What a time I have had? It is only now that I realise how fortunate I was to get through my 8 lots of chemo in 2007 without any major problems. Why is it I always think it will not happen to me?
I have been hospitalised after each cemo now. A dose of carboplatin + gemcitabine = 0.5 Neutrphils on day 8, no second dose of gemcitabine and a rapid descent into neutropenic shock after they have sent me home!
I got out of hospital for the second time in three weeks on Christmas Eve patting myself on the back only to succumb to the raging trots and stomach cramps caused by the ‘horse pill’ antibiotics I am on for 10 days! AND to add insult to injury no infections were found in any of my samples either time!!! What is going on? So no Christmas dinner for me after all!
So, that’s my rant out of the way. They are going to give me Neulasta ater my next chemo so hopefully this won’t happen again and I can get my second dose of gemictabine - my worry is that without that second dose the chemo will be less effective!
I hope my frinds on here, Val,Jantharra, Belinda, Jax, you have all had a lovely Christmas. My admiration for you all has increased tenfold over the last few weeks. I was beginning to wonder whther it was all worht it at one point but I have always been a glass half full girl and now that I am feeling a bit better I can feel my determination edging back!
Sending you a big hug, Sue - what an awful time of it you’ve been having. Really hope the neulasta works well for you (I’ve had to have it both first time around on FEC and then more recently on Taxol and it did keep my white blood count at a reasonable level throughout).
Maybe you will feel well enough to join in some New Year celebrations?!
Hope the Neulasta works as well as it did for me - sounds like it’s been horrible for you this time. I had chemo in summer/autumn 2007 and 10 days after first lot I ended up in hospital with neutrophils at 0.3 and iv antibiotics. Was then very worried, especially as I’d never been in hospital before for anything. Let out after 3 days, saw onc the next week and we went for the same dose delayed by a couple of days with a Neulasta jab the day after chemo. It worked and I had rest of my chemo on time. Success !!! I had 4 lots of EC then 4 lots of tax with gemcitabine and apparently high doses of all by the way.
I had neutropenic sepsis in the summer after my first dose of taxotere - it is a truly horrible experience. I gave various samples all of which didn’t show infection. However I was told that the infection is usually somewhere in the gut so often difficult to pick up definitely. I had 3 more taxotere with neutropen injections - I did get a mild infection the following two times (no antibiotics though) and then asked my Onc if I could start them a day earlier (they were originally from day 5). This worked for the last dose.
I hope your future chemo is much better and no infections.
Elinda x
Thank you all, it sounds like the Neulasta will sort me out! I just wish they had tried it for my second cycle!!! I suppose I did so well back in 2007 with no problems they thought it was a one off.
I am feeling so much better today and much more positive and optimistic about everything. I have had a good laugh with hubby after getting the Movicol leaflet when in hospital (I have the other problem with the chemo!!!). Have you seen the back page!!! If so, you will no doubt be pleased to know I have moved up from number 7 to number 6!!!
I have had my first decent walk this morning, about half a mile round the block, so not quite so stir crazy. Onwards and upwards from now on I hope!
We are having a little party with close friends on New Years Eve - should be fun!
Hi Sue
Sounds like you are having a rough time but also determined to get through it all with a sense of humour - well done! I hope your Christmas wasn’t ruined by this and that you feel well for New Year’s Eve. When I had FEC last year I had low neut’s almost every cycle and had to inject myself with GSCF (or whatever the initials are - I forget!). These raised them just enough to get my next chemo but I think I scraped through each time. Luckily I didn’t suffer with any complications because of this but do know how frustrating it is not to get on with the chemo as planned - you just want it over and done with as soon as possible. Keep your pecker up - you sound like you are.
Nicky x
Just back from my trip to hospital to have my line flushed. Apparently my haemoglobin was low in the last sample they took from me on Christmas Eve so they have taken yet more blood again today and I am waiting to hear if I have to go back tomorrow for a blood transfusion.
I have lymphoedema in my right arm so no injections/peripheral blood from there, and my left arm is getting to the stage where I am going through a couple of nurses each time they have to take blood, never mind the number of needles they are going through! I have a line in my chest but that has never yielded any blood since the day it was put in although they can pumop stuff into me okay!
Why is it that when you no longer care whether you get fat or not you don’t feel like having all the little treats that you know will cheer you up??? We have enough Gin, Wine, Champagne, chocolates etc to sink a battleship and I just can’t face any of it!! I feel like I need a big cream cake to cheer me up - boy am I going to have one as soon as I feel better!!!
Yes, back to hospital tomorrow for two Units of blood! On the plus side I know it will make me feel less tired and I have managed to FORCE down TWO chocolates!!! Not too bad then after all! Might even manage to FORCE down a glass of Champagne on New Years Eve! I will be raising my glass and thinking of you all, have a great one!
Just got home today from my third hospital admission in three weeks. I have been on the Oncology Ward so many times that I had gained sufficient priviledge points to qualify for my own en-suite room.
I won’t bore you with all the details but I had my Hickman line removed on Wednesday morning and by the evening my temperature had dropped below 37C and has stayed below it for the first time in over three weeks.
I have had my blood transfusion and am finally feeling better for the first time since the beginning of November when all my treatment started. Thank goodness!
Back for chemo on Monday and back to hunt the vein - wish me luck!!!
Oh Sue! What a horrible Christmas and New Year you’ve had. Glad to hear that you are at last feeling a bit better though - and hope all the champagne and chocolates are there for you to enjoy. In my house they would probably have disappeared by now!!
Take care - and hope that the chemo goes ok on Monday.