IV Day 2, Treatment #1

So, here it is at the end of Day 2, and I'm still feeling good. Praise the Lord. Here's what happened today...

I slept ok, having just one biological interruption during the night. I'm surprised, with all the fluids I had, both IV and oral. I woke up before the alarm went off. Hmm. I feel ok. And you know I reached up and tugged on my hair. Nothing came out. (yet) I looked at my hands. They were still a little stiff and swollen, but, ok. Ok, out of bed. My face feels like it's windburned, and I see in the mirror it looks a bit flushed. Hm, must be the meds.

I did my thing, Dan did his, and before long, it was time to leave for our 10:00 appointment for iv fluid hydration. We get there about 0950, and the lady behind the window, who I recognized from yesterday, acknowledged that I was there. I told her my name, she said don't sign in, and she came around to The Door and led us back to Room 3 today. A brighter corner room, with 2 windows. A flat screen tv was mounted on the wall, maybe a 26 inch or so. Daniel's eyes lit up. We got situated in our chairs. He's such a good assistant--he got the blanket out of the bag we took and covered me, got the pillow for under my arm, and moved the little table around for me. He also got out the other books I had brought, but I told him I wasn't quite ready for those yet. We sat and visited, and waited.

Rose came in about 10:10. She unwrapped the iv site and screwed on the saline flusher syringe, and gently pushed. I didn't realize I was holding my breath until I saw that the plunger was almost down to the hub, having pushed in most of the 10 ml of fluid. I told her that it felt wet--we both inspected it, but there was none to be seen under the tape. It was just cold. I mean room temperature. She pushed the rest of it, and she was confident we had a good site. YAY!!!!! The needle's good!!!!

She added a 1000 ml bag of 0.9 normal saline, wide open. It dripped, but not yahoo like yesterday. She raised the pole some, said it would work, but if it doesn't pick up, we'll do a new site. Ok. She said we'll let gravity do it's thing. I told her my face felt windburned, she looked at me a little more closely and said it was the decadron, it will do that. Ok. She left the room, and after a few minutes the rate did increase, and I counted 83 drops per minute. I hope that sucks in fast enough for her. She returned at 1030 with the heavy gloves and a small 50 ml piggyback bag of stuff. She looks at the rate and says, "Ok, good. No new needle." And tosses the gloves onto the counter. Rose added the piggyback to the bulk, saying that this was a mixture of Aloxi 0.25 mg, and Decadron 10 mg. I guess I didn't hear the part about getting drugs today, but Dan says he did. (go, Dan, that's why you're with me, to hear the stuff I don't. Thank you God for sending me Daniel...) Rose has both bags infusing.

And I have to urinate already. (1050). So, I see that the piggy is almost done, and I think I should probably go before I need nurse attention. I ask for Daniel to help with the chair, as the lever for the footrest is on the right side and I can't move it with the pillow and the iv tubing blah blah... He gets up and helps me uncover, moves the pillow, and the little attached table, and I rattle off down the hall. Back to the room, we reverse the process and pack me in again. The piggy is done at 1055, and of course the bulk is still running. There is a break in the clouds, and the sun shines in on me. God smiles--He knows I love the sun. Dan asks if it's too bright--no, I tell him, I'm like a dog in the sun, belly up. The warmth is welcome, and I close my eyes to bring myself to the moment, with the colors you've brought in my mind's eye. Thank you God.

We are in the corner room, which is across from the nourishment area. There are two treatment rooms yet to our right, and between staff and support people, and patients rattling to the bathroom, it's a busy doorway. I recognize Helen from Billing from yesterday, she's looking for coffee, but there's not much left. She smiles at me and I ask her if she's Helen, she says yes, and asks if we'd called about the genetic studies. I told her we did, and she said let me finish this coffee pot, I'll be right in. I like her, she's got priorities... She poured the water into the top of the machine and came in.

I showed Helen the notes I had from the conversation with Stacy at BCBSM, and she laughed and said ok. I will need an appointment with Michelle Fedewa, the genetic specialist there at the office, after a referral from Dr. Bolmer. Yes, that notation is already in the chart. (I have a copy of that page...) Ok. As soon as Michelle sees you, she'll let us know what blood studies we need done, what lab they need to go, and we'll figure out how to code it for best payor coverage. Allright. Sounds like a plan.

The smell of fresh brew brought Rose down the hall, Helen went out to get a cup, and Rose came in to check on the iv level. We had mentioned earlier to Rose that we'd like to be out by 12:10 at the latest, as Dan had a 1:00 appointment. She looked at her watch and again at the fluid level in the bag. Ok, she said. Ding your bell at 12:10 if I'm not back then. Thanks, I said, and smiled at Dan. She left. I had been to the bathroom again about 11:20, but it's now about 11:50, and you know what's happening. I tell Dan I'll go now, so we won't have to stop on the way out. We unpack me, I join in the parade of the iv poles to the bathroom and back, and we pick up our things and get them back in our bag. I Ding The Bell at 1205. Phyllis came in--you remember Phyllis. She showed us around after our first Dr. Bolmer appointment. I told her we needed to leave by 12:10, and even though there was about 100 ml left in the bag, I could drink that much. She smiled and proceeded to take the tapes off, unclip the tubing, and remove the catheter. Yay!! I got through this one. Oh, here's your injection of Neulasta. It's a drug that stimulates production of neutrophiles in the blood. (they are one of the types of white blood cells to help in fighting off infection) Ok. She gives this injection on the back of the upper right arm, like under the arm. Hm. That's a different site.

We're all set, and Daniel helps me with my coat, and we weave back to the window to check out. We pass Rose in the hall, I tell her Phyllis came in and gave me the injection, and thanked her for taking good care of us today. You're welcome, she smiles. We're given the all clear to go at the window, and go out to the car and head home. Dan pulls up and lets me out at 12:30. He's happy to be able to make it to his golf lesson on time.

I get the mail and go in, I'm chilled. Next time I'm taking my heating pad. I use the bathroom again, then go back out to the kitchen to suck down the remaining 100 ml, and more. Believe it or not, I'm thirsty. I putz around the house, had a bite to eat (though I don't remember what it was, maybe I didn't...) and got ingredients gathered to make chicken enchiladas for us. I sit down for minute and put the heating pad on my left shoulder/breast area as it is aching from the coolness. After warming that up, I get the stuff made and into the oven. Daniel comes back smiling. We visit, I make a grocery list, food's done, we eat, I leave to go to Jackson. Why not, I'm not feeling bad or anything. I'm kind of restless...

Mom is surprised, I think, and she watches me for a long time as I feed her and tell her about the last couple of days. Every once in a while she m,m,m like she does, and I talk to her like I know what she's said. I like to think that every once in a great while I figure it out... I get her washed up and tucked into bed. She closes her eyes after I give her a hug and a kiss. I hope she had a couple of good days, too. God, take care of her.

Off to Meijer to get groceries, (why not, I'm feeling good) I'm back in the car at 9:40 pm. It's a blustery winter night, trying to snow. When I call Dan to let him know I'm on my way home, I ask if he would be able to help with groceries. Sure, he says, see you soon. He meets me at the back door and I give him several bags to carry up, while I gather the rest of them. He and Breon make quick work of emptying and putting away, while I go to the bathroom again. I have drank 2 bottles of water this afternoon/evening, and am looking for more.

My hands are starting to swell some, the fingers are all tight. Almost blanched looking at the knuckles. My face feels puffy too, and a little windburned. But I still feel good, not nauseated, and normal, end-of-the-day fatigue. Thank you God for taking care of me.

Bless you all, dear readers, and all of those non-readers who have helped me these last 2 days of new doors and unknowns. This journey-walker sure has one wonderful, colorful, incredibly strong entourage surrounding her. Thank you for accompanying me.