Levels of information

This morning we rang the hospital for advice and we were told to come in for a new dressing and advice about Joan's vomiting and diarrhea. Good personal service! The chemo coordinator redressed the PICC line entry and ran a few more facts about FOLFOX6 chemotherapy past us.

Yesterday, Joan didn't eat and slept for 20 of the 24 hours until this morning. Previously we hadn't been warned about this likelihood. The coordinator explained that steroids are part of the FOLFOX regime and for the one day after chemo one expects to feel very good and as the steroids fade, tiredness comes on. Gotta live with that one, but she stressed exact times for taking the anti-nausea medicine and Gastrostop for the diarrhea. Seems to be working this afternoon.

There seems to be several levels of information we are being fed. Firstly the surgeon who told us that he could not operate and sent us to the oncologist who told us what he was recommending as treatment, the head nurse at the chemo ward who gave us lots of info about the mechanics of chemotherapy, the nurse who gave the first infusion and the nurse who removed the pump and flushed the PICC line and now the coordinator who slipped us the info about the extreme tiredness and combating nausea and diarrhea. We haven't had any advice from the little nun who patrols the waiting room asking everyone the same questions.

Let's hope that now we know exactly what to expect; next session, Joan can fall into a routine and sleep for a day.