Fast forward two weeks post chemo and I wanted to do a Tony Soprano and order a hit on my so very clearly understated oncologist!! But more of that later.
On the day of the chemo, the nurse gave me plenty of water to promote the veins responsiveness and also applied some heat packs. The line went in with minimal discomfort but I have been left with a long and persistent bruise running the full length from wrist to elbow that the pathology nurse suggested I point this out to the people at Peter Mac.
The Docetaxel went in without any allergic reaction, for which I had taken cortisteroids the evening and morning before to minimise such possibility. As Ian had indicated, I spent the next three days on a "speed-like" high, for which my filing system, the taxation department, my linen press, bathroom cupboard and many other oft deferred jobs, will be forever grateful.
By Saturday night the soles of my feet started to really hurt. By Sunday I was comprehensively in the grip of this ghastly stuff. My feet felt like thick, tender pieces of rump steak at the end of my legs. The surface of my soles felt very piece of grit on the floor as if it was a sharp pin. I also began to experience pins and needles in my feat and hands.
By mid afternoon Sunday I didn't so much as have cankles as I had thankles!!! The swelling was such that there was only negligible discernable difference between my thighs and my ankles. To say that this made walking difficult is an understatement. I had no confidence in my ability to stand for any length of time and started to shuffle like a very old person. The swelling and awkward gait lasted until Wednesday of that week. Additionally from Monday to Wednesday, I was unable to get up from either bed or couch unassisted. I had no strength to lift myself up at all and needed assistance to walk to the bathroom or to bed.
In addition to a persistent shortness of breath and constantly running nose, I experienced an awful thick white film over my gums and teeth for about five days.
By far the worst symptom though was experienced in my legs and feet. In addition to the swelling, it was as if I had been connected up to an electrical current that was sent randomly and continuously to all areas of my. Legs but with particular focus from my knees to and including my feet. I felt occassional shocks of current in my arms and torso but it was agonising in my lower limbs.
Sleep was extremely rare so I was exhausted and a number of times I woke crying in pain. Throughout the daytimes of Sunday to Thursday, I cried a lot with the pain and do not feel that I can go through a similar experience without something more effective than Nurafin. To mine, it seemed that the Nurafin had a negligible impact on reducing the pain to any manageable level. I am very concerned about my ability to handle this again, especially as I now know what to expect and also the fact that Ian has indicated that the second time is likely to be worse that the first.
By Friday, nine days after the chemo I had started to improve but still felt extremely tired and drained from the process. The runny nose and shortness of breath continued- very noticeable on a short walk just taking the dogs around the block, and Walsh walking to and from the footy this weekend.
By the weekend I had improved, but my legs felt a residual soreness and tenderness. In what must be the best definition of irony, I ended up with an infection arising from an ingrown hair in my labia, where chemo treatment had left me hairless!!!! My temperature rose to 37.8 on Saturday night and rather than have a first year Emergency Department resident slice or dice my bits, I opted to stay at home and take the antibiotics left over from my previous infection and wait until Monday morning to see my GP and/or Ian if necessary. This proved to be an ok strategy as by the time I saw her and she consulted with Ian, things were back in control. A further course of antibiotics has fixed the problem.
So now I am heading to see Ian today to discuss how to best manage the next cycle.
