I am then taken back to get my blood drawn. They insert a needle into my port, flush the port with saline, and take two blood samples. I can usually taste the saline. The saline is not delicious. Blood tests come back after 15 minutes or so. I then meet with my oncologists or the nurse practitioner. Today it was the nurse practitioner. For the sake of everyone I have compiled of list of my side effects based on the day of the round (Day 1 being infusion day). This is just what I have experienced in rounds 1 and 2. Things may change during this and future rounds. WARNING: I have colon cancer and poop has become a central part of my existence. If you don't like to acknowledge the existence of poop do not read on.
Day 1: Infusion day: usually take a nap after getting home from infusion. Throat has off feeling and drinking really cold things makes me feel like I have rocks in my throat. I have mild nausea and loss of appetite. I take an anti-nausea pill or two and can still eat.
Day 2: This day so far has been surprisingly normal except for one item. This is Hiccup Day. I get random hiccups throughout the day. I was told only men ever get this side affect (but not all men). I may have less of an appetite but nothing horrible. I also might take a stool softener or two pre-empt some future issue.
Day 3: No more hiccups. Loss of appetite, nausea, and fatigue really ramp up on this day. I try to keep on top of it with meds. During Round 1, I couldn't finish a full day of work. I made it on Round 2 but went to sleep at 7 pm. More stool softener. I usually have some output but it's not much and constipation is the main side affect of the anti-nausea meds.
Day 4 and 5: Basically the same as Day 3. I limit the stool softeners because I know what it is coming in a few days.
Day 6: About the same as Day 3 to 6 but starting to feel closer to normal.
Somewhere in the Day 7 to Day 9 range: Diarrhea attack. Seems to only last about half a day and Immodium helps. The chemo really takes the digestive system on a roller coaster ride. Other than that unpleasantness these days aren't bad and I feel normal. Because I have an ostomy, the diarrhea can irritate the skin around my stoma if I don't put my equipment on correctly.
Day 7 to Day 14: These days are relatively normal besides the mentioned attack. Somewhere in here I seem to get a day or two of depression. I have experience with depression in my past and am on meds but it's possible I'd up my the dosage if things got worse. I don't usually get it as much in the summer so I tend to think it could be chemo related. Or maybe I'm just depressed that I'm constantly thinking about poop. I do get my appetite back on these days. I try to eat healthy and to keep the digestive track happy. I have had days where I felt like I over ate a bit and was worried I might gain weight but so far my weight has been steady since the start of treatment. I also try to get 4 or 5 runs of a few miles in. I walk at least 10000 steps almost all days during the cycle
Finally, my blood tests were all very healthy and normal today. I was told my kidneys had excellent function and my liver was good. White blood cell counts were good. The kids hung out with me today at the cancer center. I don't know how Aden does that with his eyes.
