One more to go

Sorry I have not updated the blog lately. There are no real big or exciting updates. I received chemo last Thursday and feel like crap. I also received the Neulasta shot and that is really causing some major pain in my bones.

The nurses are still having a hard time getting the Dacarbazine to go in without pain. We just cannot get the ratio right the last two chemo sessions. They had to put it in really slow which just made for a really long day. By the time I got home my nausea was the worst it had ever been. I was constantly feeling like I was going to vomit but nothing would come out. Even with the prescription Ativan nothing helped relieve the nausea.

I’ve been receiving the Neulasta shot after each treatment now and that is really taking a toll on me. The pain kicks in about 4 days later and lasts about 4 days. It keeps me up at night and just makes daily life really painful.

The weakness and fatigue I’ve been having lately is just horrible. Especially this past week as I couldn’t do much besides lay in bed. Doing something miniscule as walking up the stairs is so draining, my heart starts beating really fast and I start breathing heavily. It’s a little scary to deal with but I just lay down right after these weird spells and it goes away after a few minutes.

I’ve finally been discharged by the home care nurse only due to the fact that my insurance will not cover any more visits. This is ok with me as my hole in the leg has healed up just fine. The hole in my chest is finally healing but it is still pretty big. Now I have to change my bandages and redo the packing every other day. This is just a bizarre experience to have to do on your own. Not only is painful but it is odd to have to take care of such a big wound like this on my own. I used to always look away when the nurses would do this and now I am forced to actually look at it. Doing this really plays mind games with me. By the time I am done I am just a bit freaked out. The pain is still pretty bad but I just chalk it up to the fact that I have a 2inch hole in my chest and a 2inch hole in your chest is going to hurt.

I’m continuing to lose my body hair and the hair on my head is now growing back really slow. I used to have to shave my head at least twice a week. Now I can go almost two weeks before it really becomes noticeable. The whole hair thing is just strange. Even my 8 year old niece came up to me the other day and said “Uncle Jason, what happened to your eye lashes?” I found it very amusing! Hey like I said before at least it is not painful.

I am glad that I am only dealing with these few things and nothing major. I’m hoping to get back to normal this weekend. Then one more chemo session left.

My doctor said he will give me an entire month off before I start radiation which is great. It will give me some time to get some strength back. Unfortunately he also said it will take a few months before I get an immune system back. So I still need to stay extra cautious and stay germ free.