The last time I posted, I commented about having to switch to a new chemo due to their being some progression on my scan at the end of March. Those first couple of days went well on the new chemo, but I was warned to expect fatigue on day 3. When that Friday / day 3 hit, I definitely had fatigue, and they had me com in for some fluids as this new chemo can dehydrate you making the fatigue worse. While getting the fluids, a couple of nurses became concerned that my eyes looked jaundiced and glassier than normal. Everything was checked out, and they were going to follow it closely on the next Tuesday when I came in for treatment.
Tuesday 4/7- They get my normal blood draws, and I'm ready for treatment only to be told that my counts were way too low. My white blood cells and ANC were both at critical lows. They also started thinking I looked flushed and I had begun running a low grade fever. I was told that they would give me a shot to help boost the counts but then I had 2 options 1- to come in every day that week for another count boosting shot and iv antibiotics or 2 - get put into the hospital. The come to the cancer center was also only an option if they had the iv antibiotics on site. Thankfully they did b/c I did not want to have to be checked into the hospital with all the virus craziness.
Wed 4/8 -- I was also having a scratchy or hurting whenever I swallowed anything; so, I got sent to an ENT that afternoon who confirmed that I had pharyngitis and gave me liquid prednisone and amoxicillin to take. (I had memories that liquid amoxicillin wasn't that bad -- my memories were wrong! way too chalky and grow but it did th job.
Thursday 4/9-- During my appt on 3/31 when we found out there were some ascites in my abdomen, I asked some questions b/c I kept feeling like I was swelling. On Thurs 4/9, it became much more noticeable & the nurses commented on it. as well. We were in a bit of a quandary b/c on the one hand the new chemo was dehydrating me (my hands feel like crepe paper and keep cracking/ making sores (it seriously reminds me of when I would have to shred cheese on our old metal shredder - did anyone else have one of those?) Yet, my insides were continuing to swell more and more with fluid. Options for how to best hand this were being looked into, and I was communicating with my oncologist over the weekend. Unfortunately, it became unbearably painful where I could not even put on pants that I had worn a week ago. I understand many have added the Covid 15, but I wasn't even wanting to eat at all.
Friday 4/10 -- This chemo isn't supposed to cause total hair loss, but to add insult to injury for this weekend, it started coming out on Friday morning. By Sunday morning it was basically gone and just really wispy strands; so, Dad came over & used the clippers and shaver to get the rest. I don't know if it was just a perfect storm or what with all my body had been through in that week or so, but I figured if it going to come back, it might as well start from all the same length. So, caps and things are my friend right now.
During the weekend, the swelling kept getting worse and I had to call the oncologist group. At this point, it was really impeding my ability to do things. They gave me the if this starts happening go to the hospital now but otherwise probably better at home, which I agreed with
Monday 4/13 - My doctor got me on some diuretics to see if that would help before having to take the route of a paracentesis.
Tuesday 4/14 -- Saw my oncologist, and she agreed that it was just continuing to get worse. She added some prednisone to my meds but also sent in for a stat paracentesis to drain as much from the abdomen as possible. She has also referred me to a liver specialist to try to determine what the cause is of the flood to begin with. Fluid taken from the test will also be checked for cancer in the fluid and other types of things.
Wed 4/15 -- Got the call at 9 AM to make a 11:30 parancentisis . For this procedure, after finding the best pathways for the fluid by an ultrasound they put a needle of lidocaine in you, insert a catheter or tube of some type and connect the tubing to basically large jugs that were at the foot of the bed; so, I was just looking at all of this fluid coming out of me. They pulled about 10 pounds of fluid from my abdomen. Apparently, I also have fluid under or between the skin (I don't understand this part really); so, there is still a good amount of swelling and we will have to keep working with the meds to get rid of that as well, but at least I have some relief.
I'll talk with my oncologist again on Monday and we will figure out the plan going forward. For right now, we need to get out of this perfect storm of craziness/side effects and then make decisions re starting the chemo, etc.
Besides all of this crazy medical stuff, there is also the virus craziness and trying to wrap up the spring semester of classes. Hope you and yours are handling everything as well as possible & staying safe.
