Since being diagnosed last Dec, the Chemo sessions I endured have had no effect on the Leukemia, but did a number on me. One cocktail administered in Feb almost did me in. A simultaneous reaction of acute body rigor, low back pain and cold chills shocked my care nurses, who gave me a shot of Demerol which thankfully knocked me out. Not clear on events afterwards but I was back in the hospital for several days.
In the middle of April, a 1:30pm appt, another cocktail administered, seemed to be tolerated with no bad reaction; however, finally getting home after 6pm, I felt more fatigued then usual. A followup appt, (twice a week they did blood draws) revealed that the Chemo had compromised my Immune system, requiring several units of blood transfusions were needed over the next few weeks.
What I thought was to be a blood draw in mid May on a Wednesday, instead was a plan to administer no less than three different cocktails in three different IV bags; the first one nearly completed caused violent reactions; one of which had my caregivers administer Oxygen because of severe labored breathing. They gave me several drug injections to counter the other reactions, but it seemed an eternity before even my breathing finally slowed to a semi normal rate, unlabored, and slowly, the other pains diminished.
I again got home late but had to go back the next day for yet another Cocktail to be administered. Shortly thereafter it began to cause similar reactions, so the drip was stopped. My care nurses were concerned that one of the reactions had caused chest pain. They wanted me to go to Emergency Room, but I had had enough of E.R.’s slow, bureaucratic, time killing methods, and refusing that avenue, just drove back home.
It had totally trashed me, it wasn’t until the following Monday that I felt remotely “human” again without severe fatigue and weakness. Now, some weeks later, the after effects have diminished, but my blood draws are borderline; barely enough to avoid needing more blood transfusions. I point blank told one of the nurses, that the Chemo sessions were my Leukemia’s best friend.
Though I had been told another Chemo session was to be June 9th, the calendar provided indicates an Oncology appt that day, and a Chemo session on the 11th. Today, at least I wake up without fatigue, but still weak. I had been 5′ 10″ and 165 lbs when first diagnosed; now I’m 5′ 8″ and 145 lbs. It’s eating me up. I don’t know whether it is the Chemo, or the Leukemia, but even my sense of taste has been affected; some foods taste different. Very bizarre.
I still have my hair, but it has been thinned out, and my hairline is two inches further back. Ironically funny, I had purchased more razor blades because track two blades are getting hard to find, and expensive; but I discovered that after four days of not shaving, my beard wasn’t growing back, and my Moustache doesn’t need trimming. This is where I’m at; so much for Medical expertise.
Unrelated; I was 23 yrs old, and liked this Head East song from their Flat As A pancake LP.
partnering with eagles 
