Day 5 & 6 - A Bitch!!!

Day 5                                    23 June2013

Action                                    Woke at around 6.00am. Temperature was 36 7. Temperature at 7pm 

                                               was 35.4.
Drugs                                     Took anti nausea meds at four hourly intervals through out the day 

                                               combined with hot water and ginger in excess of 2 litres to combat       

                                               nausea and flush chemo effects. Horrible day with the worst effects so 

                                               far. Felt very ill, tired and uncomfortable, sweating and chills. 

Outcome                               Got through the day ......just.

Sleep                                     Same as last night.  Poor quality sleep. Woke frequently with temperature 

                                              changes and chills . Extremely cold despite adequate clothing and 

                                              bedding.                                              
_______________________________________________________________________________

Day 6                                     24 June 2013

Action                                    Woke at 5.30am

Temperature                          Took temperature at 7.30am. 35.3 degrees. Temperature at 7pm was

                                                35.7 degrees

Drugs                                    Light breakfast with anti nausea drugs throughout the day.

                                      

Outcome                              Extremely bad day feeling fatigue, nausea and constant temperature shifts

Sleep                                    Again felt very cold throughout the night and woke continuously with chills  

                                              followed immediately by surge in temperature and hot flush. 

                                              Uncomfortable and disrupted night sleep.

_______________________________________________________

                                             

Cycle 2 Days 3 & 4 - Starting to feel Average

Day 3                                     21 June2013

Action                                    Woke at around 6.00am. temperature was 36 4. Temperature at 7pm 

                                               was 35.2.
Drugs                                     Took anti nausea meds at four hourly intervals through out the day 

                                               combined with hot water and ginger in excess of 2 litres to combat       

                                               nausea and flush chemo effects. Bruising mid way up arm from chemo

                                              was slightly swollen in the morning but went down during course of the

                                              day but was still very sore up to near shoulder. 

Outcome                               Felt ok throughout day but towards evening became extremely tired.

Sleep                                     Poor quality sleep. Woke frequently with temperature changes and 

                                              chills . Extremely cold despite adequate clothing and bedding. 

                                             
_______________________________________________________________________________

Day 4                                     22 June 2013

Action                                    Woke at 6.30am

Temperature                          Took temperature at 7.30am. 36.40 degrees. Temperature at 7pm was

                                                36.1 degrees

Drugs                                    Light breakfast with anti nausea drugs throughout the day.

                                      

Outcome                              Extremely bad day feeling fatigue, nausea and constant temperature shifts

Sleep                                    Again felt very cold throughout the night and woke continuously with chills   

                                              followed immediately by surge in temperature and hot flush. 

                                              Uncomfortable and disrupted night sleep.

                                             

Second Cycle Days 1 & 2 - Got the process down pat!

Day 1                                     19 June2013

Action                                    Commence Chemo treatment at 1pm at Chemotherapy Day Unit

Drugs                                     One Hour saline for hydration mixed with anti nausea medication 
                                               including Aprepitant, Dexamethasone, Granisetron and Metoclopramide
                                               Chemo commenced at 1.45 Gravity fed Epirubicin for 20 minutes.   
                                               Followed by pump powered Fluriuracil and then Cyclophosphamide.
                                               Chemo infusion ended at just after 3.50pm.  Took home anti-nauseau of
                                               metoclopramide and dexamethasone for home management.

Outcome                               Went home and took temperature which was 35.1 degrees.
                                              Over the next few hours not obvious effects other than weariness . 
                                              Legs became very heavy. Started drinking hot water and ginger but didnt
                                              urinate as frequently as I would have expected given quantity of water 
                                              consumed. No nausea at all. Had a reasonable appetite but only a light 
                                              pasta. Went to bed and slept soundly until woken feeling extremely cold.
                                              Had felt very cold during chemo treatment and wondered about           
                                              any connection or simply a bloody cold night. Had beanie on but still cold. 
                                              Went back to sleep at 2.30pm warm and slept ok.

                                             
_______________________________________________________________________________

Day 2                                     20 June 2013

Action                                    Woke at 6.15am

Temperature                          Took temperature at 7.30am. 35.0 degrees. Temperature at 7pm was
                                                36.0 degrees

Drugs                                     Awoke with sligght nausea. Took two dexamethasone with light breakfast 

                                               of two weetbix and cup of tea.

                                      

Outcome                              Had sandwich for lunch and consumed two litres of water by mid morning.

                                              Feeling low level nausea but active, mobile and motivated. 

                                              Metallic taste in mouth and also taste similar to fake sugar such as
                                              saccharine. Getting weary around 7pm.

Sleep                                     Again felt very cold throughout the night and woke continuously with chills  
                                              followed immediately by surge in temperature and hot flush.
                                              Uncomfortable and disrupted night sleep.
                                             

Last Week before 2nd Cycle - hair loss started 7 days prior to 2nd chemo

Day 13 to Day 21               11 June - 19 June 2013

Action                                   All activities undertaken as though nothing was wrong at all. Occassional 

                                              small ulcers and gum sensitivity. Felt in great physical health.  On the Thursday (13th)

                                              noticed hair loss in shower. Subsequent days has become more in quantity and 

                                              have sesnitive scalp.  Drinking up to 2 litres per day of warm water and fresh ginger

                                              to combat mouth taste - works very well.                          

Temperature                          Temperature each day was under 37 degrees. 

Drugs                                     No drugs taken at all.

                                                                            

Outcome                               Hair loss noticeable.

Sleep                                     Slept very well each night with only minor disturbances from hot flushes 

                                          

                        

                                             

_______________________________________________________________________________                          

Day 9 - 12 Feeling Wonderful

Day 9 to Day 12                   7 June - 10 June 2013

Action                                    Was able to do light housework, have massage, walk dogs. 

                                               Went for dinner, saw friends, had accupuncture. Very standard usual activities.                             

Temperature                          Temperature each day was under 37 degrees. 

Drugs                                     Had some slight pressure around rear hairline and neck so light massage

                                               and a few panadol solved the problem. Had light headaches for small periods.

                                               Didnt need any anti-nausea medication but continued anti-biotics as prescribed.

                                                                            

Outcome                               Vile taste in mouth persisted but ginger and hot water (2 litres per day)

                                               minimises this and nausea. Had some diarrohea on Day 9 and then have 

                                               developed a couple of small ulcers in mouth and some tenderness in parts 

                                               of gums. Had a deep tissue massage on Friday which relieved lower back pain and
                                              the feeling of pressure aound my hairline. Also did some neck exercises that
                                              my accupuncturist recommended. Havent moved my bowels for a few days and of an eve                                        evening suffer from vile smelling flatulence.         

Sleep                                     Slept very well each night with only minor disturbances from hot flushes 

                                               and toilet trips

                        

                                             

_______________________________________________________________________________                          

Days 7 & 8 Coming Good - Very Good

Day 7                                       5 June 2013

Action                                    Woke at 7.00 am from a poor night sleep again.

Temperature                          Took temperature at 7.00am. 35.1degrees. Temperature at 7pm was

                                                35.9

Drugs                                     Took one metoclopramide with light breakfast of one weetbix and

                                               cup of tea, continued taking anti nausea at 4 hourly intervals and started

                                               antibiotic course (3 a day for seven days)

                                      

Outcome                               Although felt nauseaous throughout the day but by later afternoon

                                              started to feel much better. 

Sleep                                     Slept very well with only minor disturbances from hot flushes and toilet trips

                        

                                             

______________________________________________________________________________

Day 8                                     6 June 2013

Action                                    Woke at 7.00 am feeling better than previous days

Temperature                          Took temperature at 7.00am. 35.0 degrees. Temperature at 7pm was

                                                34.8

Drugs                                    No Nausea tablet, a  light breakfast of one weetbix and

                                               cup of tea, anti-biotic.

                                      

Outcome                               No nausea. Drank hot water and ginger throughout day to meet 

                                               2 litre per day target which I have met each day. Eating well but 

                                               only want two or three meals a day. No snacking. And smaller than usual.

                                               Had a glass of wine (first since treatment). Feell very good.

Sleep                                     Great quality night sleep.                            

Day 5 & 6 Exhausting & Uncomfortable

Day 5                                       3 June 2013

Action                                    Woke at 6.30 am from a poor night sleep

Temperature                          Took temperature at 7.00am. 35.8 degrees. Temperature at 7pm was

                                                34.3

Drugs                                     Took one metoclopramide with light breakfast of one weetbix and

                                               cup of tea, continued taking anti nausea at 4 hourly intervals.

                                      

Outcome                               Went to Peter Mac to check left breast. Was inflammed and sore so 

                                               required expiration. Around 40 mls extracted from breast. Mike He 

                                               prescribed antibiotics called cefalexin x 3 times daily. If not rectified.

                                               head back to Peter Mac for intraveneous anitbiotics. Bowel and bladder

                                               working fine.

Sleep                                     Went to bed and slept very poorly. Hot flushes and cold chills.

                        

                                             

______________________________________________________________________________

Day 6                                      4 June 2013

Action                                    Woke at 7.00 am from poor night sleep. Very tired.

Temperature                          Took temperature at 7.00am. 34.5degrees. Temperature at 7pm was

                                                33.5

Drugs                                     Took one metoclopramide with light breakfast of one weetbix and

                                               cup of tea, anti-biotic and continued with both throughout the day.

                                      

Outcome                               Light housework and then lunch and a nap. Feel ok.

Sleep                                     Poor quality night sleep. Lots of flushes and toilet (urine) trips                                         

Day 3 & 4 - Pleasantly weary but getting worse

Day 3                                       1 June 2013

Action                                    Woke at 6.15am from good night sleep

Temperature                          Took temperature at 7.00am. 35.6 degrees. Temperature at 7pm was
                                                35.9

Drugs                                     Took two dexamethasone with light breakfast of two weetbix and

                                               cup of tea.

                                      

Outcome                               Feeling slightly weary most of morning and took opportunity to lie in and  
                                               read the papers. Left breast still red, hard and swollen. Will monitor over 
                                               weekend and head to Peter Mac breast clinic first thing Monday. Had a 
                                               steak sandwich as a late lunch was delicious and ate the lot. Couldnt eat 
                                               for rest of the day though as nausea increased. Drank weak black tea with 
                                              ginger, a litre of mineral water and two litres of plain water. 

Sleep                                     Went to bed and slept very well. Woke early.

                        
                                             

______________________________________________________________________________

Day 4                                       2 June 2013

Action                                    Woke at 7.00 am from good night sleep

Temperature                          Took temperature at 7.00am. 35.5 degrees. Temperature at 7pm was

                                                36.5

Drugs                                     Took one metoclopramide with light breakfast of one weetbix and

                                               cup of tea, and two crumpets at 7.30am and again at 11.15am to combat 

                                               the nausea. 

                                      

Outcome                               Feeling very weary most of morning but had shower and walked dogs.  

                                              Left breast still red, hard and swollen. Will definitely go to 

                                               Peter Mac breast clinic first thing Monday. 

Sleep                                     Initially a good night sleep until around midnight and then an extremely 
                                              disturbed sleep until morning. Frequent surges in temperature change
                                              with hot flashes followed by chills.  Very uncomfortable.