The first infusion is bright red and is a twenty minute push directly into your body. All week I was thinking of ways that I could avoid this...but in the end it is the only option. Before the nurse started the push of Adriamycin I asked to hold it to give my body a moment to come to terms with the fact that this toxic drug was also my biggest allie on the battle ground. The second infusion lasts about 1 hour via IV - so the total session is about 2.5 hours from arrival to departure.
I also fasted for 48 hours before the session to support with side effects, and drank 2 liters of water before the infusion. I ate an avocado 2 hours before to coat my stomach, did a meditation and then my husband dragged me into the chemo center. The infusion began, I packed my feet, hands, and head in ice and then ate ice chips for 20 minutes to prevent neuropathy, hair loss and mouth sores. I had no issues. They pump you up with steroids so you leave a bit foggy and jittery but don't feel too shabby.
A device was attached to my stomach to inject me 27 hours later with neulasta (fyi -this is an $11,000 drug in the USA - insurance pays but $400 in France) - a protein to stimulate the production of white blood cells. I was also given numerous drugs for nausea along with one drug that is part of a clinical trial (I will post about this later).
I am almost 48 hours post treatment and feeling somewhat functional. I didn't sleep the first night and had some body aches, but after working a 1/2 day, and taking a few naps I was able to get out of the house to pick my son from school and do yoga. The fatigue is suppose to set in 2-3 days after infusion, I am hoping the fasting will prevent that but I am going to just take it one day at a time and let my body tell me what it needs.
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