On the 9th of April, I went in for surgery to have my port installed under the skin of my upper left chest.
It looks like half a golf ball and has been tunneled into a couple veins/arteries. I am told it is in my jugular too. Anyway, it needed to be installed to administer the FOLFOX Chemotherapy.
The surgery went well and I was back home and eating that afternoon. On the 21st of April I started Chemotherapy. The first round of chemo was really difficult for me. I had to be infused about 10 in the
morning for about 3 hours and then left with a chemo ball attached until
Wednesday around two in the afternoon. They hook it to the port in my chest
(photo attached) and I took the chemo ball home and wore it in a hip pack for
about 50 hours. I had a headache, trouble breathing, sore throat, chest pressure, anxiety and several other issues. I was so wiped out Wednesday after they unhook it that I ended up in the ER. They did an EKG on my heart. They did a CT scan for my lungs for blood clots. It turned out it was mostly anxiety from the steroids and the chemo. I didn't eat hardly anything Wednesday and Thursday I was still struggling with eating. I don't like it but if it will give me a few extra years I got to do it for my family. All I can tell you is this chemo treatment is going to be hard. Saturday I had a full muscle lockup in my neck and my feet started tingling. Sunday I felt better. 5 more days and I do it all over again and 11 more cycles to go if I can take it. I am trying. I have a better plan for eating during the next infusion as I lost 3 pounds this past week and I don't want that each treatment. It's hard but I am going to try my best.
On Monday I grouted the backsplash in my master bath, walked with my wife at Wal-Mart and Lowes without riding the scooters, did some light weightlifting, and power walked around the block twice. I still have pain in several places but it was light enough to get a good day in. Yesterday was good too. I really have to enjoy the days I feel well because I know the next treatment is just around the corner. I love the good moments and time with Sharette and the boys. The boys are walking with me around the block and Sharette and I took in a movie and are heading out on a date tomorrow
night. Thank you everyone for the support and encouragement. I am fighting everyday!
It looks like half a golf ball and has been tunneled into a couple veins/arteries. I am told it is in my jugular too. Anyway, it needed to be installed to administer the FOLFOX Chemotherapy.
The surgery went well and I was back home and eating that afternoon. On the 21st of April I started Chemotherapy. The first round of chemo was really difficult for me. I had to be infused about 10 in the
morning for about 3 hours and then left with a chemo ball attached until
Wednesday around two in the afternoon. They hook it to the port in my chest
(photo attached) and I took the chemo ball home and wore it in a hip pack for
about 50 hours. I had a headache, trouble breathing, sore throat, chest pressure, anxiety and several other issues. I was so wiped out Wednesday after they unhook it that I ended up in the ER. They did an EKG on my heart. They did a CT scan for my lungs for blood clots. It turned out it was mostly anxiety from the steroids and the chemo. I didn't eat hardly anything Wednesday and Thursday I was still struggling with eating. I don't like it but if it will give me a few extra years I got to do it for my family. All I can tell you is this chemo treatment is going to be hard. Saturday I had a full muscle lockup in my neck and my feet started tingling. Sunday I felt better. 5 more days and I do it all over again and 11 more cycles to go if I can take it. I am trying. I have a better plan for eating during the next infusion as I lost 3 pounds this past week and I don't want that each treatment. It's hard but I am going to try my best.
On Monday I grouted the backsplash in my master bath, walked with my wife at Wal-Mart and Lowes without riding the scooters, did some light weightlifting, and power walked around the block twice. I still have pain in several places but it was light enough to get a good day in. Yesterday was good too. I really have to enjoy the days I feel well because I know the next treatment is just around the corner. I love the good moments and time with Sharette and the boys. The boys are walking with me around the block and Sharette and I took in a movie and are heading out on a date tomorrow
night. Thank you everyone for the support and encouragement. I am fighting everyday!