It has been a whirlwind week. Peter got home late Sunday night after nine days in Florida for winter break (thank you Migliozzi family!). He swam in the ocean, fished, tasted fried alligator and had a blast at Busch Gardens on the roller coasters, including this crazy looper de looper, Montu.
I’ve spent the past few days surfing the couch, as chemo number four was on Friday. More about that in a minute. But first the fun leading up to infusion.
David left for a business trip on Tuesday morning. Realizing I would be alone the first night after chemotherapy and feeling kind of sorry for myself, I called Melinda, who immediately volunteered to come up for a sleepover. And then on Wednesday my sister Bink flew in for a short visit. We zipped over to yoga class only to discover that it had been cancelled due to inclement weather (it was kind of slippery out). No mind. We enjoyed a nice dinner out and then came home and watched the new James Bond movie, Skyfall. I miss the days when family was just around the corner!
Thursday morning we were on the road for Boston by 6:30 am. Due to the fact that the pharmacy in the Yawkey building is being remodeled, infusion would be a two day affair. Day one was labwork and an appointment with Dr. Shaw. I had emailed her earlier 
about the fact that I have been experiencing both tinnitus and decreased hearing since the last infusion. Unfortunately, ototoxicity from platinum chemotherapy can potentially be irreversible, (again, I am at greater risk for side effects given my four 
prior infusions of cisplatin) and in addition my white blood cell count was depressed (leukopenia), so Dr. Shaw advised returning to a lower dose of carboplatin. That was fine with me. Bink and I had the rest of the day off, so Jemesii met us at MGH and we took a short ride on the T for a yummy lunch at Flour. Then we picked up my car and headed over to the Hilton in Boston’s Back Bay. I mentioned in a previous post the largesse of a good friend who has donated some of his Hilton points so that I would not have to make the drive back and forth when appointments doubled up. This is the first time I had taken advantage of his generous offer, and the fact that Bink was along made it into a night out on the town.
First though, an afternoon on Newbury Street, where we worked our way up the retail food chain (primarily window shopping). Last stop was the Barney’s in Copley Plaza, which for all intents and purposes may as well be a museum.We also enjoyed a meal in Legal Seafood, and after bidding adieu to Jemesii, retired gratefully to our room with the view on the top floor of the Hilton.
The next morning Binky treated me to room service breakfast in bed (a first for me!) and then it was time to head back to the Yawkey Building for infusion. There was a wee bit of confusion as to whether or not I should have dosed prophylactically with antihistamines, so just to be on the safe side we delayed a bit while Bink ran to CVS for some Zyrtec. No more drama until the very end when the vein with the IV suddenly became quite red and painful—what the chemo nurse referred to as a ‘flare‘ reaction. Fortunately it settled down rather quickly after the IV was removed. Bink and I had a quick lunch from Whole Foods and then, all too soon, it was time to drop her at the airport in Manchester.
I made one more stop—for prescriptions, three magazines, and two cans of tuna. I had just settled into my surfing position on the couch when Melinda showed up. Tuna sandwiches, lots of chatter and some fine companionship made the night fly by, and Melinda hung around until David got home at noon on Saturday.
After that, I started to crash a bit—the fatigue this time around has been rather stunning. It seems to grab you around the shoulders and just pulls down hard; frankly, resistance seems futile. Plus, by Sunday afternoon it was clear that the virus I’d picked up from Peter earlier in the week had settled into my chest and was now an infection. I emailed Dr. Shaw and then thought better of it—perhaps this warranted a phone call. Thankfully, she picked up and a prescription for Azythromycin was called into the 24 hour pharmacy.
Today I am feeling somewhat better—it will all be up from here.
life and breath: outliving lung cancer 
Glad you are feeling better Linnea. I have been checking frequently and hoping you were just too busy to post.
Too busy is my favorite excuse for not posting 🙂
Linnea
Thank you for filling us in. So glad you got some fun and support before fatigue set in, though you sound pretty perky. Keep couch surfing until you’re ready to be fully vertical again, which hopefully will be v. v. soon! Do you need viewing matter as well as reading matter? Have we recommended Enlightement with Laura Dern yet? The 1st season is out on DVD. I think you’d dig it. With xoxo
Cristina, I have heard good things about that show—I will look for the DVD. In the meantime, Pete and I have gotten through the 1st season of Game of Thrones. Lots of violence, gratuitous sex, but a compelling story line. A bit cheesy. Peter says the books are great though…
xoLinnea
You are the definition of a warrior. So very brave. Bless you.
Thank you Roni.
Linnea
Well it sounds like you are at least getting into a routine with this treatment. There’s always something to be said for consistency! You have great friends and family members that will drop everything to make sure you are taken care of. Those relationships, they’re priceless!
Hi Jessica; good to hear from you. I will get around to commenting on your blog, but I am SO happy that you are going to Boston and will see Dr. Shaw. She’s even more amazing in person 🙂
Linnea
Grateful for the update. Your overnight stay in Boston sounded so nice, despite the reason for the trip!
Boston was fun, for sure.
Linnea
Dea Linnea – I read the english Daily Mail online almost every day. I like the gossip and the great photos they have. It is a guilty pleasure as it cannot be taken as serious journalism. This morning I saw an article in the news section about your friend Lisa Smirl and I though you and perhaps your supporters may be interested in reading it.
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-2290128/University-professor-37-dies-lung-cancer-doctors-dismissed-symptoms-anxiety-depression.html
Beryl, when August and I flew to Sweden, the only good part about a layover at Heathrow was our ability to get a copy of the Daily Mail. It is amusing that staid England has such sensationalist journalism—a guilty pleasure indeed. I am not sure Lisa’s sad story is their typical copy, but I think the fact that she was misdiagnosed (with depression of all things) is tragic and I suppose sensationalist. I certainly noticed an uptick in views from Britain after the article came out.
Lisa was a bright light and it is just so hard to understand—but perhaps her story will encourage others to be their own advocate; something we generally learn the hard way.
Linnea
Your post made me smile with memories of a trip to Boston years ago, I windowshopped Newbury and would have paid admission to scope out Copley Square! Good to see a post from you after reading of Lisa’s death, such a tragic thing, makes one wonder about modern medicine. Steve is on a respite from chemo to allow the steroids to get rid of the rash from Alimta. His fatigue has caused loss of activity which in turn has allowed his weight to bloom! Doctor has forbidden sugar in his diet. Not a happy man here! Spring is teasing us with a bit of warm sun so he may extend his daily walking. Stand Strong, you are a light to so many. Hedy
Hedy, I wonder if the steroids have contributed to weight gain as well—they certainly make me hungrier. No sugar—can Steve still have fruit, as fruit smoothies (with plain yogurt) may satisfy that craving. I’m glad you have some sunshine—I’m still looking for ours. And should you come Boston way again, we’ll go scope out Copley Square together.
Linnea