Second Chemo

I originally sent this in an email on February 17th:

Hey everyone

I never sent out an update on the second chemo session, and I am preparing to have my third infusion this Wednesday, February 19th, so I thought I'd give everyone an update on the second session and let you know how we are doing.  I also want to really thank Bruce for setting up the donation website (thoughts on the website in the next blog entry). Karla and I have been so touched by the generosity of people, some of whom we have not seen in more than a decade. It's overwhelming and I don't know what to say. I hope I can put together some words over the next few days.

The second chemo was originally scheduled for Wednesday, February 5 but because of a snowstorm (one of many in Boston this year) we pushed it to Thursday, the 6th. My blood tests came back a bit stronger so no additional transfusion this time, although I was scheduled to return to the cancer clinic on Saturday the 8th for some additional fluids and to get the port removed.

The session went well. They adjusted my nausea meds and the hope was that I would respond better than I did the first time.  I went home with the infuser after four hours.  It's tough getting hooked back up to the infuser because you are feeling pretty good two weeks out from the previous session.  I probably felt as good as I have felt since the surgery when we drove to the hospital that morning. But then the lethargy sinks in. You are drugged up and just super-tired. No motivation to really do anything except watch TV and nap.  Karla stayed with me at the clinic all day and the Cuthill grandparents watched Isla at home. I was pretty much like that all through Friday too - lethargic and sleepy all day.  I was really hoping that I would be able to function work-wise, and maybe I will as I move on to the future sessions. We were back at the clinic on Saturday and no major issues getting fluids and the infuser removed.

One thing I have been struggling with is keeping myself hydrated.  I am really trying to drink more than two liters each day but it sometimes is just not enough.  So we had an additional fluid IV appointment at the clinic scheduled for Thursday, the 13th.  The problem was that on Tuesday, I started hiccupping - constantly.  These were deep hiccups where you feel you might throw up.  Very painful, so we got rescheduled to go back to the clinic on Wednesday instead.  I was very frustrated because I thought by Day 6 after chemo, things were supposed to get better, not worse.

And then poor little Isla, who runs everywhere, fell down the stairs and hit her head on the bannister, opening up a deep gash on her right eyelid. So Karla, grandparents and Isla spent the day Tuesday at Winchester hospital getting the gash glued together (no stitches). She was very brave but the whole experience was very traumatic for her (and her parents). The wound has healed nicely, although we are still waiting for the final scab to fall off.  To add insult to injury, on Wednesday morning, both Karla and Isla woke up with the flu and were extremely sick (they had met with friends at the zoo on Sunday and caught a bug from them). So my Dad took me, still hiccupping away, into the clinic on Wednesday and stayed with me while they hydrated me again and figured out some better acid reflux meds to take. I started to come out of my problems on Thursday, but Karla and Isla fought the flu for several days. 

The good news is that each day, I have felt better and stronger.  Today is Monday and I am feeling as good as I have since the surgery.  I am drinking enough water (it seems) each day, doing some RSI work and getting our taxes straightened out and putting back on some weight (although I still have a loooooong way to go). Not looking forward to Wednesday, but feel like I am in a good place right now.  Thanks to Scott who will be driving up from Jersey to help us out this week. We just don't know how chemo will go each time and having someone here as back-up is so reassuring. 

We are looking long term at an au pair option. As Karla gets closer to delivery date, we need a more permanent support option and based on what he have heard from some friends who have had au pairs, it is probably the best thing for us to do.

Sorry for the lengthiness and all the best.

Andrew