Round 2 of my first infusion

Good report, this 2nd round of my first infusion went much better. In fact, it sorta proved to me that the nurse for my very first infusion didn't... well... I don't want to say she didn't know what she was doing, but she certainly didn't do very well compared to this last nurse.

Here are some things I didn't have to experience today compared to my awful first time around:

• Puking! This time when I told them was allergic to Tylenol I wasn't force to take it. 

• Blown vein.

15 days later and it still looks icky.

• Being dismissed. I was listened to when I told this new nurse to use my right arm because I'm left handed (and I still had a gnarly bruise on that arm). Cause, Jiminy Cricket, give that arm a break! Plus, unlike last time, before putting in the IV she numbed the sight! Needle in - smooth like butter.
• Painful burning sensation every time the medicine started pumping in. That sucked last time and apparently that should not happen. It probably means the IV wasn't in correctly. This time, I only notice the medicine pumping in when the IV tubes suddenly felt cooler.
• ASTHMA ATTACK! I don't think this is any nurses fault. I just had a bad reaction the first time. Was it just because I was acclimating to Ocrevus - probably, or was it because the IV wasn't in correctly - don't know.
• Dizziness. I am a little dizzy but not like I was last time.
• Being pumped full of steroids. Because I didn't have an asthma attack this time, there was no need for me to be pumped full of steroids. I did have to have a little before the infusion, but that is routine.
• Totally wiped out. I was stupid and drove myself last time. I should have known better. Matt took me this time and I am sooo very thankful. I'm still feeling tired, but that is just the nature of Ocrevus infusions.
• Migraine. The nurses are not allowed to give out Ibuprofen as an alternative. However, I am allowed to take Ibuprofen before my appointment, which I did. Wish I would have known that before my first appointment.
• Uncomfortable bed. They only had a cart for me the first time. I got terrible neck pain which added to my migraine. After 6 hours I wanted to burn that cart! Today, this little princess got a very comfortable bed and I was smart enough to bring my neck pillow. The nurses said my room had a Zen like atmosphere. 

 After today my next infusions will be every 6 months. Since I now know how it should and should not go, I feel like this infusion stuff isn't so bad. I got this. At least I don't have to worry about forgetting to take medicine every day.

First Ocrevus (oak•ra•vus) infusion

The first thing they had me do when I arrived for my infusions at Meriter, was take Tylenol and Benadryl pills. I haven't taken Tylenol in years because it really doesn't do anything for me but make my ears ring louder than tinnitus. Then, Nurse Amy, blew my vein in my left arm putting in the IV. I warned her that the left arm is usually fickle so she switched to the right, where she struggled with that one too and had to have another nurse come in and use this cool device that shows my veins. Eventually/painful, she got it in. I got light headed and threw up. Model patient.

They decided to skip the Tylenol since I puked it up and they think my allergy to it may be part of the reason I puked. It might be due to her digging around in my arm and sucking at hitting a vein, but whatever it was, luckily it cleared up. 

Then they gave me liquid concentrated Benadryl in my IV which made me very dizzy and sleepy. I napped off and on but someone was in my room every 15 minutes checking vitals and meds. 

At around noonish I started having trouble breathing - like asthma attack bad. Nurse Amy gave me more steroids in the IV until it went away. It's a normal side effect to feel a little out of breath while getting the Ocrevus infusion. But feeling like an elephant is sitting on your chest is something they needed to fix. Even a baby elephant wasn't allowed to stay. They also decided to dilute the meds since my body wasn't handling the strong medicine very well. Yeah, that is the reason I reacted so violently to Copaxone. 

After I was finally able to breathe normally, they gave me more concentrated Benadryl and I was doozing again. Needless to say, no binge watching anything was gonna happen. When I was finally all done nurse Amy said I'm probably going to feel wiped out for the rest of the day and possible tomorrow too. Great. 

Plus, lucky me, I got my period while at the infusion center and a migraine to go with it. Which causes a problem because I'm supposed to report any cramps and/or headaches that last longer than a day because it might be due to Ocrevus. Well now they won't be able to tell which is causing them.

Dumpster Fire.🔥 🔥 🔥 Burn, baby, burn. 🔥 🔥 🔥