First Chemo is down

Well, it's be a long day. A very long day. But I had my pity party and as my friend Maggie said, I need to put my big girlie panties on and get tough again. It turns out that my Port-o-Matic isn't working as it is designed. The nurses at Cancer Specialists of OK tried every which way to get it to draw blood. I had to look right all the way, then left all the way, then flex my muscles, then stand up, then recycle back. They had three nurses try but it just wouldn't draw blood. The assured me that it could still be used to do the chemo...well, then they said they couldn't do it after all via the port because if it's not drawing, they really couldn't be comfortable running powerful chemicals aimless through my system. For that apprehension I thank them. So, I had to do the chemo the old fashion way...telepathically....just kidding...via my veins.

This is a long process. First I get some anti-nausea medication with some steroids (yeah, there goes my professional status in my chosen sport). Then came the Red Devil. Ryan the RN doesn't like to call it that though because it paints such an ugly picture of this seemly benign drug. Sorry Ryan....it is the Devil. It is, indeed, red and I have to chew on ice during the 15 minute process where Ryan is actually sitting with me administrating this through my IV. It's not just hanging from the IV pole; he's actually pushing it through so he can monitor it; make sure my line is constantly good, that there is a blood back up to prove it. After that, the next drug is a little precarious too but it is allowed to flow freely from my IV. I have a little bell next to me that I have been instructed to "ding" in the event I feel itchy, have intense back pain, or feel anything unusual. Apparently the RNs are conditioned to come a running when I "ding" then. Fortunately, I did not have to check this out firsthand. That drug took 50 minutes. Then the last one took another 45. And then I was done. Yeah.

Tomorrow I have to go back to the hospital for "Port-Scan" to see if the port is working or installed properly. It could be that drawing from it just won't happen but it will still be used for the next three treatments. The scan will tell if things going in are okay even if blood coming out isn't going to happen. It's kind of a bummer because, by golly, I paid good money for that Port, you'd think I'd get what I paid for, by golly. (Someone's goin' get an ass whippin!)

After that I have to go back to the Chemo place and get a shot ...in the stomach...because apparently my white cell count is too low. I'm going to have to have a shot every day until Monday.

I see people today though who I can tell are in worse shape than I am...so I really can not complain. I just have to remind myself of this.