My arm has been swollen for a few weeks now. I was warned that 1 out of 10 patients that get their lymph nodes removed during surgery could possibly get lymphedema and I may be getting it. I called my onc last month when it started happening. She sent me to a new therapist, one that specializes in lymphedema. I met with her the other day and she said my right arm is 8.1 cm bigger than the other. Eventhough my right arm should be bigger because its my main arm but it shouldn't be that big. It's not good that it's like this so she's gonna be spending some time with me. And she has a lymphedema class Ill be attending.
Besides sending me to a lymphedema therapist, she also said she's sending me to get a ultrasound of my chest. She thinks there may be a blood clot caused by my port which could be making my arm swollen. STUPID PORT FROM HELL. I honestly think that they never did this port right. Up til now, the port is still red and there is a tiny bump at the end of the scar. There is a strand of stitching that was left behind and the radiology department at Kaiser refuses to take it off because they'd have to open the whole thing all over again. The part of my chest where to PFH is located also stiffens up - I feel like its having a heart attack sometimes. Freakin foolish. I cant wait to get this port out.
My nausea was worse this chemosification #4. I felt sick all day, especially in the mornings. There is nothing precious about this at all. Feeling sick to my stomach over odor, food, anything and everything. My friend Sylvia told me about Emend, this pill that takes away 95% of nausea (aka gift from God, I'd like to think) so I tell my onc about it and she says NO. She says, "Take Zofran 3 times a day. (I already do, lady.) Take Compazine and Ativan at the same time right before you eat."
Are ya freakin kidding me?
Do y'all know how many pills I've had to drink ever since I started chemo? A TONLOAD. Its getting to the point where my gag reflex has given up white flag and everythang, haven't even put the pill on my tongue and Im already gagging. It sucks, especially when you have 20 billion pills to drink just to feel better and you're nauseous on top of that. Anyway, she said no and I have no choice so work with what I have. "It is what it is..."
Last time I also mentioned that Ive been having really, really mean headaches. Ever since chemo, everytime I wake up I feel like me and the significant other might have had an altercation and he socked me on my templars because they throb like there's no tomorrow. I complained to my onc 2 months ago and I got the "it is what it is..." but she did send me to get a cat scan of my head. They finally scheduled me last Friday after a month of waiting for that appointment - funny thing is, my paperwork said STAT... are ya kidding me?? Anyway, i hope its just a really bad chemo side effect and not a tumor in my brain or something...
What else? Oh yeah, I hate the freaking sun. It hurts my skin. EVERY. FREAKING. TIME. I hate the sun. I hate the heat. I want June gloom back!
Anyway, Im feeling a lot better. I think the worst part about chemo is being stuck on the bed, feeling so helpless and useless. Plus, the list of foods I may never be able to eat again ever in my life is getting longer.
PS. I was at Chuck E Cheese yesterday and this 7 year old girl sees me fix my bandana in the bathroom. She looks at me in the mirror, in horror. I thought she was gonna look away but she turned around and looked at me dead in the eye - "Why do you have that on your head?"
What would YOU have said??
Cause when I opened my mouth, the best thing I came up with was that it was hot... then I ran out. Awkward, right? Let's just say I didn't use the bathroom until we got home that day!
3 comments:
Dude... That's some bullshit. Your doctor should be giving you what YOU need to not be nauseated at all times. Zofran doesn't work on everyone, he should be trying something else. Chemo sucks, but you should be afforded every possible option to make it suck less. I'm going to mount up and fly over to Cali and give him a piece of my mind girl!!! Hope you are feeling a little better today.
I had the same kind of bull going on with my chemo.The doctor who had been there for fifteen years was suddenly retired and some new guy comes.Not! they had rotating oncologist that were from all over the country.Yuck!On my very first Chemo the doc forgot to give me the drug to come done off the chemo.I was sick for five days. It felt like I was going threw drug rehab and I had hit the wall ,it was so bad.At my next appointment he said OH I forgot ,I'm sorry. That doesn't help when your going through hell.On my very next visit the same guy came back and questioned me about my hair. I said how does that have to do with my Chemo. He said if women color there hair they are at risk for BRAINCANCER!Shouting it to me. That scared the crap out of me.After my Chemo ended I had about three weeks before my Radiation. I was asking the Radiation oncologist how much radiation will I be getting and he said it's what ever the doctor ordered. I said that is not right, you should disclose the amount so people can weigh the benefits.I also asked the oncolgist about the possibility of a new cancer returning caused by the Chemo(leukemia)He yelled at me thinking I was an idiot and said there's no proof. I turned around and left .I cried all the way home.
Middle of the night and I am feeling your frustrations. Hope things are getting a little better and that your nausea is clearing. I thought you were done after four treatments but see you have two left. Staying strong is easier said than done but I hope you can.
SallyK
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