Spent Christmas Day in the ER

[Already Bald]

Hi All,
I finished my third round of EP on 12/22, and had a pretty rough weekend. Lots of nausa, very tired and sick feeling. I even had some trouble just walking around... Since my clinic was closed for the Christmas Holiday, they had arranged to send a nurse out to my home on Christmas morning for my shot of Neulasta. She wasn't happy with how I looked, and my vitals were bad- so she called the covering chemo doc at my hospital.
My BP was ~90/60 and pulse was 130, and this was the average of about seven readings. So I ended up in the Emergency Room, where they started me on fluids and ran blood labs. 5 hours later I got out of there, and man I'm still feeling crappy...My BP and pulse are better, and I'm drinking a lot- but what a drag to miss Christmas. I sure don't want to do the 4th cycle.

[Fed]

Hey man,

I'm sorry to hear that you had to spend time at the hospital. The good thing is that you are finished with this cycle, you sound like you are out of the woods with this one, and you are 3/4 of the way home. I would imagine you'll likely be doing much better by New Year's. Hang in there. We're pullin' for you.

[DianeE]

Hi Joe,

Hang in there! I'm sure Brian can relate--he ended up getting admitted
to Chester County hospital after each of his rounds. You'll start feeling
better after a day or so and will probably be feeling pretty good by the
time you start your LAST round. And that's what you have to keep in
mind!! The END of it. Keep drinking and eat what you can when you're
up for it.

Diane

[Davie]

Stay strong. I know, having been through it, that chemo sucks.

It may not feel like it now, but you'll look back at this is six months time like it was a bad dream.

[BeachTech]

Um, round 4 is giong to be tough

Hi All,
I finished my third round of EP on 12/22, and had a pretty rough weekend. Lots of nausa, very tired and sick feeling. I even had some trouble just walking around... Since my clinic was closed for the Christmas Holiday, they had arranged to send a nurse out to my home on Christmas morning for my shot of Neulasta. She wasn't happy with how I looked, and my vitals were bad- so she called the covering chemo doc at my hospital.
My BP was ~90/60 and pulse was 130, and this was the average of about seven readings. So I ended up in the Emergency Room, where they started me on fluids and ran blood labs. 5 hours later I got out of there, and man I'm still feeling crappy...My BP and pulse are better, and I'm drinking a lot- but what a drag to miss Christmas. I sure don't want to do the 4th cycle.

Since it takes (IMO) about four weeks to recover after a week of chemo, you always go into the next round "in debt" (low WBC, RBC, etc.) Each round is going to be more difficult than the last round. You should talk to your doctor and get appropriate care (hospitalization during the next round maybe.)

Everyone is different, but I will share my experience (first see my signature for the chemo details).

During chemo, I was as to be expected. Nausea, fatigue, no hair, etc. The last week (fourth round of EP) was the worst. I was feeling so weak. But that Friday when they pulled the needle out I felt great. Now it?s just up from here (I thought).

Wrong. I leave the chemo center minutes later. My mother-in-law picked me up since I could not drive safely when on chemo. I am walking out to the car when I feel like someone is standing on my chest. I decided to go back in and have my oncologist check it out. I didn?t want to wait in the ER on a Friday night if something developed.

I go back in and he listens to my lungs and hooks me up to an EKG machine. I am not really worried. Then he thinks I am having a Pulmonary Embolism (a what?) and calls 911. The paramedics come up and the first thing they do is give me a spray of nitro glycerin in the mouth. I instantly start to feel better, so now I am VERY WORRIED. Nitro usually only helps if you are having a HEART ATTACK.

They took me across the street to the hospital. Several tests later I score positive for a Pulmonary Embolism. I spend two days in the hospital.

Five days after I am released, I need to go back because I am extremely anemic (I can hardly sit up without feeling I was about to pass out. I can hear the blood rushing in my ears. When I get to the ER and they set me up for a chest xray, I pass out for a few minutes and have a seizure. Fun times! After five days and four blood transfusions, I was good enough to go home.

Good luck. You'll make it, and after you get done, you'll feel stronger than ever.
________
Web shows

[Alex_G]

Hang in there.
Happy New Year to all!

[Already Bald]

Starting to feel better

Thanks for your kindness everyone, Diane- I'll give you a call this week.
I'm starting to feel better today, still nowhere near what I ought to be- but getting there.
I'm drinking a lot of water and fluids...funny thing, my appeite has never really suffered.
I'm really nervous about this coming 4th cycle- I'm just glad to know there are guys who have gone before me and gotten through this thing. I feed off of your strength.
Joe

[Karen]

Hang in there Joe...almost done!!! Tell your doc about your anxiety, especially if you are having problems sleeping. Your body need lots rest and if you need an ativan to get sleep at night until the last round is over go for it!

[Hippie]

Hang in there!!!! I finished my 4th Round 3 weeks ago and its starting to already just be a BAD memory/dream. I dreaded my last round something fierce but then I started telling myself .. fine its going to make me feel like crap but when I recover this time I dont have to go back.. So I was almost daring the chemo sitting there every monring that last week to make me sick cause I knew even if I was in bed for a couple days or so after when I felt better again I won!!!!! I am fixxing to have round 5 for New Year a good, Ol shot or 5 of Whiskey !!!!!

Just gear up metally for it(WAY easyer said then done) but think of it this way it may win for the next round and you maybe sick for a week or 2 but THEN that Monday after your 2 week break is going to come and you are not going to be heading to the chemo room!!!!! that was the weirdest Monday for me that Monday after my 2 week break and I didnt have to go the chemo room...

Hang in there almost done!!!!

[dadmo]

Round four will be tough but you get to start the big countdown 5..4..3..2..all done. Won't that be sweet.

[Dave40306]

I also did 4xEP and each round did get progressively harder to take. The worst day for me was the 1st day of my last cycle. I just didn't want to get out of bed but knew I had to. Now that I think back, I don't think the 4th round was that much worse than the 3rd. And, on my last chemo day, I was so thrilled to be done with it, my wife and and I went out to dinner with friends at a favorite restaurant. Physically, I was exhausted but mentally I was revived and refreshed. You'll be there soon too!