You're Never Fully Dressed Without a Smile!
I figured since my head would soon be bald, I should make sure my smile was working properly. The dentist has pronounced my teeth healthy and polished them up for me. We had a talk about his favorite topic, flossing, and how important it will be because chemo can depress your immune system and those sneaky little bacteria in your mouth can cause cavities. He said if I get any mouth sores (a possible chemo side effect) I can call him and he'll get me a special mouthwash, but hopefully that won't be a problem.
I've now talked to the third and final doctor and everyone agrees no more surgery! That's the good news. The bad news is that I start chemo next Thursday, April 5. Chemo will start at 10:30 and take a little over 3 hours. I can bring a DVD to watch, read a book, eat some lunch, whatever I want to entertain myself during this time. Mom and/or Dad will be there, too. I will go every three weeks for 4 cycles, so I should be getting my last chemo in early June. My hair will start to fall out around day 14.
Now that I have an actual date for it, I have to admit I'm scared of it. Hopefully I won't experience too many side effects, but given my sensitivity to just about every other drug I've ever taken, I'm not too optimistic. The doctor did call in a prescription for Emend, which is an anti-emetic. I'm to take the first about an hour before I go and then once a day for the next two days. I'll also get Aloxi, which serves a similar function, in my IV that day. Then they'll send me home with all sorts of drugs. They say it's easier to prevent the nausea and vomiting than to treat it once it starts, so I'll be following the schedule for these meds religiously.
I will not have to see another doctor for the next 7 days. This is, I think, the longest stretch since I began this journey.
I've now talked to the third and final doctor and everyone agrees no more surgery! That's the good news. The bad news is that I start chemo next Thursday, April 5. Chemo will start at 10:30 and take a little over 3 hours. I can bring a DVD to watch, read a book, eat some lunch, whatever I want to entertain myself during this time. Mom and/or Dad will be there, too. I will go every three weeks for 4 cycles, so I should be getting my last chemo in early June. My hair will start to fall out around day 14.
Now that I have an actual date for it, I have to admit I'm scared of it. Hopefully I won't experience too many side effects, but given my sensitivity to just about every other drug I've ever taken, I'm not too optimistic. The doctor did call in a prescription for Emend, which is an anti-emetic. I'm to take the first about an hour before I go and then once a day for the next two days. I'll also get Aloxi, which serves a similar function, in my IV that day. Then they'll send me home with all sorts of drugs. They say it's easier to prevent the nausea and vomiting than to treat it once it starts, so I'll be following the schedule for these meds religiously.
I will not have to see another doctor for the next 7 days. This is, I think, the longest stretch since I began this journey.
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