Well, I've caught up doing this blog thingy. So glad about that. It's hard to remember the details of the day let alone the details of days and weeks gone by.
I was a bit nervous for my first treatment at the Cancer Centre at the QCH. Barb picked me up at home, took me in, we met Moe Moe there who took a couple busses to be there for moral support and then I did my thing.
They are so sweet there. I was offered a bed or lounge chair. I chose the chair. The nurse spent the first half hour going over everything.......from meds and side effects and what to do in the event of (fill in the blanks), what I should eat, what I shouldn't eat, take this med for this and that for another thing and it all went in one ear and out the other. I wonder what she was thinking as she spoke to me seeing the blank open-mouthed look on my face, a face that read "uh?!#, what ARE you saying to me?"
Regardless, it all went well. I was told of the possible effects of the chemo medications as she administered them intravenously.....this one gives you an itchy nose and this one gives you stinging sensation at the injection sight. I was fortunate and all went off without a hitch. Moe Moe stayed with me and Barb left to help Michelle and Andy with their move to their new place in Barrhaven. Timing was bad as I would have liked to have been able to help them.
Barb picked us up afterwards and took Moe to the bus stop. Barb then took me to Shoppers to fill 6 prescriptions. Oh brother. Cancer is so complicated. Finally, we were home and the pups were so excited to see me. Little do they know that they can't give me kisses while on chemo as it could make them very sick.......poor babies. I'll have to resist the urge to squish and kiss them. Will be tough.
TMI, but my first pee after radiation, like 5 minutes after, was bright red. They said this would happen but I didn't know it would be that fast. Oh, I also picked up a couple sweet little scarves made by kind volunteers. I want to be ready for when I lose my hair.
The worst and scariest side effects usually appear 7 to 10 days after treatment......a fever, if in fact, I get one at all. A slight fever, a potential sign of infection and I have to get to a hospital right away......do not pass GO, do not collect $200. Because white blood cells, which fight off infection, are compromised during chemo, it is very possible I get an infection. Infections and I don't get along well (knee infection scare of 2012). I have a "fever card", which I present to any hospital emergency and I get to go to the "front of the line". Sweet!! So I have to be constantly taking my temperature and drink lots of water, and many other things I won't bother to write down as I am tired and won't be up too late tonight.
A nurse comes by tomorrow to see me at some point. I will be going to work, so hope we can make this appt. for the evening sometime.
All in all, not too shabby a day! Thank you God, family and friends for all you have done, for all you continue to do.
No comments:
Post a Comment