I attended my
3rd session of Chemo with my mum and dad. My husband Craig was
unwell with a really nasty chest infection and was too unwell to accompany me.
Due to my reduced immunity I was limiting the amount of time I spent in his
company as I was at risk of picking up his chest infection. This was difficult
for us both, but necessary.
I was
assessed by the Oncologist at 9.30am. She reviewed how I had been over the past
3 weeks, asking about my general health and energy levels. She advised that I
would be called to attend for a review ultrasound scan over the next few weeks,
this would assess if the treatment was being effective.
The Chemo
session went well though we had to wait from 10am until 1.30pm to start the
treatment. The delays are frustrating at times, but at least I had company. The treatment followed the same sequence as
the first and second sessions. A series of six syringes delivered by a nurse over
approximately an hour. This is the last session of the F.E.C drugs combination.
Once it was
completed my parents drove me home. I took Cyclizine (anti-sickness drug) late
afternoon to minimise the nausea. I’d taken the additional anti-sickness medications
whilst in the hospital. I was feeling remarkably good and ate some soup my dad had
made. I then went to bed early as I began to feel very tired, a side effect of
the cyclizine is drowsiness.
At 10pm I
began to feel sick, not just nauseated, I felt awful I leapt out of bed to run
to the toilet to be sick….I didn’t make it. I was sick everywhere, in the hallway, on the
carpet, the walls, the bathroom door, the bathroom tiles. If nothing else I was
thorough!!!
So whilst I
clung to the toilet being sick, my poor unwell husband was mopping up the mess
I had created. The vomiting continued
every hour throughout the night, Craig had the foresight to bring up a basin so
I wouldn’t have to run the gauntlet every time.
Initially I
tried to keep up my fluid intake but every sip of water caused me to be sick
again. I began to avoid drinking anything in order to stop the vomiting and try
to get some sleep. This didn’t really work, instead I started dry wretching as
there wasn’t anything left in my stomach. I have honestly never experienced
feeling as unwell as this (even looking back on all of my hangovers over the
years!) I was physically exhausted, I was so tired, my abdominals ached, and I
had no energy. Craig wasn’t much better, he was still unwell himself and had no
sleep all night. He phoned the emergency Chemo advice line at 8.30am and
advised them of my condition. The vomiting just wasn’t settling this time, I
was at risk of becoming severely dehydrated. They advised him to put me into
the car and bring me straight to hospital.
He grabbed
the emergency hospital bag and escorted me to the car. The basin stayed wedged
on my lap for the 30 minute journey to the hospital. I have minimal recollection of this journey
other than focusing on trying not to be sick, unfortunately mind over matter was
not so great as I was sick several times.
When we
arrived at the Chemo unit I was directed into a side ward and allocated a bed.
Several kidney dishes later, I was still being sick…The Nurses and the Doctor were
absolutely AMAZING. Incredibly professional, prompt, empathetic, kind,
thoughtful and funny.
Due to the
dehydration my ‘difficult at the best of times veins’ were definitely in hiding,
SIX nurses later and no joy. Then…… to
my rescue came a voice….. “Lorna what are you doing here?!” I looked up and was
totally surprised to see a friend I had been at Girl Guides with when we were
teenagers (unfortunately quite a long time a go!!). I hadn’t seen her since we
were about 16 or 17. She asked could she try to find a vein, I said absolutely
give it a go….first attempt and she found one. Thank you!!! The IV fluids were
given via this. Then a syringe driver was set up sub-cutaneously straight into
my tummy (running all the anti sickness medications I couldn’t keep down orally). Almost instantly the vomiting stopped. Such a
relief, I could actually sleep a bit. I did still felt quite nauseated for
quite a while after the vomiting stopped.
I was
managing to sip some water which was progress. However, I couldn’t contemplate solid
food at this stage. About 1pm Craig brought me an ice lolly to try. It was
possibly the best ice lolly ever…no exaggerating!!! If Carlsberg did ice
lollies…..
I dozed on
and off for most of the afternoon, a second bag of IV fluids was erected and
the syringe driver continued to do its relieving work.
At 4pm the
Doctor came to review me. She inquired if I had eaten any food, I said an ice
lolly!! She suggested I try a cup of tea and a rich tea biscuit before they
made the decision whether I could go home or if I would need to stay in
hospital that night. She arrived back having personally made me a pot of tea and
with a plate of 3 biscuits. I was determined I was going home so I drank the
tea and ate the biscuits. It took time but I was a woman on a mission.
After 41
hours of no sleep we arrived home, had a little food and both collapsed into
bed….
You are amazing Lorna ❤️
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