ER Visit.....pain, pain and more pain

On May 25th I had my 4th of 6 chemotherapy treatments.  I went into this new treatment knowing the possible side effects of muscle pain as wel as the added side effects from the Neulasta injection which would increase the amount of muscle pain in the back and lower legs. Well let me tell you, I never thought it would land me in the hospital for 4 days with high fever and excruciating pain.

My Neulasta injection was on Friday May 27, this injection is given to boost my white blood cells after my chemo treatment. When I woke up on Saturday morning I felt like I was hit by a train, my entire body ached with soreness, although it was manageable I only took Tylenol to help ease the pain. I was on the sofa all day and managed to get out a little at night. Sunday was worse, the lower back pain and leg pains were unbearable in the morning, took more tylenols and more tylenols and they were not doing the job. Also, I realized that I had developped thrush in my mouth, this is a build up of yeast caused by medications. My tongue was white and swollen causing a little difficulty to swallow.  By Monday morning I called the oncology clinic and informed them of the pain as well as the thrush and they called in to my pharmacy for antibiotic as well as morphine for the pain. Late Monday afternoon I began to get cold chills and did not think it was something good.  When you are in chemo a temperature of 38.3 is cause for an immediate emergency room visit.  I decided to wait it out for the night and see if it would go away, and of course it did not so off to the ER I went on Tuesday with temperature at 39 when I got to the hospital. 

When I got to the ER they were amazing, I was quickly triaged and placed on a bed to wait for a doctor to see me. The wait was minimal and I was quickly placed in isolation to avoid further risk of infection. At this point the point the pain was so bad that I was asking for pain meds regularly, I was on morphine every 2 hours to help relieve some of the pain.  It was a very scary and difficult time, I was worried about myself, my daughter, my husband who was amazing and going back and forth to take care of Olivia and send her off to school every day. My mom was preparing meals and lunches for Olivia while my husband was by my side in the hospital during the day time, she is a saviour. 

After almost 3 days of fever finally it was gone and the results were a bacteria from my thrush has gotten into my blood stream through my eusophagus.  Crazy shit if you ask me but chemo just burns through everything, therefore there was no protection for the bacteria to stay contained. I am very lucky that they were quick with antibiotic and the constant poking and prodding, thanks for the black and blue arms...but I am back to myself and feeling good again and for that I am eternally greatful. 

My next treatment is June 15 and I pray that I will not go through the same side effects.  So in the meantime I am enjoying my days of feeling good and taking it easy on the not so good days and being greatful for everyday that I wake up and enjoy another day with my family.

Being stuck in a bed for almost 5 days was horrible and thanks to those who sent messages, called and came to visit me. 

Love you all

Franca