This morning we went to the clinic and after a quick blood sample, three of us were taken to our own rooms (also used as the chemo suites) and the rituximab was started. I was a little nervous about having a skin reaction from the rituximab but I sailed through it easy breezy!! First I got some preventative medication which was iv steroids and antihistamines followed by the iv rituximab. For a couple of minutes I had a sore throat, not quite itchy, but it was feeling a little strange so they slowed the medicine down and it went away and I promptly fell asleep. I took a 20 minute nap and woke up refreshed and feeling good. They sped up the medicine and I finished in a little over 3 hours. Once again I was the first one done so I got to chat with the two other patients who were waiting to start their rituximab. I am so going to miss this group of people. We’ve been through a life changing experience together and will forever be bonded together through this. How lucky am I to have received this treatment and gained a bunch of new friends!!
In Monterrey, each patient is given their own “chemo suite” complete with a private bathroom and tv
There’s the Rituximab going in! My final “poke” while here in Mexico 🇲🇽I got my blood results back and all of my levels are now well over the normal ranges but they will settle down within the next few days and over the next year I can expect those counts to fall and rise before leveling off for good.
Tomorrow afternoon the whole group goes back to the clinic for final consultations and questions and answers and a celebration that includes putting a pin in a big world map to show where we are from. I think it is going to be an amazing day filled with emotions and excitement as we all bid farewell to each other and to the incredible staff here in Monterrey.
I’m going to be a responsible adult and go start packing up my stuff now.
Adios, MS! 