Here I go again

This has been a full couple of weeks. I spent the week before starting the study in Texas with my family. This has been so hard on my mother, she can not stand to talk about it. We returned home late Sunday night and what do I find to my surprise? My schedule for the week ahead, but I will have to be in Madison at 7:15 the next morning. So after traveling all day I need to get hydrated for getting an i.v. and have to get up at 4:15 to make the drive to Madison. My husband had to stay in Texas for work, so my daughter who is a freshman in college is going to be my partner the next day. Believe me, college students really hate to get up that early.

We get to the hospital and the first procedure of the day is a CT. I know by the look on the tech's face that she will have trouble finding a good vein. They should really practice confident looks whether they feel that way or not. I know I am not a good vein candidate and traveling had made me extra de-hydrated so a few things working against me. Lo and behold we tried three place before she finally used a smaller needle and put it in my bicep. Great, at least I left the IV in for the MUGA scan. Now for a lovely breakfast from the cafeteria. I am not sure why I couldn't have both scans back to back but that afternoon I will know why.

Next comes the test dose of Octreotide. I already had the shots when I first diagnosed and they really didn't help my symptoms, so I know my reaction but the study has its own protocol. So here I go again with this. The injections are done in the chemo lab, so I am waiting with others who are going in for chemo infusions and I have to feel very lucky. Just a wait for them to get the drug ready to inject and get to me. I have been at the hospital since 7 am and it is now 2 pm.

My MUGA scan is scheduled for 1:45. After some trouble with another patient they finally call me in at 3. This procedure takes about one hour. The most annoying thing was laying still and being swaddled like a fussy baby so I can't move. So I am done by 4 and I have been awake since 4 and I am feeling very tired. We have a two hour drive home.

I am due back on Wednesday for lab work, my doctor's appt, and the full shot of Octreotide. Whoopie! Another day, but this one doesn't have to start until 7:30. All systems show go but it is really busy in the cancer center today so they are backed up in the chemo lab and the pharmacy. But we get through and I am sent home with my new little pills and my concerns about side effects.

The first dose of AMG 706 is at 8 am Thursday morning. The study coordinator told me that she would be very surprised if my blood pressure did not rise because only one person on the
did not have an increase. It also can affect thyroid function, I already take thyroid meds and blood pressure so I am worried about the blood pressure especially. My baseline BP is 144/82, I have to call if my diastolic increases by 20. The reaction is quick, the next morning (today) my reading is 174/102. Twenty points just like that. After a call to the coordinator I find myself going to the pharmacy for an additional BP med. Jury is still out on how it will work.

This is the first two days of treatment but the results on the other participants have been quickly, within the first two months. You have to take it one day at a time and I will have to work on positive thinking , eating better, exercising, and writing in this blog. So here's to positive thinking!