131: You Can't Spell Chemo Without...

We'll need to rewind a few days. On Thurday or Friday, perhaps during an intense ping pong battle, i twisted my lower back. Sure, it hurt over the weekend but on Monday evening, I couldn't even move. I swear to you I had to crawl out of my bed and down the hall to get to the bathroom. It was that bad. And Tuesday was even worse. I was useless at work. I even had to leave early...

This morning, it was no better. Bending over to put on socks was impossible, so i had to just push my way into my shoes. Getting to the bathroom to brush my teeth took twenty excruciating minutes. Getting into the car was more like falling over into the seat, hoping that, like a trust quilt or something, i would be safely caught. I was. It still hurt. In the few months now that i've been going to the oncologist, i've never arrived feeling sick in the slightest. That all changed today as i hobbled and shuffled my way through the door. Sure, it has nothing to do with lymphoma, but i'm a-hurtin' so gimme dem drugs. It is 8 AM.

First order of business. I get weighed (with all my clothes, shoes, mega-bling): 190. And then i step slowly and painfully over to the chair where blood will be drawn. Blood pressure fine, pulse fine, temperature fine, red blood cell count fine, white blood cell count fine, platelets fine. I am escorted into the chemo-room. A large area with comfy leather recliners, each next to an IV tree, a table with kleenex, a bunch of chairs, etc. I choose the one in the furthest corner. My mom wanted to come hang out with me, bless her soul, so she pulls up with a nice breakfast sammich, some coffee, and a bunch of sodoku puzzles. I was hooked but i've tapered.

The next order of business. It's 9:15 AM. In goes the IV, wrapped up tight with a nice smiley face bandage. I get a saline solution drip and a quick push of benadryl. Feeling fine until the benadryl kicks in. I"m lightheaded and i can barely talk. it's as if i'm summoning words from a different section of my chest and my lips don't exactly remember how to mouth it out. Is this supposed to happen? Guess so. Meanwhile, my back is aching terribly and i can't even get comfortable enough to close my eyes and snooze. Woe is me.



First on the menu is Rituxum and they are giving it to me slow to make sure no odd side effects come on. They'll gradually up the dose every 45 minutes or so. Sometime during the first stages of that, i fell asleep. I woke up to the alarm on my IV tree and literally jumped out of the seat. much to the dissapproval of my aching back. This all happened in quick succession. Imagine it. Ding! I jump up! I moan because of the back! My hands are numb! The nurse asks "are you itchy?" Confused, i say no. And she leaves. Immediately after she said that... i got itchy. My head. My ears. My arms. My chest... I was going to tough it out until my mom noticed the sides of my face turning red. She called the nurse over. I had broken out in itchy hives. Common side effect. Enter a side dish of some steroid. Treatment begins again.

This goes on for FIVE hours and we haven't even gotten to the good stuff. The actual chemo. It's called Vincristin and before we jump there, i have to receive an anti-nausea med and some atavan. While that's going in, we talk about Vin's side effects. The nurse matter of factly says "you'll lose all of your hair from head to toe." Esscuse me? The doctor said it would only thin. But oh well. Better start looking for hats. Or clown wigs. I should expect that in about 2 weeks. Other exciting side effects that will come on slow: nausea (got pills for this), constipation (pills), fatigue... and also an increased chance of catching infection... hence i'm getting a white blood cell boosting shot on friday so i'll be all good for my trip next week. I'm going on a trip next week. Didn't tell you? I will...

So, the vincristine gets pushed in after i sign the release form and then comes another drip: cytoxin and THAT goes for an hour and a half. I'm outta there around 4:30. One down, three to go.



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In other news, I'm aware that the City On Film website is on the blink. I'm trying to figure out the best way to bring it back to life. Doesn't help that i don't actually own the domain name. Or the webspace... I'm considering starting a whole new website. Something that could encompass everything. City On Film PLUS. More thinking to be done.