Chemo therapy began today with a visit to the Imaging Center to have a picc line put in my right arm for administering the chemo and subsequent blood transfusions and meds. When Kathie and I arrived at the appointed hour, 8:15, I was taken back into the area where the picc lines are inserted only to find out that they were not expecting me until 9 a.m., in spite of a phone call on Friday which had verified the earlier appointment. No one knows what happened between Friday and Monday with the appointment schedule. It turned out to be a blessing for the three picc patients before me since it took two hours instead of the usual 1/2 hour for a line to be successfully inserted my right arm. A doctor finally had to come to assist the team who had done it with no complications for the last infusion. I will be sporting a glorious bruise and swelling on my right bicept. So instead of getting started with the infusion at 9 a.m. it was 11:30. I had no problems with the infusion and was home by 3, I think. I was told not to eat before coming for the procedure, but to bring something to snack on. I stuffed a half banana and an apple into my purse on the way out the door. At the infusion center, Kathie fixed me a hot chocolate from the refreshment bar before she left, and found me some chips. I was in good shape for breakfast-lunch. Kathie had another appointment at 2:30 and was most reluctant to leave me, but I had made arrangements with Uncle Sam and Aunt Belle to bring me home if there was a delay in the schedule and they were happy to come and serve me that way. I fixed some green drink as soon as I got home and had some French tomato soup and toast, dropped on the couch and slept for 2.5 hours. The phone didn't ring once! I am feeling fine, have medication for nausea, and l have my second dose of chemo in a pack strapped to my waist and connected to my picc line; it will go off about midnight for the second infusion while I am sleeping. Tomorrow at 11:20 I will be back at the clinic to turn in the pump and then the process will start all over again on Wednesday and Friday around 11:30 a.m. It will be over on Saturday morning at 8 a.m.
All is quiet and well here at home. Gus is with Pheobe and Butch and is well treated and entertained and cared for. We are both so grateful for their and Pat and Merlin's care for him while I go through this process every time. We are also so grateful for all of your prayers for both of us. We know they are heard and considered and answered.
So far all is well and I feel good. No nausea today and no problems with eating. 8 8oz glasses of water per day--that is a challenge that I am working on. I am about to go down #5--I am a little behind due to the long nap, and I am SO grateful to be HOME instead of in the hospital.
Love and thanks to all family and friends.
Lulie
