apple and sliced beef

I had told Paul to leave early to get a good nights sleep but when it came to it I just wanted him to be here so of course he stayed and went out for a few supplies while I snoozed.  Hard to snooze though as I went into this semi-consciousness that just felt horrible, still the nausea I think.

I ate okay during the day which was good and after snooze decided it was time to watch Episode 1 - Walking Dead..  I've been encouraged to give this a go by a few people and thought it was time....

Very intrigued, really enjoyed it and have just found one of my new favourite lines in a TV Show that made me laugh and laugh and sorry I will have to share as this will bring back memories to those of you who encouraged me!

(possible spoiler I guess - sorry about that!)

This photo's for you Kristy!

"Hey you.....  Dumbass..... Yeah you in the tank, Cosy in There?"

Makes me laugh again and again just thinking it..  It's the little things that are great distractions.  That and the vegemite on premium biscuits last night, man were they good.

Another flush at 6pm - Paul waited to make sure I was okay from that one before heading off for the day..

Now to distract myself until the 11pm flush as I don't want to sleep before that.  Thank god for Internet, Facebook, TV..  Started Series 2 Girls - didn't want to overdo Walking Dead all in one day.  And finished with the vegemite biscuits, oh did I already mention them - god they were good.  Really good hot chips would be nice to - Paul hasn't found them for me close by yet!

11pm flush, bit more woozy even though it's only flush..  Try to sleep, Try to sleep, it's not going good, sleeping pill, Try to sleep, it's going to be a long night...  Good luck in the marathon Trudes xx