Wednesday, May 24, 2006
Second Verse, Same as the First (reprise)
I've been here before. I've been to a second dose of chemotherapy. The last time I had a second dose of chemotherapy I didn't suddenly have trouble breathing, have to have the treatment temporarily stopped, be given oxygen, and then have the treatment team paged.
Apparently Taxol can do that to you. I had some kind of reaction (which they assured me was not uncommon) and that I'd probably be fine and never have that reaction again. they gave me some benadryl to be on the safe side. It was very weird; it felt like my lungs just weren't working and my face turned beet red. I certainly hope it doesn't happen again; it delayed things and I ended up not getting out of there until after 6 p.m. I don't know why it is all of my appointments have to take so long.
The other day at Dr. Rodriguez's office, a patient showed up with a very demanding parent/guardian who insisted that the patient be seen despite not being in the system as having an appointment. We could hear the entire conversation through the walls, and I think his being there caused something of an uproar, disrupted the schedule, and I ended up being the last patient out of the office. Why? Why me? Do I need to be a squeakier wheel? Should I complain more? Should I loftily proclaim I will leave or threaten legal action if I'm not seen now? Those options aren't appealing; I think most people are just trying to do their jobs and don't want to be harangued. It's just that I'm getting a little tired of being passed over and having things run later than they ought.
My dose of 1 chemotherapy drug actually also involves a drug designed to inhibit new blood vessel growth (this is something tumors like to do...they nest somewhere and set up their own blood supply...little f#$%ers), which naturally have to be delivered separately. Then of course, to help with nausea, I am given some anti-nausea meds beforehand, two in pill form and one intraveinously, which delays the chemo. Then of course there are bags of saline to "flush" and since I had an episode, benadryl and more saline. Everything adds up to me sitting there forever. Blargh. I don't know what Brian did while I was sleeping. My mom had a book with her before she left for her yoga class.
Then of course the ride is long to get home. They are going to start offering infusions at the Canton health center, which will be much more convenient (I hope).
Apparently Taxol can do that to you. I had some kind of reaction (which they assured me was not uncommon) and that I'd probably be fine and never have that reaction again. they gave me some benadryl to be on the safe side. It was very weird; it felt like my lungs just weren't working and my face turned beet red. I certainly hope it doesn't happen again; it delayed things and I ended up not getting out of there until after 6 p.m. I don't know why it is all of my appointments have to take so long.
The other day at Dr. Rodriguez's office, a patient showed up with a very demanding parent/guardian who insisted that the patient be seen despite not being in the system as having an appointment. We could hear the entire conversation through the walls, and I think his being there caused something of an uproar, disrupted the schedule, and I ended up being the last patient out of the office. Why? Why me? Do I need to be a squeakier wheel? Should I complain more? Should I loftily proclaim I will leave or threaten legal action if I'm not seen now? Those options aren't appealing; I think most people are just trying to do their jobs and don't want to be harangued. It's just that I'm getting a little tired of being passed over and having things run later than they ought.
My dose of 1 chemotherapy drug actually also involves a drug designed to inhibit new blood vessel growth (this is something tumors like to do...they nest somewhere and set up their own blood supply...little f#$%ers), which naturally have to be delivered separately. Then of course, to help with nausea, I am given some anti-nausea meds beforehand, two in pill form and one intraveinously, which delays the chemo. Then of course there are bags of saline to "flush" and since I had an episode, benadryl and more saline. Everything adds up to me sitting there forever. Blargh. I don't know what Brian did while I was sleeping. My mom had a book with her before she left for her yoga class.
Then of course the ride is long to get home. They are going to start offering infusions at the Canton health center, which will be much more convenient (I hope).
Labels: allergy, Avastin, Brian, chemo, Dr. Rodriguez, infusion, mom, nausea, Taxol
