Words Like Locusts Flew From Her Fingers

Cycle 2, Day 2

Yesterday’s chemo was uneventful. As before, the whole procedure took around 4 hours. Also as before, I’m now hooked up to the portable chemo pump for administration of the 5FU drug over 46 hours.

I’m feeling pretty good, actually. Not as zoomy or as overly-emotional as Day 2 of the last cycle. I don’t know why that would be, but I’m not complaining. I do have a bit more cold-sensitivity this time around than last and this doesn’t surprise me because I’ve been told that the neurological effects of the Oxaliplatin are cumulative. My fingertips are so sensitive right now that I’m going to have to wear vinyl medical gloves (maybe even double-glove) when I first start playing each of my flutes tonight at rehearsal. I know this because yesterday when I picked up my piccolo to play it, I couldn’t do so until I’d warmed up the keys by breathing on them for a few minutes. Happily, this side effect should fade within a few days.

I did start to feel slightly nauseous about half an hour ago, so I took a Compazine. I’m on fairly heavy doses of Zofran for nausea until day after tomorrow, but the Compazine is there for “break through” nausea. It wasn’t much of a feeling — just a little unpleasant turn of my stomach while I was sitting here with my computer — but better safe than sorry.

I’m documenting all of this more for my own benefit than for yours, dear reader. I think it’s useful to compare — cycle to cycle — how I’m feeling at different points. Actually, I’m supposing this information might be useful to other people starting chemo, too, so… there ‘ya go.

Otherwise, not much especially new or interesting is happening in Rebecca Land. A visit to Minnesota that I’d hoped to make later this month is cancelled because it would have taken place during a scheduled chemo treatment and, obviously, staying on track with the chemo is MUCH more important. Bummer.

It’s been raining a lot here over the past few days. I like it — but I’d like it even better if I didn’t have to take the dog for walks in it. My niece gave me a couple CDs with soundtracks for the “Silent Hill” games — great music for driving in the rain!