Chemo Goes Bad!

(I posted one with Sunday’s date today, read that first. Something’s may be confusing otherwise) :>)

Yahoo, last cycle of chemo!! Loving Mondays, always the start of a new “beginning.” However, I should have slept through this Monday!

Concerned about my father, I lost some sleep. I tossed and turned. I took a late night drive. I did a little 24 hour shopping!

I woke up with plenty of time, off to my car to stop for breakfast and head to the Cancer Clinic. Feeling the cold winter fresh air, sweeping away my concerns. I unlocked my door, pulled the door handle, only to find, they were frozen shut! Damn the winter! Lol! We had a little ice storm, the roads so bad. I struggled with each door, afraid to pull the door frame apart. Finally, some friendly help but an hour late.

I arrived to the clinic late, no breakfast or coffee, no time to relax. My blood was drawn and I headed to see Aaron (PA), Dr. Chugh was on vacation. We layed out my upcoming schedule, another MRI and another chest scan to see if my cancer has metastasized. I believe this will be done on January 3rd. I will meet with my surgeon on January 4th, another appointment with Dr. Chugh to discuss my test results on January 7th and surgery will be on January 8th! I see I’m in demand in Michigan in January! Haha!! All went well at this appointment; Aaron said I looked great, full of energy. I felt alive, ready to knock out this round! My bags filled with water, Ms. Janice’s homemade potatoes soup and a treat bag filled with candy for those who helped me though this chemo! I love my Cancer Team and all the staff! I headed to clinic, greeting everyone with a smile, this was my last round! The drugs were started, once again dripping through my veins, killing this tumor, killing these cancer cells! What a great feeling!

Then all of a sudden, my head felt light, my hands and feet all so cold. My heart began to beat faster, I started to panic. I laid on my bed, propped up my feet. All of a sudden, my head started spinning, ready to burst from pain. I could no longer think. I could no longer focus. I called the nurse. That’s all I remember.
I woke up in the hospital. Uncertain the details as to what happened to me. Only praying, the chemo was not stopped. As I looked around, I found my ports. Only one accessed, only Sodium Chloride dripping through the lines. No signs of chemo drugs.
Oddly enough, there are two beliefs. The Oncologist in the hospital believes I was on my way to a diabetic coma. He believes if it was not recognized, I would have been in a coma. Apparently, and for an unknown reason, my sugar was 677! Whao, I officially have a number to show how sweet I am! Lol! The Decadron medication I take for nausea and the drugs themselves can cause my sugar to go high, but no one knows why this high. However, my Oncologist firmly believes I had a reaction to the Ifosfamide. A rare but severe side effect to the drug. The tingly hands and head, the coldness felt, the severe headache. The confused state, unable to answer simple questions. The shaking of the limbs. All a result of the toxicity of the drug. Whichever it was, it was a very scary moment for everyone except me, seeing as I was out of it! Thank goodness! :>)

I spent the day recovering. Mostly sleeping and thinking what the hell. Lol! The traveling visitors came to see me in the afternoon, Teresa and Patricia. From one hospital to the other, going where they are needed. Again, can you believe this is happening? OK, you have to be laughing with disbelief! This is crazy and Patricia’s friend is right, The Martinez’s are using up all the prayers!! Lol!

Today, Tuesday, December 11th…after many discussions and many doctors input, it was decided to continue with my Adriamycin but discontinue the Ifosfamide. They have also taken me off Zofran and Decadron. From my understanding, Decadron can raise my blood sugar, something we don’t need right now. Especially since there are two beliefs as to what happened yesterday. I will also be given insulin to manage the high sugars and hopefully I can reverse this when I get up and running after surgery, if it is indeed a problem.

Naturally, I am disappointed and even reconsidered their decision. Taking my chances. But as it was told to me, my odds of not beating cancer due to this change are a very small percent but my odds of going into a coma due to this toxicity which affects the brain and the neurological system are high. Death can even occur. This is the same for a diabetic coma. So, I’ll stick to this plan.

My Mesna and Adriamycin (the most important drug) were restarted today. I have also been given insulin. I believe the diabetic theory may be wrong since my sugars have somewhat normalized since I’ve been in the hospital. They are now giving me Aloxi for naseau. I am still in the hospital being monitored because of all the changes, more than likely I can go home (the apartment) tomorrow. Yes, the apartment. The Adriamycin is the chemo drug that I am administered over three days and I carry a pump in a fanny pack! I will still need to come up here for sugar monitoring each day and on Thursday I will have my chemo complete and they will disconnect the pump. Yahooo! Friday I will receive my last Neulasta shot!! Ahh, chemo comes to an end. What a feeling! Hopefully I can get a doctors approval to see my dad!

My father is hanging in there. They took him off the ventilator but has not achieved all the “milestones” as of yet. But he has some memory and even talks at times. My sisters said he is very tired, you can only imagine. He is on low doses of Morphine to help with the pain. We continue to pray!

I hope you are shopping, decorating and keeping the spirit of Christmas alive!! Sing Christmas songs, spread your love!

We miss everyone but know we will be home for the holidays! Please stop by! With ALL the luck (my dad and I), I will be home Saturday. Recovering from my chemo. We will not have to return to Michigan until January 2nd. In time for my appointments that prepare me for surgery!!