Interesting side effects on the chemo ... only one I had was the "cold" issue. If I touch a cold item from 'fridge or freezer I get pinpricks on figures. To reverse just run hands under warm water and it stops ... obviously you don't want to drink anything cold as well (room temp okay). Another patient said it usually only lasts a week.
The 'pain' is I have to go in each day to get a shot of GCS-F (instead of neulasta). Just as achy, but they want to use that one since it isn't a 'time release'. The only other side effect I've noticed is a 'hint' of nausea (think it's due more to being unsure of what the 'plan' was and the cost), was 'up and down' mental/emotional last couple of days. Not depressed/sad/unhappy, just somber.
Wasn't sure if the insurance company would pick up the harvest & transplant. Just heard this morning that the they will pick up both the harvest & transplant. That meant I got a double dose of the GCS-F (gonna be an achy breaky day) Whee, at least the insurance/cost is one thing off my mind. So far this is all I know ... tomorrow (Tues), I'll go to the cancer center at 8am for another shot (single), then Weds over to the hospital lab so they can check the count, followed by another shot, repeat each day until white count high enough to harvest. Watch it will be on Halloween! Gotta be sure they don't get any 'gremlins' in the harvest. LOL I think they plan on doing 2 harvests, just to be sure they have enough. To harvest I go to the oncology dept at the hospital, they insert a catheter in my neck (otherwise vein may collapse) and machine draws blood/filters and returns all but the harvested stem cells. Just a local and I could go back to work afterwards (takes around 4 hours). The stem cells get processed (at our hospital) and frozen until needed. They used to have to send them to Spokane up to 8 months ago. Once they've harvested enough I will go through ??? number of chemo cycles (don't know yet), then will get the transplant (probably month or two). Now that a lot of the uncertainty is over (at least we have an approved plan), I think I'll be able to handle it without a problem (God willing).
Love to all
1 comment:
Your post reminded me of playing tricks of people-put their hand in cold water then warm water to make them wet the bed. Great trick from college. Ah my good education.
You are as always in my thoughts.
K
Post a Comment