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Andrea Barnett Budin · 03-31-2013, 06:42 PM

I was a liver metser. And a regular at the CT machine.

The bathroom drama was incredible following the drinking and injecting of contrast. I was doing that ev 2 mnths for at least a yr. Then graduated to ev 3 mnths. Finally I begged for ev 4 mnths. Ok, I was told, but you can't go any more than that.

Eventually, I got to ev 6 mnths! PARTY! And now -- I'm annual. Live in hope, my friends.

Re contrast -- confession. I cheated. They were giving me this amount then next time a different amount and no one seemed to have a handle on it. So, I cut off a little. And got a nice reading. Each time I went, I cut back more. And more. And more. At the center, given the drink (bringing my fav tea bottle w/me) I still drank less than they gave me. Went to the ladies room, and I poured most of it out. Still, got a good reading.

And, I didn't have to deal with just MAYBE IF I WAS LUCKY making it to the bathroom in time for the rest of the day and days after.

Then, I had itchy scratchy palms as I was leaving. I popped to Benedryl. In the car on the way home, my husband told me to take Benedryl. I explained I had. When. I told him, 15 min ago. He said, Take 2 more. And I did. So I slept. But the itching subsided.

Finally I took 2 Benedryl the night before and the morning of my CT.

And now, blessedly, my onc writes -- NO CONTRAST. Though I do still have to drink. But -- I never drink it all.

Sharing, cause my daring might just help another suffering soul. And that would make my day!!!

My total admiration to every one of you! Sheroes all!!

Love you all,

Andi

03-31-2013, 06:42 PM	#14
Andrea Barnett Budin Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: LAND OF YES! w/home in Boca Raton, Florida Orig from L.I., N.Y. Ever hovering IN THE NOW... Posts: 1,904	Re: Question for liver metsters I was a liver metser. And a regular at the CT machine. The bathroom drama was incredible following the drinking and injecting of contrast. I was doing that ev 2 mnths for at least a yr. Then graduated to ev 3 mnths. Finally I begged for ev 4 mnths. Ok, I was told, but you can't go any more than that. Eventually, I got to ev 6 mnths! PARTY! And now -- I'm annual. Live in hope, my friends. Re contrast -- confession. I cheated. They were giving me this amount then next time a different amount and no one seemed to have a handle on it. So, I cut off a little. And got a nice reading. Each time I went, I cut back more. And more. And more. At the center, given the drink (bringing my fav tea bottle w/me) I still drank less than they gave me. Went to the ladies room, and I poured most of it out. Still, got a good reading. And, I didn't have to deal with just MAYBE IF I WAS LUCKY making it to the bathroom in time for the rest of the day and days after. Then, I had itchy scratchy palms as I was leaving. I popped to Benedryl. In the car on the way home, my husband told me to take Benedryl. I explained I had. When. I told him, 15 min ago. He said, Take 2 more. And I did. So I slept. But the itching subsided. Finally I took 2 Benedryl the night before and the morning of my CT. And now, blessedly, my onc writes -- NO CONTRAST. Though I do still have to drink. But -- I never drink it all. Sharing, cause my daring might just help another suffering soul. And that would make my day!!! My total admiration to every one of you! Sheroes all!! Love you all, Andi __________________ Andi BB '95 post-meno dx Invasive LOBULAR w/9cm tumor! YIKES + 2/21 nodes. Clear mammo 10 mnths earlier. Mastec/tram flap reconst/PORT/8 mnths chemo (4Adria/8CMF). Borderline ER/PR. Tamoxifen 2 yrs. Felt BLESSED. I could walk and talk, feed and bathe myself! I KNEW I would survive... '98 -- multiple mets to liver. HER2+ 80%. ER/PR- Raging, highly aggressive tumors spreading fast. New PORT. 9 mnths Taxotere Fought fire w/fire! Pronounced in cautious remission 5/99. Taxotere weekly for 6 wks, 2 wks off -- for 9 mnths. TALK ABOUT GRUELING! (I believe they've altered that protocol since those days -- sure hope so!!) + good old Vit H wkly for 1st 3 yrs, then triple dosage ev 3 wks for 7 yrs more... The "easy" chemo, right?! Not a walk in the park, but not a freight train coming at 'ya either... Added Herceptin Nov '98 (6 wks after FDA fast-tracked it for met bc). Stayed w/Vit H till July '08! Now I AM FREE! Humbly and eternally grateful for this life-saving drug! NED since '99 and planning on keeping it that way. To hell w/poor prognosis and nasty stats! STOPPED VIT H JULY '08...! REMAIN STABLE... Eternally grateful...Yes is a world & in this world of yes live (skillfully curled) all worlds ... (e e cummings) EVERY DAY I BEAT MY PREVIOUS RECORD FOR # OF CONSECUTIVE DAYS I'VE STAYED ALIVE. Smile KNOWING you too can be a miracle. Up to me and God now...