Newly Diagnosed And Frankly, It's Scary

Discussion in 'Health & Wellness' started by Beth Gallagher, Jan 30, 2021.

  1. Beth Gallagher

    Beth Gallagher Supreme Member
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    I should just call my son; he lives in Oregon. :D
     
    #181
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  2. John Brunner

    John Brunner Senior Staff
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    I'd say to call the 60s, but back then it wasn't quite the science it seems to have become.

    Head shops are now the equivalent of Starbucks.
     
    #182
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  3. Hedi Mitchell

    Hedi Mitchell Supreme Member
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    Awe hell Beth any side effects from smoking a joint wont be anything like side effects from the crap they give you to try get you well .
    You can make brownies or something if smoking is not for you. Or ask son about the gummy bear type THC treats.
    As I remeber from my dope smoking days- you get high enough your only side effect is Munchies:D:p
     
    #183
  4. Terry Coywin

    Terry Coywin Veteran Member
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    How are you doing, Beth? Have your treatments been resumed as yet? I still haven't had my CT scan with contrast. I have to see him on the 11th so perhaps he wants to wait until then as he heard some "crackling" in the lower lobes of my lungs and I've been having some shortness of breath.
     
    #184
  5. Beth Gallagher

    Beth Gallagher Supreme Member
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    Hey TC. I'm actually feeling OK, thanks for asking. Still have my hair!! I have my second treatment on Thursday; they will do blood work and then the chemo. The facility is scrambling to get all the patients who missed chemo last week fit into this week. Those poor appointment schedulers are earning their salary this week for sure.

    My oncologist called me yesterday to discuss some questions I sent him via My Chart, because I had a concern about missing a week and wanted to discuss my heart-related issues. He said it is unusual for chemo to cause BP/heart rate changes after a single treatment, so we will be keeping an eye on that. I was impressed that the Big Cheese called me, then gave me his personal cellphone number if I have any urgent issues.

    I hope you can get scheduled soon for the scan. Are you feeling OK besides the shortness of breath?
     
    #185
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  6. Terry Coywin

    Terry Coywin Veteran Member
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    Yes, I do feel OK, a bit of anxiety issues, but that's all. Glad you're feeling better. Keep posting.
     
    #186
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  7. Beth Gallagher

    Beth Gallagher Supreme Member
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    Oh, I forgot to say that before the chemo drug (Taxol) is administered, I get an IV infusion of steroids. I was going to ask him if the steroid could be causing my BP/heart rate changes so I need to write that down on my "ask the Doc" list.
     
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  8. Beth Gallagher

    Beth Gallagher Supreme Member
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    Bless you; the anxiety is the absolute WORST. I still have unscheduled and world-class meltdowns periodically. I had to force myself to stop looking at statistics because I was scaring myself senseless. The internet is at once a blessing and a curse.
     
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  9. Terry Coywin

    Terry Coywin Veteran Member
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    Beth, did you have a treatment today? I've been playing telephone tag with my hospital's nuclear medicine dept. to nail down a definite time and date. Have a possible 3/9 at 2 pm for the pet scan. I also had a biopsy of a lesion on my back over my left kidney. Haven't hear the results of that one yet. No wonder I am nervous.

    Keep the faith, kiddo.
     
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  10. Hedi Mitchell

    Hedi Mitchell Supreme Member
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    #190
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  11. Beth Gallagher

    Beth Gallagher Supreme Member
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    Aw, I'm so sorry you are having this anxiety, TC. Hugs to you my friend. Seems like it's always "hurry up and wait" for this stuff. Was the biopsied lesion external? Are you feeling OK other than anxious?
     
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  12. Beth Gallagher

    Beth Gallagher Supreme Member
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    I want to ask you all what you would do about this...it is bothering me. Near the end of my treatment today when the saline was done after Taxol, I was looking for my shoes and noticed a puddle on the floor under the IV stand. I was freaking out, wondering if my bag of Taxol (or whatever) somehow leaked out instead of going into my port.

    I asked the nurse about it and he said it was saline; that he must not have connected the saline drip correctly. I said, "how can you tell, they are both clear?" He said that the Taxol has a strong smell and we would know if that had leaked. So I put my shoes on and left, wondering what the hell happened. I told my husband that I should have asked for a supervisor or something, but I don't want to cause trouble for that nurse; he was very nice.

    My husband made this point... there should have been NOTHING on the floor, not even saline.

    However, now I don't know for sure whether I had a full treatment or what. I feel fine and not "woozy" like I did with the first treatment. I know that there's no way to know how much Taxol I got and they wouldn't re-administer it anyway, not knowing what actually happened. Should I just forget it?
     
    #192
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  13. Hedi Mitchell

    Hedi Mitchell Supreme Member
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    Um..no..
    Report the incident @Beth Gallagher
    Not to get nurse in trouble but to let them know it happened. If there is cause for concern or monitoring you need because of it happening.
    To get the best..Expect the best.
     
    #193
  14. Beth Gallagher

    Beth Gallagher Supreme Member
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    I am writing up the incident to send to my Medical Oncologist, Gloria. I feel that it should be documented at the very least.

    In other news, my hair is definitely falling out. :confused: I called my hairdresser and she is going to cut it all off for me on Saturday, after she closes the shop so no one else will be in there. I'm going for a short "pixie" cut; I can't deal with shaving my head but it's hat time, folks.
     
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  15. Beth Gallagher

    Beth Gallagher Supreme Member
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    Oh, and I must have gotten at least some Taxol today; I just made myself a cup of coffee and it tastes like it was brewed in rusty cast iron. :(
     
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