angelwthwingz's Cancer Blog
September 15, 2008
| First Radiation | Views: 501 |
Today was my first ‘real’ radiation, the appointment went quickly, I was in and out in the matter of maybe 15 minutes, then I had to see my radiology oncologist, I will see him every monday, being this was my first treatment there wasn’t much for us to go over. Afterwards I went to work, worked a full day and on the way home got a call from my medical oncologist’s nurse.
The blood work they took on friday was back and somehow I had depleted all my potassium once again, so they asked me to come in and get infused with some and then take oral potassium for the rest of the week. Since I have to go to the hospital for radiation in the morning I asked if I could come in early and have the test run again and see if maybe the level was better. So tomorrow they will do a blood draw (if they can get any, my viens have blown or collapsed the last three blood draws not giving them much to work with) sent it to the lab for ‘stat’ processing and if I need to be infused they will do it after radiation. My little arm got pretty beat up during the last infusion leaving a scar, so I pray I won’t have to get any. Potassium burns you when it goes in and it has to go in really slow, the last infusion lasted nine hours.
Well it’s always and adventure with me. Will keep ya posted.
06.09.08 - 
Karin 
Thanks for your support -
Do you know why your potassium is being depleted? Are you losing a lot of fluid. I take potassium tablets every day and have done so for years. The reason I have to take it is because I have fluid build up and have to take a pill to get rid of the fluid and that washes out my potassium.
I am surprised that you didn’t get a port-a-cath installed for the chemo. I had one both times I had chemo and it sure is much nicer than having them trying to find a vein. I still have my port-a-cath that I used for the chemo I finished in June of 2006. When I got the port-a-cath back in 1994, I kept it for 5 years. It doesn’t bother me. I just have to get it flushed every 2 or 3 months. I could get it removed but I just haven’t gotton around to it.
Good luck with your radiation. I hope everything goes well for you.
My thoughts and prayers are with you.
Hugs, Joyce
Hi Angel; So sorry about the vein thing. I have heard that port o caths do save you from the sticking and bruising. Hope you manage through. Thinking of you always.
Weezie
Angel,
I’m glad the radiation went well for you. I sure hope you don’t need to have the infusion for your potassium, that doesn’t sound like fun and 9 hours!
Wendy
I hope things get a little easier for you my friend.
Hugs Sherri
I don’t know if you have an appetite, but if you do, can you eat bananas? I blend them in my strawberry Ensure each day. They also gave me a potassium prescription, but I told the doctor I would rather eat bananas as I take enough pills, and sometimes those vitamin “big as a horse” pills get stuck in my throat and that’s no fun! smile
They had problems getting my blood too and the lab technician told me to drink 2 or 3 cups of water or fluid before I come in and that would make it easier plus they use a smaller butterfly needle. I had blood drawn today and it was a piece of cake, hardly felt the pin prick & she got it on the first try. Hallelujah!
Love, hugs and prayers from me to you.
SweetE2
I wish you nothing but beautiful thoughts and pray you get through your radiation in a breeze.
You give me such hope and I want to give you the same support back.
You are in my thoughts all the time.
Sonia
Hi Angel,
I’m just wondering how you are doing after more of your radiation treatments.
I’m also curious how you are doing with the stage 3 meds?
I just got my consent and info packet on doing this stage 3 study today. I still have a little bit to decide what I’m going to do as I still have one more chemo treatment next week. I have not been feeling well at all. This 5th chemo treatment really kicked my butt. I’ve been having a lot of all over body aches and pains and the fatigue is ridiculous.
Anyway, I was reading the info on the stage 3 meds and I was not too happy when I got to the “side effects” part of it. I’ve had my fill of side effects! Are you having side effects from the pills? Do you know what, if any, other choices you would have had if you didn’t want to do the study?
Thanks for letting me pick your brain.
Wendy