Diary of the 1st ESHAP Treatment

 

ESHAP is chemotherapy that is used for high grade NHL that has come back and it is given as an inpatient over 5 days, every 4 weeks.  ESHAP can cause drop in blood counts, sickness, hair loss, diarrhoea, sore mouth and taste changes, sore hands and feet and pins and needles.

 

My ESHAP Chemotherapy Regimen consisted of:

Methylprednisolone Days 1 – 5

Etoposide Days 1 – 4

Cisplatin Days 1 -4

Cytarabine Day 5 only.

 

Thursday, 2nd January, 2003  -  1st day in hospital to start my ESHAP treatment

Today was an easy day

I arrived at the clinic at 9.30 for my appointment, and had my usual blood tests carried out; unfortunately, by veins were playing up, and the nurse had trouble finding a good one. My consultant became aware of this and advised that I get a PICC line installed in my right arm as my veins were not in an ideal condition, and it would make it easier to get further treatment through the line.

I had to get an extra blood sample taken for a kidney function test before the PICC line could be fitted, and once the results came back, I was told that everything was OK and that they could fit it.

 

Friday, 3rd January 2003  -  DAY 1 of ESHAP treatment

Day two was a relaxed day, and I had no problems.

I was rigged up to an infusion pump and a saline drip to hydrate me.

Good kidney function is essential when you are receiving ESHAP, so you will receive plenty of fluid both orally and intravenously. You or the nurses will have to record everything you drink, and the amount of urine you pass. If it becomes necessary, you may receive extra medicine to help you pass urine.

At the end of day 1, I had drank 3100ml of tea, water, and soup (soup is counted as a liquid). I had also received 3900ml of intravenous hydration (saline), through my new PICC line. This made a total input of 7000ml. I had also expelled (urinated) 5890ml of liquid.   (Click here to see my input and output figures while on ESHAP)

You can use these figures as a guide, but don’t forget I’m a 14 stone male, so if you’re a 9 stone female, the figures could be quite different.

If, for any reason, you can’t drink extra water, it is essential that you tell the nurse or doctor.

Sometimes, I have been constipated in the past immediately after treatment, so I requested some lactulose solution, just in case any problems occur. Although I have had no problems yet, it’s better to be safe than sorry.

I was also given 2 mouthwashes to use, to prevent any possible mouth ulcers developing.

Throughout the day, eating was completely normal, and I had no problems of any kind to contend with.

 

Saturday, 4th January, 2003  -  DAY 2 of ESHAP treatment

Another easy day, but taste is starting to be affected, insofar as I have the usual metallic taste, and reduced ability to taste the food given. No other symptoms of any kind. (Just lucky I guess)

 

Sunday, 5th January, 2003  -  DAY 3 of ESHAP treatment

No symptoms of any kind, even the taste has returned

 

Monday, 6th January, 2003  -  DAY 4 of ESHAP treatment

Face kind of puffy today, seem to be retaining some water, but otherwise no symptoms, no sickness, etc

 

Tuesday, 7th January, 2003  -  DAY 5 of ESHAP treatment

Last day, and no sickness of any kind yet. Water retention seems to be building up, but it’s not a problem

1st day to try Cytarabine (Cytosar®) which has lots of possible side effects listed.

 

Wednesday, 8th January, 2003  -  Day 6

Chemotherapy treatment finished

Expelled a lot of water during the previous night, so water retention is not a problem any more.

Apart from 1 small mouth ulcer, things are still perfect. No sickness at all.

 

Thursday, 9th January, 2003  -  Day 7

Could not get to sleep until 3am last night, and woke up with swelling on left hand side of face. It was noticeable when I was eating, but was not sore and not really a problem. The nurses checked it and determined that it was just a side effect from Chemotherapy, but would let the consultant check it this afternoon.

Felt very sleepy during the day today, and had a couple of naps. No other symptoms.

 

Friday, 10th January, 2003  -  Day 8

Very tired today. Swelling in face has went down, although I’m getting antibiotics for it, but it’s not a problem

Other than the dreaded tiredness, everything’s the same.

Slept in the afternoon, felt back to 90% again

My wife brought me fish, chips and peas from the chip shop, so I must be rapidly back on the mend.

 

Saturday, 11th January, 2003  -  Day 9

Good day, but still tired. Getting bored. Read a book today, cover to cover.

 

Sunday, 12th January, 2003  -  Day 10

Another sleepy day, but I didn’t sleep during it, so that I could sleep at night.

Found myself very near to fainting as I was finishing my bath; must have been the exertion.

Weighed myself, and I have lost 1 stone since coming into hospital.

 

Monday, 13th January, 2003  -  Day 11

Up early, and hopefully ready to go home today. I will find out later.

Feel good, still sleepy, but not a problem.

 

At Home

Once home, taste was still bad, but I was never sick, and had no problems other than being sleepy.

The cycle was repeated every three weeks, until I had my appointment for Stem Cell Transplant

 

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