My bi-weekly regimen is a 2-hour infusion of oxaliplatin on-site, then I start a 46-hour infusion of 5-FU(!) that I take home with me. The biggest side effect of oxaliplatin is cold sensitivity, in that the slightest bit of cold air or water or food or drink freaks my nervous system out and I feel like glass shards are attacking my hands and other random places. It doesn’t last but a few seconds and if it lingers, I just need to get myself warm. 

I felt really good leaving Monday and decided to take the 2 flights of stairs in the garage. It was 65 outside so I didn’t bundled up, though the stairwell was a little chilly. When I got to the top, I was wheezing and feeling like I was experiencing anaphylactic shock. My hands and calves locked up. Thankfully there was a wheelchair right there and Hattie got me back to the oncology pod. 

The nurses bundled me in hot blankets, gave me warm tea, and, just to be safe, gave me rescue meds (basically a shot of Benadryl in my port) in case I was reacting to the chemo. My oxygen sats were good and my blood pressure was really high, so it wasn’t a reaction. It was my crazy nervous system reacting to the cold. After about 30 minutes, it all went away. I was sleepy from the Benadryl and really hoarse from the weird throat thing, but otherwise fine. 🤷‍♀️ Guess I’ll be bundling up all spring and summer.  

The human body is a wild vessel, man.

(That’s a pic of me after my “Significant Event” headed home.)