Round #1 of Chemo

I can't believe I've haven't blogged more recently. I have broken my own promise and the implied one to you, my followers.

Cancer hurts, and the weapon of choice is painful too. I have been caught in the crossfires.

On Monday I had to go through "what to expect," some blood tests, a kidney PT scan, and some hydration via IV. I was seriously dehydrated. My first round of chemo began on Tuesday (Erin thinks I will become the "Tuesday group.") with more hydration, and then finally the real chemo. (Including hydration time--about six hours.) I left with "chemo to go"--a little portable pack still attached to my PowerPort. Today after about 48 hours of the portable pack, it was empty as scheduled, and I got it removed. So today I am unencumbered! 

Life with chemo is a little dopey; I have a hard time typing. I am sleeping or napping a lot, and, of course, whenever I am awake, John is handing me a mug of hot tea. So my goal is to stay hydrated and sleep.

Next chemo is probably on April 12.

I will try harder to keep up with the blog!

Weekends Are for Resting

Saturdays and Sundays are good for resting, clearing the mind of excess worries, and gearing up the what the week brings. That sounds a little like weekends when I has teaching, except for the hours of essay-paper grading. John often wonders what our lives would have been like if we had gotten this diagnosis about two years ago while we were still teaching and living in Germany. If there is an upside to this, I am glad it happened here in the U.S., and I am glad I got to see my new granddaughter, enjoy her and Tyler, before the diagnosis. Of course, that starts a lot of "what if" existentential questions, and I want to look at this a little more directly.

A Good Day

I have been without pain or anti-nausea medication all day, and except for some minor and surprising vomiting, I declare it good day. John and I take walks in our backyard almost every day, looking for any crocuses, daffodils, hyacinths, or tulips, and today we found over a dozen sprouts. That makes it a good day too! Before we left Germany, we ordered those flower bulbs from a Keukenhof supplier in the Netherlands, so after a long, long wait, we will soon appreciate our own little Keukenhof.

Yesterday was not so good: afternoons and evenings are sometimes difficult. I went through my entire pharmacopoeia, and fortunately fell asleep around midnight.

The weekend once again is free of medical appointments, and Monday we have chemo information and financial paperwork, and Tuesday is the real deal--chemotherapy, exactly three weeks after my diagnosis.

At this point I don't know what to expect, but I am ready to get this started. Send your  prayers to give me strength!

My Port Has Been Tapped

Very early this morning we spent a few hours at the emergency room because of my pain, nausea, and vomiting. After another CT scan, some blood tests, receiving pain and anti-nausea medication, ruling out other possibilities, the ER doctor decided my stomach, new to the recent surgery and my attempts at eating some solid foods were the cause.

During my stay at the ER, the nurse asked me if my port had been tapped yet. An odd question, strangely comical sounding, I thought. My Power Port, installed less than a week ago, had not been tapped. And so it soon was: I was able to give the blood for the blood tests, receive an IV with morphine and anti-nausea medication.

This afternoon I received two more anti-nausea prescriptions while meeting with my oncologist. He has ordered the first chemotheraphy medicine, and the first treatment  will very likely be next Tuesday. He explained the procedure, the time it will take, and likely reactions I will have.

Until then, it's waiting time again, and time to try another anti-nausea medication.

Home from the Hospital

It feels so good to be home. I am still recuperating and need pain medication. I miss the caring nursing staff and the morphine drip at the hospital, but being home is the way to get stronger.

My continued thanks for your love, prayers, and visits. I need them all.

Hoping to come home on Monday

Marilyn had a good day and we are hoping she comes home on Monday. We still take our walks down the hall and things are looking good. Wednesday she has an appointment with the oncologist and we will know more about her treatment plan then. She is on a what they call a solid liquid diet which still means very little to eat. Tonight she was allowed some applesauce and yojurt. Hopefully she will tolerate that well. If Marilyn gets to come home tomorrow she will be writing her blog and the skill level of writing will go back up.

Thanks again to all

Unhooked

Marilyn lost her IV pole today. This allowed her to get up and move around more freely and she could get out of bed without assistance. We also took several walks down the halls on her floor. Marilyn was also allowed to go on a solid liquid diet. This means she can finally have jello, pudding and even some milk and fruit juice. No real solid food yet. Marilyn has had no real solid food since Monday night the 14th. There is a slim chance she will be released tomorrow but most likely Monday or Tuesday. I know she is looking forward to getting home where she can again write on her blog. We see her oncologist on Wednesday and hope to find out when we can begin treatment.

Thanks again for your support and prayers.