Let me start by thanking everyone for the overwhelming support! It is very humbling and exciting. I’m still figuring this out as I go… This won’t necessarily be your typical breakdown of what cancer is like for most people. I will be telling you what is going on now, and telling you how I started on this journey. I do everything backwards, why should this be any different.
This week marked the start of me giving myself my own Interferon(chemotherapy), via injection at home. I was told it will be much better because it is a considerably lower dose than that of what I was receiving during my IV infusions. While the dose part is true, the rest is total *&%#. When I was receiving my IV infusions of 38 million units (no, I don’t know exactly what that breaks down to), it was with a full IV bag on board. They also gave me Tylenol, Benadryl, and a anti-nausea med.
Cut to Monday. I go in and they show me how to give myself the injection. Which, of, course, I didn’t need any help with because I have given many shots over the years. All went well. Let me back up just a little for a second. The injections are supposed to be better because they are at a lower dose, 19 million units. This should, in theory, make the side effects less.I felt pretty awesome for a couple of hours. I even ran errands, thinking, “look at me, I’m such a bad#$%”.
This is where you can imagine what started to happen. On my way home, the side effects started to kick in. I have to say they were as bad, if not worse than the very first time I had chemo. My visiting nurse and occupational therapist both came for their regular visits, and were just as shocked as I was. Things got progressively worse as the evening went on. I called my oncologist and he told me what to do and said that he hoped I didn’t have anymore severe reactions, as they would have to stop my chemo altogether with me having eleven months to go.
Tuesday came. With it, came a sweet symptom free morning. You can imagine how happy I was. Throughout this 24 hours, I kept trying to figure out why it was so rough. Then it hit me right between the eyes. I didn’t treat my injection like a regular chemo day. No fluid loading(water), no Tylenol, Benadryl, or anti-nausea medications. The other consideration was that, while the chemo is at a lower dose, it doesn’t come with an IV bag full of saline. It only comes with the one ml that you mix it with. That right there makes the injection still heavy-duty.
Today, Wednesday is injection/chemo day. I have to do it three times a week. I HAVE taken all my pre-medications this time. I will be gearing up of the injection in a couple of minutes. Here’s the first lesson I learned THIS week: don’t get cocky. Assume you know nothing, educate yourself, and prepare for anything. I have no doubt that I will be learning more lessons this week…. I will let you know how today goes. Be blessed everyone.
Much love,
Jody
This Thing Called Life 
I think we get so focused on one thing we fail to look at the overall picture. I think you have it right when you didn’t prep yourself as normal. When we have to learn a new normal, we forget that the brain needs to retrain to the new normal. Keep up the good fight!
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Linda, you hit it spot on! We think about that one moment, while forgetting the big picture. That’s where I have found writing in a journal helps. The only problem with that is that sometimes I forget to write in it. LOL Thank you for the encouragement!
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Me too… So far so good. I treated today like a regular chemo day. I took all my pre and post medications. The water thing is hard for me, always has been. I would prefer not to throw up on top of the other side effects.. I didn’t know about the peppermint. Thanks, that’s good to know. It’s one of those things that they don’t tell you. There is always a big learning curve. Love ya!!
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Your strength is empowering. Each step brings on new challenges. Luckily with your medical background, you are smart enough to take a step back and look at the big picture. I hope today’s treatment goes better. 😊❤😊
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Thank you Judi for all of your support! You know just what I need when I need it.The background can be very h Sometimes though, being the patient, I forget things. That’s usually when someone says to slow down and take breath. When I do, I can see big picture. Today did go much better!
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Jody you are so amazingly strong!! Much love 💗
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Jody, I hope your treatment side affects continued to be less as the day went on. That was so wise of you to sit back and think and figure out was different from being at the center for your treatment. I have Wednesday and Thursday’s off if you ever want a friend to keep you company.
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Thank you Gaylee! There are just times when you need to take a step back, take a beat, and replay things in your mind. If you are still long enough, you will get the answer. I would love the company! We will have to set something up.
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