I have now completed 2 cycles of the clinical treatment. My side effects have calmed down with reduced dosages of Gemcitabine and increased steroids. The steroids certainly help but I am wired all the time and this increases insomnia. When I finally finish taking the dosage 3 days after chemo then I kind of crash and have fatigue and headache for several days. Impairs my daily living a bit in that all I want to do is seek the couch. But I try to rest through the worst of it and continue with the things I want to do.
The other side effect that has worsened is the neuropathy. This is weakness, numbing and tingling in the hands and feet. My feet started becoming numb during my treatments with Taxol this past winter. It started out slowly in the toes and then spread to the whole foot. It ebbs in intensity and can be bothersome at times. Sometimes I have cramping in the foot and that can be painful. I have decided to start taking Gabapentin at night. I have had this drug in my arsenal for quite a while but it makes me drowsy so I only take one capsule at night. It seems to help calm things down which is my objective.
Showing posts with label Gabapentin. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Gabapentin. Show all posts
Saturday, May 16, 2015
Wednesday, November 17, 2010
3rd Chemo Session
On Friday November 12th we went to hospital for the last round of chemo before my surgery which is scheduled for December 8th in London. Dylan accompanied us as well so he missed a couple of periods of school that day. He wanted to see what happens in chemotherapy. I am sure it was mostly boring for him but it is now less mysterious.
I am given a cocktail of drugs before the actual chemo and they make me quite drowsy. I will sleep for short periods and then wake up a bit groggy and incoherent. At one point I had been dreaming and woke up laughing about something. Dylan found this quite amusing.
Since chemo I have been feeling the usual flu like symptoms but I also have been prescribed a higher dosage of Gabapentin to relieve the inevitable pain in the leg muscles and joints. It seems to be working. Doctor also suggested Ibuprofen and as a back up a prescription of Tylenol 3 just in case.
On November 16th I went to hospital for a CT Scan. This is in preparation of the surgery. What a zoo. They were backed up due to emergencies so the wait was excruciating. I wasn't feeling well due to chemo and for CT Scan you must drink 2 big glasses of contrasting liquid in one hour. To me it tastes like pool water. They certainly don't dress it up or anything. At least at St. Mary's hospital it was a flavoured smoothie that was at least drinkable. They also inject iodine via an IV during the procedure. While in the apparatus this gives you a metal taste in your mouth (which I already have), makes you feel hot and you feel like you are peeing yourself (which you are not). Eventually it was all over - actual scan procedure takes only 5 minutes. The whole thing was 3 1/2 hours and I was finally out of there. One final comment.... the nurses who were very busy did a great job of getting patients organized and ready for procedure while being very gracious and conscious of the delays. They did they best to hurry things along. It is a difficult job.
I am given a cocktail of drugs before the actual chemo and they make me quite drowsy. I will sleep for short periods and then wake up a bit groggy and incoherent. At one point I had been dreaming and woke up laughing about something. Dylan found this quite amusing.
Since chemo I have been feeling the usual flu like symptoms but I also have been prescribed a higher dosage of Gabapentin to relieve the inevitable pain in the leg muscles and joints. It seems to be working. Doctor also suggested Ibuprofen and as a back up a prescription of Tylenol 3 just in case.
On November 16th I went to hospital for a CT Scan. This is in preparation of the surgery. What a zoo. They were backed up due to emergencies so the wait was excruciating. I wasn't feeling well due to chemo and for CT Scan you must drink 2 big glasses of contrasting liquid in one hour. To me it tastes like pool water. They certainly don't dress it up or anything. At least at St. Mary's hospital it was a flavoured smoothie that was at least drinkable. They also inject iodine via an IV during the procedure. While in the apparatus this gives you a metal taste in your mouth (which I already have), makes you feel hot and you feel like you are peeing yourself (which you are not). Eventually it was all over - actual scan procedure takes only 5 minutes. The whole thing was 3 1/2 hours and I was finally out of there. One final comment.... the nurses who were very busy did a great job of getting patients organized and ready for procedure while being very gracious and conscious of the delays. They did they best to hurry things along. It is a difficult job.
Tuesday, October 26, 2010
More news following chemo session 2
Throughout the weekend, I only had to deal with fatigue. The Gabapentin painkiller that had been prescribed was doing a nice job.
On Saturday night, Pat and Suzanne visited for dinner. We hadn't seen them in a few weeks so it was good to catch up and hear about their trip to the Netherlands and Germany. We may hear from them more often now that Rob Ford has become Toronto's mayor!
Also, thank you to Jill and Michael for dropping off the therapeutic goodies.
On Sunday, I felt pretty good and we had a nice visit in the afternoon with Katherine and Cam.
By Monday morning, my condition had worsened. The Gabapentin wasn't doing its job and I had pain in my hands, lower legs and feet. I called the hospital and they prescribed a new serious painkiller (Oxycodone). It has taken away the pain, but it has its own side effects - such as feeling nauseous all the time.
Thursday, October 7, 2010
Week of October 4th
By Monday I had decided to contact my nurse coordinator Pat to see if there was anything I could do about the muscle and joint pain. It was excruciating and never let up. A quick call to the hospital and the triage nurse on duty in the Cancer Centre let me know that I could take Tylenol but to take my temperature first. It is important not to mask any fever. She also let me know she would ensure Pat was informed and that Pat would probably call. She did call and asked how the Tylenol worked. It really didn't do anything for me so she let me know she would talk to the doctor and probably call in a prescription for me.
Within hours a prescription was waiting at our local Pharma Plus and I started taking a medication called Teva-Gabapentin. It is used to relieve nerve pain and that it did by the time I went to bed that night. Finally, a good night's rest!
Of course, every medication has its side effects and this one is no exception. It makes me a little drowsy and fuzzy headed. No operating heavy machinery for now. But the pain has reduced about 80% and that is good enough for me.
Every day is a little better from the previous day. Appetite is a little better and the fatigue is a little bit less. I would not go so far as to say I feel normal but I think I have to come to terms about the new normal for now.
I am going out a little bit too. On Wednesday, David and I visited Hope Springs on Allen St. in Waterloo. Hope Springs is a not for profit cancer support centre. They offer a variety of programs for those with cancer and their caregivers. I got myself a lovely wig for when my hair falls out!
As you probably know chemotherapy is used to kill cancer cells throughout the body. The chemo drugs interfere with the growth and reproduction of cancer cells. This is good! However, they also damage normal cells that grow rapidly such as hair follicles, stomach lining, and blood cells. One of the side effects is lowered resistance to infection. This effect begins 7 days after chemo treatment and reaches its lowest point from day 10 - 14. After this the white blood count begins to improve and should reach normal levels before the next treatment. For me the lowest point is October 10 - 14. So if we discourage visitors don't think we don't love you!
Within hours a prescription was waiting at our local Pharma Plus and I started taking a medication called Teva-Gabapentin. It is used to relieve nerve pain and that it did by the time I went to bed that night. Finally, a good night's rest!
Of course, every medication has its side effects and this one is no exception. It makes me a little drowsy and fuzzy headed. No operating heavy machinery for now. But the pain has reduced about 80% and that is good enough for me.
Every day is a little better from the previous day. Appetite is a little better and the fatigue is a little bit less. I would not go so far as to say I feel normal but I think I have to come to terms about the new normal for now.
I am going out a little bit too. On Wednesday, David and I visited Hope Springs on Allen St. in Waterloo. Hope Springs is a not for profit cancer support centre. They offer a variety of programs for those with cancer and their caregivers. I got myself a lovely wig for when my hair falls out!
As you probably know chemotherapy is used to kill cancer cells throughout the body. The chemo drugs interfere with the growth and reproduction of cancer cells. This is good! However, they also damage normal cells that grow rapidly such as hair follicles, stomach lining, and blood cells. One of the side effects is lowered resistance to infection. This effect begins 7 days after chemo treatment and reaches its lowest point from day 10 - 14. After this the white blood count begins to improve and should reach normal levels before the next treatment. For me the lowest point is October 10 - 14. So if we discourage visitors don't think we don't love you!
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