Carol's first week of treatment is done. 6 weeks to go. She did pretty well having one REALLY bad day. She hasn't had the need for anti-anxiety meds while doing rad. She rather enjoys the feeling of the mask. Which really surprised me because she doesn't like anything near her face. She's in and out within 20 minutes. Her face is starting to itch but is NOT scratching it. She sees the RO twice a week - now that she was told. Carol wasn't informed when to see him, then it became a game of cat and mouse. The RO tried to chide Carol, but it was quickly put to rest. Need communication Doc.
Her 1st chemo went okay. She's getting carboplatin because she only hears out of her left ear. Too many side effects with the cisplatin especially the hearing. No need for her to become deaf because of the treatments, if at all possible. Her cocktail is
carboplatin, Dexamethasone (steroid) and Ondansetron (Zofran). Carol was originally told her chemo would last 4 hours, but it was 1-1/2 hrs. The RO said the 4 hours was only a baseline? She has been prescribed Compazine for nausea.
Feeding full time by PEG. Instructed by the MO and RO. But if at all possible eat jello or pudding orally. She was having difficulty with the feedings being too fast, but learned how to adjust the gravity flow. She's more comfortable now, if that's at all possible!
Carol found out she is anemic so they prescribed folic acid. And she requested a baseline THS when doing the lab workup for her first Chemo. Done. When should she have her THS done again while in treatment? The MO has prescribed Fenytol (Sp) patch and Morphine, finally, for her pain.
All in all it was a pretty good week for Carol, she finally had gotten her head wrapped around everything....then the snail mail arrived yesterday (Saturday). She was awarded SSI and Medicaid so the treatment facility has dropped her for "charity care". Yep, everything came at once. She needs to reapply for assistance at the facility, which hopefully won't hinder her scheduled treatments. If they only had a heart. But...I started another topic regarding this next adventure. Round 3 or is it 10? I lost track.
Happy Valentine's Day to all.
