72. 3rd chemo

Cycle 2 side effects

Severe vomiting (Unable to keep any fluids down for more than 30 mins)
Vomiting from 7pm on day of chemo. Hourly for 36 hours
and then every 3 or 4 hours for a further 36 hours

Moderate to severe headache
Hot and cold sweats for vomiting period
Moderate sore throat
Day 3/4/5 moderate to severe pain in stomach (from previous ulcer?)


Cycle 3

This is hard.  Even thinking about it makes me feel sick.  But...

Got to the hospital on time.  Had to wait an hour, which was annoying because it took a lot for me to psych myself up to it in the first place.  When finally I was taken through into the chemo suite, it was packed.  One nurse off sick. 

I'd had the local anaesthetic cream on my hand for 2 hours by the time the nurse got to me.  She was disorganised and chaotic and didn't inspire confidence.  She didn't bother with the hot water to dilate my veins and put the cannula straight in, complaining about the quality of the vein.  Duh.

I waited about another 30 mins and a different nurse (thank goodness) came over.  I gave her my pre-typed list of symptoms (above) and she went away.  After another wait of half an hour, she came back with a pill (Emend) for me.  I had to take it and wait another hour.  I didn't hold out much hope of it reducing my level of nausea. 

When finally she came to start my chemo, I already felt sick.  As she gave it, I felt sicker and sicker.  Eventually, I asked for a sick bowl.  The thought of throwing up in front of loads of other people was mortifying but...

The injections went in slowly.  The saline drip wasn't clearing easily and she had to keep waiting.  But eventually it was done.  I was given the usual anti sickness drugs and an additional two pill of Emend to take home. 

We went back to R's.  I sat on the sofa and dozed (thankfully).  When I woke up at about 9.30 I took some sickness meds and went to bed. 

No vomiting!