First HP Infusion

I will start by saying I had a meltdown last night about having to go back to MGH Waltham today.  I do not want to go back to that building and infusion unit.  I rang the damn bell; I'm done. I walked into that building in September feeling fine and nothing's been the same since.  I do not want to have any more drugs pumped into me.  

But that's not the plan.  I have infusions of H, Herceptin, and P, Perjeta, every three weeks through October.  14 or 15 more infusions.  Side effects?  Nerve damage (more - fuck), diarrhea, fatigue (of course), reduced heart function (thus echocardiograms every 3 months), bone pain.  I have no idea what to expect because, while I've had 4 rounds of these already, they've been administered with Taxol and who knows what drug was doing what. 

It's been 9 days since my final chemo and for the first time, I felt better this morning.  I went to my 5:30am workout and it was better.  I probably had 45% of my original energy.  Which is better than the 30%.  Baby steps.

I headed to MGH mid-day with my husband (thank you!) for my 1:30 infusion.  We arrive early.  I get my vitals done like before, and then head straight back to the infusion room.  I'm confused because before chemo, I went to 'port access' where they "plug me in" for the visit.  Turns out that's done in the infusion room now because no blood needs to be drawn prior to the visit.  I'm shown to Infusion Room 14 and immediately, IN1 shows up!  Yippee!  

She accesses my port and requests the meds.  It takes about a 1/2 hour for the meds to arrive.  I never noticed this when doing chemo because I was doing the cold capping cool down and getting premeds (that aren't toxic and require the IN to wear protective gear).  I hang out waiting for the meds, hooked up to saline.  It's weird being back, and not drowsy, not drugged (yet) and simply waiting.  

The meds show up and up goes the Perjeta first.  30 minute infusion.  I get super cold, I think because the meds are cold and with chemo, I was cold capping and icing my feet, so I always had an electric blanket on with a wool blanket over sometimes.  I just had the wool blanket today.  My husband finds the heated blankets and brings one in.  I kind of read and kind of nod off.  It's boring and the warm blanket makes me sleepy. (Note: Electric blanket coming back out for use next time.)

That ends and there's a 15 minute 'observation period' I assume to make sure I don't have a reaction.  With all of the premeds in chemo, you wouldn't really know I guess.  Then onto the Herceptin and another 30 minute infusion.

And then I'm done.  Port access out.  I'm sleepy but I think just from the anxiety build up before the appointment.  It's about a 2 hour session and I was hoping the infusions would be shorter.  Maybe they double up the drugs next time?

Say goodbye to IN1 and head home.  Overall NOT AWFUL.  Would I rather not be there in the first place, of course. But not bad.  Now only 13 or 14 more infusions.  Onto radiation mapping next Monday...and I'll see what side effects creep out from this...should be interesting. xo J

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