So This is the Bone Pain

Silly me to think that I might not recognize it. Talk about discomfort. Painful. Worthy of prescription pain meds. Yuck.

I woke this morning at 4:44 a.m., extremely uncomfortable. My back hurt, and I thought I had just slept funny. Til I woke fully and realized this was a new sensation, right where Nurse Lesley said it would be. Lower back, pelvic area. I went downstairs and heated my lavender and flax filled heating pad thingy in the microwave, and tried that for awhile. When I found myself still awake and uncomfortable 45 minutes later, I decided a tubby was in order.

So I filled the tub and finished off my book club book, then shampooed my hair and even shaved my legs. All before 6:00 a.m. Efficient.

Popped tylenol as well, because that's recommended as the starting point. I was told that many people take prescription pain meds. While we have some in the house and I still have an unfilled prescription from my recent surgery, I'd rather not go there. The only thing I've been taking has been the pepcid for heartburn, and of course tylenol. But I needed to keep the heat on most of the day and I found walking and standing at times unbearable. Not to mention that I'm moving much slower.

I searched a bit online for some information on neulasta side effects and how different people handled them. Some people surprisingly found relief from Claritin (not D) and others said Ibuprofen or Naproxen did the trick. I think I'll try the Ibuprofen and see if it's a bit more effective.

On a positive note, I'm not really having trouble eating, but rather just finding foods that are appealing. So like when I was pregnant with Gaby 10 years ago. Even the same time of year. And so much alike, that, when Nick suggested DQ Blizzards last night in honour of National Ice Cream Day, we did! Banana Split Blizzard with Vanilla Ice Cream. Got a wee bit of fruit there!

So I'm missing this:

My spices. Seasonings. Food with lots of TASTE! I did have some chips and salsa today. I sampled a bit at Fresh Market earlier when I was in search of tea biscuits (which I didn't find) and I brought some of that Sarah's Salsa home.

I'm finding beverages that are working for me:

Water, of course, V8's tasting yummy and I think I've have to stock up on that skinny sport water. It's good and goes down easy, which will be important for round 2, where my goal is to try extreme hydration right after the chemo. It's supposed to make you feel better sooner. Worth a try.

I also know that walking will make me feel better, but until I get this bone pain under better control, I can't see that happening. Mall walking might be in order, to get out of this oppressive humidity, but probably closer to the end of the week.

I have my appointment with Dr. N tomorrow. I would imagine she'll be checking my blood to see where I'm at. Sometimes I feel a bit feverish, but everytime I've taken my temp, it's been close enough to normal that I don't have to worry. I'm interested to see how tomorrow goes.

For tonight, I'm popping that Ibuprofen, warming my heating pad, and turning in early.

The Day After Chemo and The Day After That

Have been pretty much what I was expecting. Blah!

Nurse Betty recommended that I take the Lorazepam Tuesday night, to sleep. With all of the stuff pumped into me on Tuesday, apparently I wouldn't have slept well without it. Not taking any chances, I took the pill and slept for over 8 hours. Marc said he tried to have a conversation with me around 5 a.m., but I was incoherent and don't recall a word. The drugs did their trick.

So Wednesday and Thursday have been pretty mundane. Steroids again Wednesday, anti-nausea meds all day. Regular breakfast of granola cereal and blueberries, but by lunch time I felt like nothing more than some snap peas and apples sauce. Separately, of course!

Gaby spent the afternoon with her friend Rose, Nick just hung out at home, and I had an expected visited from Nurse Lesley, with my Neulasta injection. I should also mention that Nurse Tara, who tended to me during me chemo, called on Wednesday morning, to see how I was doing. I'm feeling well taken care of.

Nurse Lesley had also called in the morning to schedule her visit, to deliver the Neulasta  and teach me how to inject it. The plan was originally for Marc to inject it, but he couldn't make it home at the appointed time, and I felt confident enough to give it a go.

And that's why there's no pictures! I was fully prepared to snap a photo of Marc administering the shot, but since it was me, first of all, I had no free hands, and secondly, the easiest place to self-inject was into my belly roll. And no one wants to see that!

She was here for about an hour, going over the paperwork, required medical history, checking my vitals, all of that stuff. She also had the practical information about the injections. That each of them costs -- gulp!! --  $3250.00. For ONE injection. And that our insurance would pay 90%. That still means that the 4 shots would be $1300 out pocket. Crazy! Though I believe we've used up most of my $1000 in network deductible and that's where our 10% would come from. It remains to be seen just how much all of this is costing. It's also interesting to see the statements from insurance company indicating the actual costs of all this treatment. Astronomical.

I also had to sign a form saying something to the effect that I would take good care of the additional dose left here to be used after my second chemo, that I wouldn't sell it, that sort of thing. If it does what it's supposed to do, it's invaluable to me, so I think I'll keep it!

There was enough of Liz's yummy chicken dinner left to feed the family. Me, I just had some rice pudding. Boring, but all I felt like eating. Reminds me of early pregnancy.

Wednesday was much the same. Since one of the anti-nausea meds causes drowsiness, that's the one that is recommended for bedtime use. I don't think it helped me sleep as much as the lorazepam, but it was effective enough. I dozed off and on once Marc got up, but didn't crawl out of bed til, oh, 10ish. Granola and fresh blueberries for breakfast, but it's not tasting as good today. I could tell right away I needed the anti-nausea meds again, so I popped one of those.

Yesterday, I was drinking mostly green tea with mint, but today I opted for ice water with lime. That seems to go down better, and I've been advised that keeping myself hydrated, especially the first days following chemo, is key to feeling better sooner.

Yesterday morning I didn't feel too bad, but by afternoon, the meds made me drowsy, and that lingered all day. So today, I stuck to the one anti-nausea pill that didn't list drowsiness as a side effect. Still feeling nauseated and just kind of out of it.  Gaby hung out with the Smith's and Jess came over to keep Nick company. I did manage to get to the post office to finally post Pier's package,  and picked up some ground beef at Joe's. To make Hamburger Helper. Gross, I know, but just like when I was pregnant with both Nick and Gaby, it's something I feel like eating. Never at any other time, but obviously it's something I can handle with my tummy in this delicate condition. Nick was rolling his eyes at me. Couldn't believe I was not only making it, but going to eat it. But it went down real good.

This 'delicate tummy' also frustated me when my friend Sue delivered a delectible London broil for dinner, with mushroom gravy, baked white and sweet potatoes with toppings for both, and delicious salad. She came back about an hour later with a forgotten dessert, Toll House Pie. Everything smelled so good, and looked so good, but I just couldn't eat right now. So frustrated, but happy that my family is well fed! All I had was the baked potatoes, but the family enjoyed everything and the kids declared that pie awesome! Thanks Sue, for taking such good care of us.

That's where I'm at two days after chemo. Just where I thought I would be.