Doctor's Visit & Chemotherapy for January 28, 2008
My continuing diary of events: Last week was my off week from chemo. My husband and I were really looking forward to it. We had such good news about my status on News Year's Eve that we were going to really going to celebrate on my off week from chemo. My first 2 weeks went without too many side effects. I had a little dizziness and a little fatigue but that was about it. However, late in my third week (when I should start feeling better) I started having the urinary problem that I frequently have as a side effect of chemo. It is usually mild and only lasts a day or so. Well, this kept getting worse and worse and lasted all through my off week. Spoiled the whole week. It was the worst side effect ever. It lasted to this Sunday. Well, Monday was my scheduled monthly oncologist visit. We got there early to be sure that they could take my blood and urine and process before we saw the doctor. The waiting room was over flowing with some cancer patients having to stand up. There were people mobbed around the room where the phlebotomists work. I went to sign in there and there were over 2 pages of unprocessed patients. I went ahead and signed up. Finally found a seat for me and my husband. A few minutes later I was called by my doctor's nurse. I told her I hadn't had by blood and urine done. She said that she had already checked and it was going to be a very long time before I was at the top of "that list". She was going to have me see the doctor first then come back for the blood and urine. They had a new phlebotomist and she was very slow. Anyway, the nurse took my vitals. Every thing was normal except my blood pressure which was 130/100. I have never had anything like that before. I bet it went up even higher once I knew how high it was. We went back to the examination room and my doctor came right in after us. I have never had that happen with any doctor. (We found out later, that due to the back up with the phlebotomist, doctors were waiting for patients rather than than the usual opposite.) The good news on my thyroid is that it isn't cancer but I need to see an endocrinolist. I may have some type of auto-immune disorder that is causing the problem with the thyroid. (What in the world now!) Oh well, add another doctor to the growing list. For now I continue on Synthroid. As for my high blood pressure, we have known that it is one of the most common side effects of the Avastin that I take for chemo. Frankly, the oncologist has just been waiting for it to show up. The doctor told me that I would have my blood pressure taken one more time when I got down to the Chemotherapy area. If it was still high, I would be put on high blood pressure medication. Not what I wanted to hear but not unexpected. Then we discussed my finger nails which I may loose. I can't even imagine what this could be like. I am having pain in some of the nail beds and those nails are discolored. The oncologist slightly decreased my prescribed chemo dosage of Taxol. If I continue to do as well as I have, I may be able to totally come off the Taxol just remaining on Avastin. Wouldn't that be something! Then we discussed the "side effect" that I had over the past weeks. I described it as like "the worst bladder infection you have ever had". Well, said the doctor, maybe it was. Whoa! I have described this side effect to the doctor before. I had a severe episode with the first round of chemo. But to be fair to the doctor, since that first time, I haven't pushed it since it has been so mild. We put it in the side effect column. The doctor ordered a urine culture. The nurse called today, Tuesday. Enough bacteria showed up in the urine culture to show that it had been a severe urinary track infection. I am now looking at my new bottle of antibiotics. I won't ever put up with what I think are "only side effects" again. I wasted almost 2 weeks of my life and my husband's life, how stupid! When we were through with the doctor, I went to sign up for labs again and found that they hadn't yet gotten to my name. About 10 minutes later they called me. The new "port nurse" was slow, slow, slow. Nice as can be and disorganized as can be. She finally got the hook up to my port done and my blood draw done. We then went down to chemo. I was hoping since we had a later appointment I would have my regular chemo nurse back but she had the day off. Anyway, I had an hour wait in the chemo waiting room. Not their fault, they kept calling for my labs that hadn't yet been processed. I'm finally in my chemo chair and the nurse comes to take my blood pressure. It was 120/80 and the nurse said she was sure that it would continue to come down. So no blood pressure medication is required. Hooray! The treatment went as usual with no more surprises. Of course, I collapsed on the sofa when I got home and snoozed the rest of the afternoon away.Sign in or sign up to post a comment.
Don't you just love the additional sideshows that we experience while going through this adventure? I find it pretty entertaining. So glad you are doing so well.
What an epic adventure. It is strange how so many things change at once that you don't know what pain is coming or caused by what. I remember thinking, Is that the cancer? side effects? something normal? me just over reacting? I never knew. Made me feel insane.
Carol - How are you these days?