Yesterday was a LONG day. Got to Dr. McGrail's office at 10:30, and didn't get finished until 6 p.m. Took a while to go through questions with the doctor, get the additional anti-nausea pre-med cleared through insurance, and go through everything in detail with the nurse. Nurse Karen was awesome. First is the blood draw to check all my levels. Then, the various pre-meds: Aloxi (anti-nausea), Ativan (anti-anxiety/anti-nausea), Decadron (steroid), Benadryl (antihistimine), Emend (the extra anti-nausea med). And then the three meds - taxotere first (90 min), carboplatin (45 min), and herceptin (90 min, for this first visit only; subsequent visits will be 30 min). Inbetween meds, flush with saline. All of this is done through my brand spankin' new port. Nurse Karen sprayed it with cold numbing spray first, so only moderate pain (took three sticks though to get started).
They sent me home with various prescriptions - a regimen of anti-nausea meds: Emend for two days, Zofran for three, and compazine for break-through nausea. Plus the Decadron (the steroid and benedryl help prevent allergic reaction which can sometimes occur with the taxotere).
A tiring day.
Today, went for a slow, 2 mile walk - very nice. Had a refloxology appointment (my research showed that reflexology, as well as acupunture, can help with the side effects of chemo). Appointment is very relaxing too. Then, back to Dr. McGrail's office for my shot of neulasta - to help boost my white blood cell count over the next three weeks.
Feeling pretty worn out now, but managing ok. Which is actually pretty great considering how terrified I've been about this.
But one day at a time. 125 more days to go.
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