Yesterday was a weird, confronting, intense day. It all started out perfectly: went for coffee with a dear colleague and actually had the energy to do so. Was really nice, we sat at the cafe for a good 2,5 hours. I even managed to get into town afterwards.
The only thing bothering me, was the cramp in my fingers I'd be having for a day. I called the hospital to check with them, since I'd been having all sorts of weird symptoms the week before due to low blood levels and always needed to have it fixed by either medicine or blood transfusions.
I spoke to my nurse who told me to have my blood checked at the hospital that day. It was late in the afternoon by then, but she really wanted me there before the weekend. It turned out my magnesium levels were low and with the symptoms I had, plus the fact that I react so strongly to the chemo, the oncologist told me I had to spend the night at the hospital.
My worst nightmare. I've never spend the night at a hospital and really didn't want to now. But he was persistent and I really had to. Had to get an IV with extra magnesium and wasn't allowed to go home. I didn't bring anything with me, it's an hours drive to my house and my parents were in Antwerp for the weekend. Luckily my sister lives nearby and she brought me some stuff and basically lifted my spirits that evening. Because boy oh boy was I angry and upset.
All in all the experience wasn't nice, barely slept at night because they had to measure my blood pressure every hour until 2 am. And then I just couldn't sleep, it was light, there were a lot of noises, my roommate needed constant care and attention etc...
It also wasn't a nice experience, because it was so sudden and I had no say in it.
Luckily I got to go home today, with extra medicine I have to take till Thursday, when I return to the hospital again.
I begin to realise now that I actually have it rough with this cancer and that this isn't normal. Even my nurse told me they haven't seen anyone respond to chemo the way I do.
The only thing bothering me, was the cramp in my fingers I'd be having for a day. I called the hospital to check with them, since I'd been having all sorts of weird symptoms the week before due to low blood levels and always needed to have it fixed by either medicine or blood transfusions.
I spoke to my nurse who told me to have my blood checked at the hospital that day. It was late in the afternoon by then, but she really wanted me there before the weekend. It turned out my magnesium levels were low and with the symptoms I had, plus the fact that I react so strongly to the chemo, the oncologist told me I had to spend the night at the hospital.
My worst nightmare. I've never spend the night at a hospital and really didn't want to now. But he was persistent and I really had to. Had to get an IV with extra magnesium and wasn't allowed to go home. I didn't bring anything with me, it's an hours drive to my house and my parents were in Antwerp for the weekend. Luckily my sister lives nearby and she brought me some stuff and basically lifted my spirits that evening. Because boy oh boy was I angry and upset.
All in all the experience wasn't nice, barely slept at night because they had to measure my blood pressure every hour until 2 am. And then I just couldn't sleep, it was light, there were a lot of noises, my roommate needed constant care and attention etc...
It also wasn't a nice experience, because it was so sudden and I had no say in it.
Luckily I got to go home today, with extra medicine I have to take till Thursday, when I return to the hospital again.
I begin to realise now that I actually have it rough with this cancer and that this isn't normal. Even my nurse told me they haven't seen anyone respond to chemo the way I do.
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