Yesterday Susie had her first Chemo treatment. She was surrounded by friends and we brought chocolate. (I think that is why she invited us!) 
She got to the clinic around 1:30, and after much poking and prodding, they managed to get a line into her vein (3rd try is a charm) at around 3:30 to draw blood. After they ran some tests, they began her chemo treatment at about 4:30. First the Adriamycin is pushed in through a large syringe slowly. It is bright red, and she was told it would make her pee red.
After that, the Taxotere drip was started. About 5 minutes in, she said, "I am feeling short of breath," and turned quite the bright shade of red. I called in the doctor, and they stopped that drip. She was having an allergic reaction. She was seeing silver spots "like when the sun hits the dust specks" and sweating pretty profusely for someone who is always so cold. They gave her some Benadryl, Zantac, and Decadron (Dexamethasone) for the reaction, plus some additional saline. After 10 minutes, they started up the Taxotere drip again at a much slower pace, and slowly ramped it up to full speed. She was done at about 6:30. And her pee was already red!
We took her home, had a bit of dinner, and she went to bed. I am sure she was exhausted, I know we all were, and we didn't have to get poked, prodded, and poisoned!
She probably will feel very fatigued over the next few days, and may be sick. So while I know she appreciates all of your calls and emails, she may or may not be able to respond in any timely manner. But know that she knows you are there and that you care, and she will try to get back to you as soon as she feels up for it!
She got to the clinic around 1:30, and after much poking and prodding, they managed to get a line into her vein (3rd try is a charm) at around 3:30 to draw blood. After they ran some tests, they began her chemo treatment at about 4:30. First the Adriamycin is pushed in through a large syringe slowly. It is bright red, and she was told it would make her pee red.After that, the Taxotere drip was started. About 5 minutes in, she said, "I am feeling short of breath," and turned quite the bright shade of red. I called in the doctor, and they stopped that drip. She was having an allergic reaction. She was seeing silver spots "like when the sun hits the dust specks" and sweating pretty profusely for someone who is always so cold. They gave her some Benadryl, Zantac, and Decadron (Dexamethasone) for the reaction, plus some additional saline. After 10 minutes, they started up the Taxotere drip again at a much slower pace, and slowly ramped it up to full speed. She was done at about 6:30. And her pee was already red!We took her home, had a bit of dinner, and she went to bed. I am sure she was exhausted, I know we all were, and we didn't have to get poked, prodded, and poisoned!
She probably will feel very fatigued over the next few days, and may be sick. So while I know she appreciates all of your calls and emails, she may or may not be able to respond in any timely manner. But know that she knows you are there and that you care, and she will try to get back to you as soon as she feels up for it!
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