Friday, February 4, 2011- Day 32

Friday after chemo is the neulasta shot day. I actually hate this day more than the chemo, but I'm hoping with all the new drugs they have me on I wont suffer as much. To give a run down I am on Ondansetron for nausea (on as needed basis), Diphenoxylate for diarrhea that so far I havent had to take this time around, Dexamethasone for nausea that I must take twice a day for the first 4 days after chemo, Oxycodone for pain which helps for the severe bone and joint pain I suffer due to the neulasta shot, and Loratadine an allergy med that amazing somehow supresses some of the pain from the neulasta shot. So this morning I have to take 2 Dexamethasone, 1 Loratadine and 2 extra strength Tylenol to start the day. This is a preventive measure to try to keep the bone pain to a minimum. My dad arrives early and we get checked in. They take me over to check my vitals again (height, weight, temperature and blood pressure). I wish they didnt have to do it every single visit but oh well. They leave me sitting outside the lab til they take me back to transfusion. I go back and my nurse Teresa is there. She preps my right arm real quick and gives me the shot. I forgot that the shot burns like hell. Guess I was so focused on the pain my back and chest were going through I forgot the shot feels like fire going into my arm. The shot itself is over in a second but the burning will continue for atleast a couple of hours. My dad has alot of running around to do so he drops me off at home and I lay down for awhile and get some rest. I get up after a few hours and go get my nails done. With the loss of my hair it is hard sometimes to still feel pretty so little things like this help me to still feel girlie. I come back home and take some Oxycodone and lay back down. The back pain this time isnt anywhere near as severe but I dont take any chance of it getting worse. Every 4 hours when it starts to wear off I take another 1. I refuse to tough it out this time. I dont see how people get addicted to this stuff. For me it just barely edges the pain off. It does make me dizzy so I have to get up slow and walk slow but if it means no pain, I'm willing to deal with it. I do have a headache I cant seem to shake but its mild and its better then having my back killing me. I sleep off and on all day. My appetite is pretty much gone so I eat chicken broth and drink vitamin water all day. That night I take an oxycodone and 2 alteril and fall into a broken sleep. I cannot sleep through the night. Every 4 hours I have to take more pain med. I'm hoping after the first few days I will be able to cut back or stop taking the oxycodone altogether and just use advil. We'll see. I'm just grateful that there is no diarrhea and no severe pain. Let's pray it stays this way.