Last time I had an infusion, I had a reaction. With taxol, reactions tend to happen within the first ten minutes that the infusion of it starts. Because of how things went last time for me -- a reaction -- the medical people had jotted down some things they would do differently this time to try to avoid a problem. Patty and I both knew the plan, as Patty had been my driver last time as well. (She has always stayed with me the entire time the days she was my driver.)
So, I had my cup of "starter pills" to gulp down first. This time that was followed by a bag drip of Benadryl. The purpose of the larger dose was to offset a possible reaction like I had last time. So far, so good -- although Patty and I had already had one of our usual chuckles because my port was again a nuisance, giving the nurse grief who was trying to get that little bit of blood return she needs to see to know the port is open to the vein. Rarely has my port been cooperative through all of this, and at times I thought they were going to make me stand on my head . . . not really. It sometimes took a few tries to get that blood return.
Next came the taxol. As usual, Patty and I were watching HGTV in the little room and chatting. All of a sudden I felt very warm. I asked Patty about it. She said that my face was starting to turn red. Well, we knew what was happening, and so she went out to get help for me. The nurse comes running in (not Nergiz, as she was visiting her family in Turkey for a few weeks) and shuts off the taxol. Because I had already had an extra dose of Benadryl, a different drug was brought in. I think I heard them say demoral. Like last time, I would have a drip of this medicine. Then the taxol would be tried. If things went well, we would continue. If I reacted again, we would be done for the day and I would have to come back the following week.
Once again I had Patty hold off on going to get our lunch and bringing it back. If I was going to have yet another reaction, then we'd be on our way home.
The demoral was done, and the taxol was re-started. The drip was slowed considerably for the first ten minutes. Since that went without a problem, the drip rate was increased a little more -- but not what it was (not that it was all that fast). I sent Patty off to get our lunch and bring it back. As before, I ordered something that would hold all right, if I were to fall asleep before she got back. I had been told that my having a bag of Benadryl and then one of demoral was sure to put me to sleep.
The rest of the infusion went on without any problems. I amazed the staff with the fact that I was not in the least bit drowsy from those drugs they had given me to offset the reaction. Patty and I had arrived at the office for a 10:00 am start; we did not leave until after 4:00 pm. That did not matter to me because I WAS DONE WITH CHEMO!!!! My medical people congratulated me and sent me on my way.
Because my white blood count had been good throughout my weeks of chemo, I did not have to return Tuesday for a neulasta shot. I thought that this would be an interesting test, seeing if that was what was causing my bone and joint pain the weekend after the shot.
My next visit there will be a follow-up appointment. Before that one, I will have another CT scan to check on the small spots that caused my chemo start to be delayed a week. Probably that is when I will be put on hormonal therapy, something I will be doing for the next five years.
God is amazing! I stayed on schedule all the way through, after that initial one-week delay. I think Dennis and I will be set for our trip next week (Thursday-Sunday) to Lancaster and then on to southern Maryland for my 40th Reunion, CCA Class of 1972. WOW!!!
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