Wow, so that was a rough one.

There are still issues with calibrating the flow of the new infusion device. The old device was literally clockwork, so it delivered exactly 2.5ml/hr and finished exactly 46 hours after being activated. The new device (started late in series 2) is a pressurized ball of the drug, with a thermally activated valve and a rate limiter. The rate limiter limits to 5ml/hr, and the expectation them must be that the valve will open with a 50/50 duty cycle. The reality is that the valve is open much more than it is shut and this time the infusion that was supposed to take 46 hours took about 32 hours. I have concerns that delivered at this higher rate, the 5-FU is not being absorbed as well by the cells, and may not be as effective. The direct side-effect of this is that on Friday I was really wiped out by early afternoon, and through the night. I am sure I was a nightmare to my guardian cat Isabella, but she still guarded me all night and despite her own medical problems has been a tremendous comfort through that time.

I am hoping that the pharmacist will work out a better solution next time, and that we will get back to close to the expected flow rate. Based on the volume and time, it averaged 3.59 ml/hr, instead of the 2.5, so the actual duty cycle of the valve was closer to .7 than .5. That works out to if they can use a rate limiter of 4ml/hr we will get much closer to the desired rate.

Other than the massive fatigue on Friday, the rest has been pretty normal. Metallic taste to food, white film on tongue, and a bit more of the peripheral neuropathy (Probably not an accurate statement since that will take a year to clear up if ever, and this is more temporary).

Cheers