My friend Emend

Cycle 2, week 1. The nausea gets worse progressively during the week, and by Friday it's really dragging me down. I never get physically sick, but the gag reflex is there every time I lean over. I'd much prefer to just get it over with and vomit, but no such relief.

Fortunately, there is better living available through pharmaceuticals. The fine folks at Merck make this little gem of a drug called Emend, which is sort of like a Z-pack for the chemo crowd. You get three pills - one heavy dose for the first day, and two lighter doses for the next two days. The good news is, it worked like a champ. I felt much better. No more gagging.

The bad news is twofold: First, it's freakin' expensive (but what good drug isn't?) - about $350 for the three capsules. Also, the insurance goons weighed in and said they'd need two days to go through the approval process before they'd agree to pay for it. Of course, this was Friday, so that meant it would be the following Tuesday or Wednesday by the time things snaked their way through the system. Well, that's all well and good, but I need it today, not next week.

So we went out on a limb and paid for it out of pocket, in the hope that things will work themselves out in the end. Thank goodness for the Discover cash back bonus! We financed our wedding on Discover, why not cancer as well? (The pre-chemo trip certainly was, anyway)

We'll have to keep on top of the paper chase to make sure things get taken care of. In the meantime, it's dinner time!


This is round 2 week 2 day 5. Emend day. While he felt really sick, he is watching the movie Harold and Kumar go to White Castle and found it very, very funny.