8/9/2010- 2nd chemo day n the cost!

wah!
yesterday doc See say i mite feel abit energetic on 1st day chemo..
i was sleepy ard 7-9pm.
but i didnt go to bed...
then when i went to bed ard 11pm.. i cant sleep!
i slept only ard 430am!
duno why mind is so active..

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today drip another chemo medicine..
reach 9am, start 930.. finish ard 1.30pm

my 1 shot of chemo is split into 2 days..
cos if its all done in 1 day, i need to be hospitalised.
also maybe its abit too much for me ba..
its a strong chemo medicine..
my nxt shot shd be 3 wks later..
so i'll start to feel all side effects few days later ba..
i better rest at home..
cannot expose myself to germs..

sorry if u guys wana come visit me..
i try not to see ppl so reduce the rate of any infection..
also will be weak to talk too much..
maybe i'll be sleeping all the way..
thanks for all ur sweet thots oh!

today 2nd day, (i use another colour if got changes today)
-sleepy = abit la..
-appetite = ok, can eat..
-walk = ok, got strength
-hair = still got spikeys
-nauseous = abit weird feeling.. duno is it my mind.. anyway a vicks inhaler do help alot!
-body changes = abit warm now.. feel like slight fever.. but i measure no fever. i need to measure my temp 3 times a day.. awhile after my meals.. if got fever, need to eat medicine or inform doc..
-constipation = i think yes liao.. cos after yesterday chemo, i didnt pass motion till now..
usually before chemo i pass motion 4-5times a day.. but my stomach dun feel like bloated with waste yet..

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doc say I must eat fully cooked food..
no salad or fresh uncook vege cos scared not washed clean.
rem the tuna croissant..
tuna is cook can eat but inside also got fresh vege..
so better dun eat.. or dun put vege..
 
also when eat fruits.. need to peel off the skin..
also scared not clean properly..
so try not to eat cherry, strawberry or small small grapes where hard to peel skin...
if need to pack outside...
must buy cook food..
i ask nurse fish porridge can..
 
also from frs n mum in law..
try to avoid red meat n of cos seafood!
doc will say seafood once fully cooked is ok..
but i will still avoid..
cos seafood before cook, they accumulate germs/bacteria easily..
so for weak body like me, better to avoid 1st.
 
so far i only eat fish n pork n vege n fruits..
actually i dun mind eating same thing everyday..
cos mum in law also headache wat to cook for me everyday..
i told her is ok, i very simple one..
got things to eat can liao..
plain also ok.. cannot hiam too much now..
i can still eat yummy spring onion pork.. haha..
ginger, garlic pork/fish.. also v tasty..
 
oh i also need to eat lots of protein..
so now every morning n nite i'll drink bird nest..
bird nest got alot of protein..
also i'll drink below every morning as a morning beverage..
taste like mikshake.. not bad taste..

this is a multi vitamin drink..

nurse intro me to drink one..

in case i dun have appetite then cant absorb vitamins..

see the below got "food for special medical purpose"

i think normal person also can drink..

 

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oh most important.. the cost!
my 1 shot (means 2 days) chemo medicine cost $3800..
plus misc other anti-nauseous medicine n nurse care etc..
total 2 days ard $4500!
can claim from insurance..

but something very important to take note!!!
so far all treatments n hospital bills, its reimbursement basis..
i pay everything 1st, then the hospital/clinic will submit to medisave n then link to Prudential.
all these mite take 3wks to 1-2 mths depending on how fast hospital, cpf board n insurance company can settle the admin side..
so if u admit to private.. u still need to have some upfront cash $$ to pay 1st.
even govt hospital too... some may need u to pay 1st..
so if admit to more subsidize ward,
u jus need to pay lesser upfront or some u dun need to pay 1st too..

so far i think i pay almost 30-35k for everything..
now waiting for it to be reimbursed..

whenever nurse ask how u wana pay..
must tell them u wana claim from ur own insurance...
not ur own medisave monies or from medishield (the default govt shield plan from cpf).
must ensure the clinic have the "mediclaim system for integrated shield plans from pte insurance co"
some clinic dun have.. then u just have to pay by medisave or cash.
all hospital shd have this system..

my CT scan ($800+) may be claimed under 90 days post hospital follow ups..
also keep all receipts n reports..
then call ur adviser to help u settle the claim portion..

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after 3 wks, i need to go back for another shot of chemo.
maybe i need 3 shots.. duno yet..
then after this 2/3 shot..
the torture comes...

EVERYDAY mon--fri radiotheraphy for 6-7wks! + mild chemo too
although no pain n takes only < 1hr..
its the trouble of everyday travelling..
poor dear goto ferry me everyday..
hee.. sweet max!

then treatment fully ends!
look fwd to this day!
dec 2010!
free girl day!

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some pics today..

the sweet amicable Doc See Hui Ti.

more of her profile here..

she treat me to sandwich.. so nice!

didnt wear wig today..

cos when i lie down, cap is easier to manage..

i dun feel pai say when walk along the pathway to car too..

ppl see they'll understand...

the drip..

the chemo room..
they can hold ard 8 patients...

i think i'll have lesser updates these few days..
cos wont be going out so maybe not much things to say..
but i may be updating the side effects on me..