June 14, 2010

Every experience you go through helps define your character. Greatness comes from the refining process. (ST)

Monday. This is the last crazy week for me. Monday is external radiation and chemo, tues-thurs is external radiation and friday is internal radiation. I will be so relieved when this week is over.
This morning started around 8am. We got breakfast and got to the hospital by 9am. We had to get there early because i am having some problems with my port. The catheter that feeds into my heart is a little too long and it causes my heart to flutter and then i get dizzy and feel like I'm going to pass out. Not a good sign. We got to the Angio Floor and I had to register to get seen. Chris, Millie and Elliot waited in the waiting room.
The PA came and let me know that he would be able to fix the fluttering by re-entering the port incision and tip the port slightly and remove the catheter and trim it from the port side verses making another incision near the heart. He plans to cut off about 1/2 and inch or less, depending on what he thinks is best. I will only require some lidocaine for pain and probably won't even have and IV. This is when you think I'm a bad ass for not needing IV drugs, really it's not that bad as long as i don't see the cutting I'm fine. The whole procedure should take less than 1/2 hour. Should be a quick in and out. I set up the appointment for wed for 8am and head off to radiation.
I am late for radiation, i arrive about 10:40am. I check in and wait for an opening. The girls work on some coloring and chris works on a nap and i work on not worrying about chemo. Collette, the therapist, comes to take me back. I forgot to get my ipod set up so i get to listen to her zany music. It's not bad music but it's nothing i would put on my ipod. 10,000 maniacs, phil collins and many other slow songs that are slightly depression but seem uplifting if that makes any sense.
I get on the table and I have to have x-rays. Yipee! X-rays only take about 2 minutes longer so it's not bad. All i can think is three more days of this and I am out of here! I will have completed 26 external radiation treatments. I can't wait to ring the bell!
My radiation doc, Dr. Thomson, wants to see me for a quick meeting. We talk about how my period i have been having for the last three weeks doesn't want to end, probably because my body doesn't want to go into menopause, which i will be experiencing no matter what because of all the treatments. I just can't wait for hormone replacement, hopefully a natural medication is possible, let's hope so. Anyway, my period will eventually stop it's just having a major encore. It should receive a Tony award or something. The doctor told me that the original size of my tumor before treatment was 6 centimeters diameter. I had no idea i was lugging around something that size. I forgot to ask what the current size is but i know it's a lot smaller. I will find out and post the new and improved size. Dr. Thomson said the procedure went well and he is very confident i will be finished with treatments but early or mid July. Such good news to hear. I have a lot of confidence in this doctor, he is very intelligent, thorough and doesn't push his treatments on me. He gives options and i would recommend him to anyone.
Off the chemo. I get temp, blood pressure, oxygen and weight checked then turned over to chemo. We get a good cubbie, not our favorite but the patients there look like Ellie and Millie would give them a heart attack. When i see nurse DeAnn coming over to me carrying hot pads, used to get my veins popping, i flash her my port and she smiles real big and tells me congratulations. The other nurses over the cubbies over here and come over to say congrats, we are so happy. They are probably more happy so they don't have to see my cry every time they poke me and can't get a vein, but i can see they are genuinely happy for me. i feel good. Nurse DeAnn gets me cleaned up and asks if i have deadening cream on, i told her i don't need that stuff just poke me because I'm a champ now with a port. Easy sleazy. She draws blood, okay counts. She starts me with nausea and we get the ball rolling. Chris and the girls wander around for a bit and then decide to go to get lunch and do a few fun errands. I was plugged in at 12pm and finished by 3:30pm that is 2 hours faster than usual. Getting the chemo faster made me real tired and I didn't even get up to put together the puzzle. I only got up to go to the restroom a few times. I am so glad i got a port, i have no pain in my arms, and two more hours to spend with my family out of the hospital, so grateful for technology. Got home and went right to bed. Ate dinner around 6pm and sat outside with the family, watched the girls ride bikes and collect bugs. What a great night, so grateful for my family, friends and all the support we are getting. It is such a blessing, Can't wait to be back in business. Love to you all for all your help and prayers!!! Thanks Suzy and Danna for the delicious chili and cake!