Well, this was a rough one.  I was very nervous about the new drug, especially since I’ve been aware of losing energy, of feeling mildly feverish, and of having increasing discomfort.  I can feel myself (no pun intended) that I don’t have a normal belly.  The pressure has been increasing, and the pain under my ribs when I yawn or cough is worse.

I related all of this to Dr. S at the exam, and also mentioned the difficulty in flexing my right ankle.  (I’ve begun to recover some strength there, but it’s nowhere near normal.)  He examined my very thoroughly (in the presence not only of his nurse, but also of a volunteer, whose status was never fully explained to me). The frightening part is that Dr. S says that, to judge from what he was feeling, a scan done today would look quite different– worse– than the scan done only ten days earlier.  I didn’t doubt him.  We were all glad to start the treatment right away.

One helpful note:  my blood counts have been fine throughout, which means that I don’t need to call in or go to the ER (as the original chemo said) if my temperature is over 100.4, but I should call them if it gets as high as, say, 101 or 102.  I did find that reassuring.

And so on to the infusion.  As always, the nurses are wonderful.  They’d said this would be three hours, but in fact it’s only about two.  (Of course, we started two hours later than the scheduled time, but that’s only to be expected, especially after the long exam.)  The first drug takes an hour and a half; the second takes fifteen minutes; the third about five.  Then they hook up the pump and I’m good to go.

A wrinkle:  Dr. S has said more than once that I should book my flight and they’d schedule around it.  So I did– without realizing that February 20 is a holiday, so I can’t have my infusion then.  Having it Tuesday means pump disconnect on Thursday– by which time I’m supposed to be on a plane.  We’re trying to work something out.  (I’m wondering if I can have it disconnected in Florida.)

Meanwhile, as the infusion continues, I take a deep breath and realize that the sharp pain under my ribs is almost undetectable.  I yawn again– same thing.  I cannot believe that the drug is having an effect so quickly, but whatever it is I say less pain is a Good Thing.  And, as the infusions finish up at about 3:00 I realize that I’m not warming up as I usually do at about that time.  (Indeed, when I take my temperature at home it’s abnormally low:  97.2.  But I don’t feel the depletion that I feel when it’s elevated.)

Tomorrow I’m supposed to call to see what they can do about scheduling things so I don’t have to change flights.  We have trip insurance, and we’re in good enough shape that we can afford to rebook if necessary, but it would be really nice if we didn’t have to.

Anyhow, tonight I have more energy than I’ve had in days.  I’m attached to my pump.  I can’t shower (but a lower body soak in a lavender bath is perfectly okay).  One day at a time.  Happy Thanksgiving.