Well, I got these horrible blisters that pussed up and popped. I'm not really happy with my radiation doctor simply because he didn't tell me how to care of these. He simply told me to leave it alone just keep it clean; DON'T put anything on the blisters except what he told/gave me to put on them. WELL, the area got infected. Last week Monday the skin had turned black around the pussing area. I had been keeping it clean and only using the ointment they had provided. My right arm swelled and it looked like I had a burn on my shoulder and arm.
The Stubborn Mule that I am I decided not to go to the doctors when the fever started two days after radiation was completed. I felt so horribly sick and yet I persevered. WHY? You ask well I was in the middle of Mid terms and I though well I'm a tough girl I can handle anything right? WRONG...
I had a fever of 102 for two days...I remember one of my professors asking me if I was OK. I said yes. For some reason I should have followed that thought and said I should go home and see a doctor...and yet I didn't. He asked if I thought I should go home...my reply was NO, I need to paint...YEAH...NOT a good idea. I was supposed to meet some friends after class for our weekly gathering, something I really look forward to but suddenly I nearly fell over and I started sweating but I was freezing. I thought Uh OH, I need to go home...SO, Somehow I managed to make it home and I collapsed on the couch and couldn't move. Even when my family came home I couldn't move. I had a friend come over for dinner and yet I still couldn't move. Looking back I wonder what the hell is wrong with my family for not taking me to the hospital.
Anyway, my friend said, UM, maybe we should take you to the hospital now...I'm thinking NAH, I'll be fine. Sweat is POURING down my face and body and I'm covered in a sweatshirt, sweat pants, thick socks, have my HUGE comforter on put my hat on...OK fever is making me delusional. REALLY, My friend asks me one more time and I refuse so we just continue talking as I sweat it out whatever is wrong with me...and seriously I still am not thinking it's an infection brought on by the radiation. He makes me promise that I'll go see a doctor in the morning and leaves for the night.
Next morning I make an appointment with my local doctor, just a GP not an oncologist. and she looks at what I thought was a rash and was about to let me go with a steroid cream to put on my "rash". Meanwhile I'm thinking I need to focus on what she's saying and sit up because I'm leaning over about to fall on the floor. Then it occurs to me to ask her "What about the open sore under my breast?" She looks at me and asks a little more alarmed..."WHAT open sore?!" So she makes me disrobe and I show her, she nearly fell over and said more like yelled, "YOU DIDN'T TELL ME YOU HAD THAT?!" She's like "I'll be right back...WHAT YOUR Doctor’s Name IS?"
Stupid me responds, "Um, you're my doctor..." She looks at me and says..."ok, Never mind, just sit here I'll be right back."
Apparently she was calling my doctor to see if they were going to admit me into the hospital but, they didn't. She comes back a 1/2 an hour later and says "WELL, you need to call your Oncologist when you get home I'm giving you two week supply of antibiotics. Come see me in two weeks."
So, I call my doctor and he scolds me telling me I HAVE to talk to my teachers and let them know about the situation. If I get that sick again I am NOT allowed to go to school and their to send me straight home...I didn't tell them the sending me home or not allowed to go to school bit...but then again who is counting?
As a result, which I'll NEVER do again, is my heart is damaged. NOT to worry, it's not as bad as you think. None of the valves are damaged, or the muscles...it the volume per beat that's not right. The volume per beat used to be 65 which from what I understand is Athletic status where NOW, it's 56...which is an average person in the US today. So I went from athletic to average...The reason why they stopped the Herceptin is because the Herceptin is KNOWN to damage the heart and dropping 9 points is too much so it's just precautionary.
I do feel the drop in energy, I do see myself struggling more physically and mentally but, I'm confident I'll be fine. OBTW the heart thing...I found out exactly ONE year ago I found out that I MIGHT have cancer. October 30, 2007 ... October 30, 2008 is when I found out about my heart problem...Weird Eh?
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