Monday (last Monday, not today): My throat was not feeling any better, but it wasn't feeling worse either, so I decided to go to my Mediport placement as planned. After telling them my sob story from the day before, they decided that the oral antibiotics plus the IV ones that had been ordered would be enough to keep whatever crud was invading at bay during and after the procedure. About that. I was told the placement would be done under conscious sedation, meaning you're technically awake, but don't feel anything and sometimes don't even remember having it done. I've had it before for a central line placement, and trust me, it made me loopy enough to have a very in depth discussion about Smurfs with the radiologist. This time? Not so much. I was very much awake, and decidedly not comfortable throughout the entire procedure. I felt everything. It's really something to actually hear someone ask for a scalpel and seconds later feeling said scalpel rip through your chest flesh. On the plus side, because the meds didn't work (at all), I had very little to recover from. So, I was discharged and back home and resting within an hour after. And the placement was a success...so there's that. Jerks.
Tuesday: I woke up feeling worse than I can remember feeling in a very long time...and that's saying something. The pain in my throat was excruciating. Swallowing, talking and even breathing created a pain I wasn't aware existed in throat form. My entire mouth and throat were swollen, and I had a giant swollen ball of something under my tongue. I also could not keep my eyes open. I was falling asleep sitting up with the lights on, and for those that know me well, that never happens. Somehow, I managed to get myself showered, and out the door to the ER (I realized about halfway there that I probably shouldn't have driven myself...too late.). I was seen relatively quickly, and the doctor took one look in my mouth and declared it was the most severe mouth/throat infection he had seen in awhile. Awesome. They took some blood (all was normal, well, normal for me), gave me IV fluids and antibiotics, and sent me home with a pretty hefty oral antibiotic. Turns out I was there for a fairly long time, but I slept through most of it which passed the time well!
Wednesday: Wednesday was to be the day of firsts, and ended up being the day of jack squat. Radiation was my first stop, and the first thing they tell me is that I wouldn't be having treatment that day because my "treatment plan wasn't complete/signed off on"...whatever that meant. What I did get to do was lay on the treatment table for an hour (my appointment was scheduled for 1/2 hour, mind you), while they adjusted and drew more lines and pictures on me. When all was said and done, though, they said I was good to start Thursday, and I was now over an hour late for my appointment with Dr. B upstairs. My tardiness didn't seem to matter much, however, because it didn't take Dr. B long to decided that I was too sick to start chemo. I was pretty bummed, but expected as much. I was mostly frustrated because Jen had switched her schedule around to spend the day with me, and it was turning out to be a complete bust. All was not lost, though, Jen raided a local farmer's market, finally unpacked my juicer that had been sitting in its' box for months, and got me juicing! Lesson learned: bok choy is not good...ever.
Thursday: My throat was starting to feel a bit better, but I still wasn't able to get down any solid food. Radiation was definitely a go, though, so I headed into my first treatment. I wasn't really sure what to expect. Basically, the two things they tell you are: it's painless and it doesn't take very long. Both of those things are true. What they don't tell you? You can actually feel the heat as the machine makes it's way around you, and the room has a faint smell of burnt flesh when they're done. Fun times!
Friday-Saturday: With the exception of radiation on Friday, I didn't leave my apartment at all these two days. Saturday, in particular, I was feeling exceptionally craptastic. In addition to still not being able to swallow solids, I was running fevers with sweats/chills, nonstop nausea, vomiting, the whole nine yards.
Sunday: Jen and family to the rescue...again! The nausea and vomiting had stopped, and finally my appetite returned. Sadly, I still couldn't swallow anything more than applesauce. But Jen's grandma sent over some yummy mushroom soup, yogurt, and jello that hit the spot. Then, Jen slaved over a hot stove to make me some veggie broth that was surprisingly amazing! By the end of the day, I was rehydrated, finally had some nutrients in my belly, and feeling much better in comparison to the rest of the week.
Monday (today): I had a follow-up with Dr. B this morning, and again, I had the feeling chemo was going to be nixed...and I was right. His biggest concern was the fever with chills, and that I hadn't eaten solids in over a week. He put me on another antibiotic, and started me back on the thrush medication I had been on in case the antibiotics had caused that to resurface. I've only had one pill so far, but I think it may be working...I only kind of choked on the antibiotic tonight...progress! They were able to access my port for blood, though, and it seems to be in good working condition for whenever we do get this party started. Radiation today was uneventful other than the fact that the techs are obsessed with my hot pink flippy floppies. Old Navy, ladies, I don't know how many times I have to tell you!!
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