Hi guys. So the last time we spoke was July 9th when I was introducing you to Poley McPoleface. If you want more info on why we named him that, please go back to that post. I included a link.
My hope was to blog yesterday but the truth is, I got really sick. Saturday night I had my first round of chemo which was Cyclophosphamide (aka Cytoxan). Truth be told, other than a couple tears on my part, and a little nausea, it was really uneventful. And I’ll take uneventful any day. With the chemo they stream in lots of fluids into my port in order to protect my bladder and kidneys and keep everything moving along. Since I have so many fluids coming in, they carefully measure my fluid output. I have seriously never discussed urine so much in my life as I have in the past couple of days. Who knew it could be so important and interesting? Well my urine output wasn’t keeping up with my fluid intake so they had to give me somethings call Lasix, which basically triggers your bladder to go any time something is in there. So needless to say, I was up all night going to see Potty McPotface.
On Sunday, I woke up feeling pretty ok, albeit tired. At 10am they started my first round of horse ATG (Antithymocyte Globulin). Horse? What the heck does a horse have to do with anything? Well, my friends, I’ll tell you. ATG is an antibody against lymphocytes and will effectively suppress my immune system so as not to be active when I receive my sister’s immune system. The way this medication is produced is that certain cells are injected into a horse (yes an actual horse, and sometimes rabbits!) and the horse produces large number of these antibodies that can then be removed and injected into humans. WHO EVER THOUGHT OF THIS????????
The ATG went through ok, I had some chills, but they went away pretty quickly. Denise and Harry Zapata came for a visit (my first visitors! Other than Sully who has been with me all day everyday), and we had some laughs and really nice time chatting. After they left, my sister Kath came. We chatted and walked the halls a bit. After we came back from our walk, I started feeling pretty bad. I started getting chills again, BAD. Then a 102 fever. It’s such a horrible feeling, being freezing cold yet burning up at the same time and shaking uncontrollably. I was so uncomfortable. I tried to power though it, breathing in through the nose, out through the mouth. Yeah, that doesn’t always work. By the time the nurse came in I was making the sounds of a sobbing, choking animal. I actually told the nurse “I’ve never made sounds like this ever in my life!” Not my finest moment. A few hours and lots of drugs later, I finally felt a little better. Though I kind of felt drunk and my skin was still hot to the touch.
I didn’t sleep too much that night, and I had to go on the Lasix again, so I was up and down every hour or so. I was beyond thirsty and when I tried some water, it all came up again. Blah! This blows!!
Ok so now it’s Monday, I’m feeling ok even without much sleep. Sully and my sister Maureen are here with me. Moe decorated the room with twinkle lights and pictures of my nieces and nephews. It really spruced the place up!
Though I can’t help but remember that this time last week I was on the beach in Montauk with my love, reading a book, listening to the waves crashing and sipping cold sparkling rose. Today I have 12 lines of stuff flowing into my port, and I’m counting my urine. At least I have my new shark friend to keep me warm and comfy.
