Wednesday 1.23.2008

Day 8, Treatment #1

Back to work today. I woke to the radio in the middle of a dream. Sheesh. Out of bed, blah blah. Drive to Jackson, road conditions are not cruise control. But I make it ok, and didn't see any cars off the road. I really couldn't look as I had to pay attention to the road. I pulled in the parking lot, and as I was gathering my things, the shuttle bus pulls in. Yea! Thank you, God, for the shuttle.

The workday was very busy, but a good crew makes the day go a lot better. I was surprised that after report this morning I went out in the hall to start blood pressures and such. Whoa--I had to slow down. The bright hallway lights, noises, people, etc... it was a sensory overload. I literally had to stop, close my eyes, and regroup. Ok, I'm not going to be able to "run the halls". So, I took what time I needed, and found that I had to concentrate on very familiar, routine tasks. I am so blessed to have such wonderful co-workers. Hugs, smiles, genuine caring. And every so often throughout the day one or another would ask if I was ok, did I need anything. Wow.

The day went on, we did what we needed to do. It was very busy.

I got over to the nursing home where we needed to wait our turn for the bathroom. I got mom washed up and tucked into bed, then headed home.

My wonderful husband was waiting for me, and is patiently staying up while I tend to this writing. I wanted to mention my physical self--my hips are just a bit achy, my hair is still intact, my mouth is feeling a smidgen better, though the outer edges of my tongue still taste like it's been burned. Nausea? Not really nausea, but intermittent stomach aches, not enough to worry about. I get hungry, and do eat, and I have to eat slowly, not shove it in. Another thing I don't think I've mentioned is a skin rash that's developed on my left hand. Reddened skin, itchy, with some raised bumps. Along the base of the hand/ thumbside on up to and over the middle knuckle of the thumb. This showed up about maybe 4 days ago--not the bumps, but the dry itchy reddened skin. Sometimes the skin looks even like it has a dark undertone to it. Of course I've put stuff on it, but it doesn't seem to be helping it. And the iv site on the right forearm has that reddened area that is now drier, firmer, and occasionally itchy. I'm not bothering that one, though. The redness is not at the insertion site, but where the end of the catheter would have been. Yeah, well, the stuff is supposed to kill the cells....

Off to bed with me. 0410 is closer than I would like.

Thanks for reading, for your kind words, hugs, genuine concern.