Iron, Iron, Where Did I Put That Thing?

I would have a photo of a bag of blood being administered through all the tubes, etc., here, but it cost $15.95 and I figured that you would know what that looked like anyway.
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Woe to me.
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The second blood transfusion this week. Another two pints.
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What is happening? Well, I thought it was my white blood cells falling too low, when in fact, it was my red blood cells. Hello! That's what I get for thinking.
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I'm anemic right now. So, a handy-dandy little package for me to get a sample of something I'd sooner forget about. I need to bring it back on Monday...that is unless I need to go to the hospital between now and then.
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The week-end ER doctor has already been notified that I might be a guest.
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The overnight bag I was supposed to get together and didn't, should now be packed. Just in case.
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The brave dh is covering up his concern. But I know he's worried. I'm fretting as well. But what's a girl to do?
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Follow the doctor's orders, and get my act in place.
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The iron reference (I do know where the dusty thing is kept), is to the iron in the blood that I am now missing. An interesting fact...I have been suffering from RLS, better known as Restless Leg Syndrome lately. While searching the net yesterday concerning this, I found a blog that had a wonderful review of a book and it had an URL for me to check out. The blog also had some comments that stated what a great book it was. So, checking it out, it costs $29. bucks. There was some great advertising going on, but cautious me (well, cheap), wondered if it all wasn't a hoax. It described that we needed one mineral, and our RLS would disappear.
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Well, little internet junkie that I am, while I was really looking for was a stock photo I could use, I found an informative text concerning anemia, which is what I now have. And guess what!
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You guessed. That one mineral is iron. So, maybe my RLS can be relieved once my iron levels go back up. Color me thrilled and richer by $29.
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Where to Start...

A week ago Monday, I started chemo.

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Friday, it looked as though my tongue died and should have been a specimen on 'Bones'. A special mouth wash managed to clear it up several days later.

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Late Friday night, I had a nature call, and could barely make it back to my bed. I was so weak, dizzy and generally 'out of it'. It was all I could do to throw myself on the bed.

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I took my temperature, which is usually low, and found that it was two degrees higher than my normal. That freaked me out, as if my temperature rose to 100.5, it would be time to check in at the emergency room with an order for direct admission and isolation. So, taking off my flannel pj pants, I put on shorts, turned on the fan in the bedroom, threw off the feather comforter and the quilt and slept with a sheet. It worked.

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Saturday and Sunday, I was exceedlingly tired.

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Early this morning, the dh and I went to the local physician and had blood samples taken. Mine were to be faxed to my oncologist. I went home and crashed on the bed. About an hour later a phone call. I was enemic, big time. The nurse had to get the okay for me to drive the thirty miles for a blood transfusion. Another fifteen minutes and the order was to come as soon as possible.

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I got Kid #6 to get dressed. The dh already had plans for the day and wasn't home. So, #6 dropped me off at the Cancer Center, another needle to draw blood. The third of the day. The first one didn't work, as usual. They checked my blood type and iron, which took about a half an hour, then back to the treatment room, where the nurses proceeded to enter my mediport and give me two pints of blood. During the wait, I called Kid #5, and managed to cry over the phone when he told me he loved me. Kid #4 called right after that to see if I was okay. I remembered that Kid #1 worked a few minutes away and made arrangements for her to bring me home later.

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A very sweet pink lady, who had on a lovely coral top, got me lunch, so I ate, then fought with my restless leg syndrome leg, as I intook color into my face. Apparently, I was so white that it was scary. Since I'm very pale, unless my freckles are out, needing two pints of blood drained me of all color.

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Four and a half hours later, I was almost normal. Kid #1 picked me up, and drove me home.

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I need to go back Thursday for another blood sample.

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This means that my entire diet must change. No fresh fruit or vegetables, everything I eat must be cooked, peeled or skinned. There are more dietary rules which I'll get into tomorrow. If I have the strength. Right now, I'm feeling okay. That's what some new blood will do for you!

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So, thanks to you who do give blood. I appreciate it.

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Chemo and What It Feels Like

Chemotherapy started Monday.

We were late. I forgot the correct time, eight in the morning, and thought it was nine. I think the appointment card I received for March with a nine o'clock time was what threw me off schedule. Anyway, the dh and I watched a short educational piece on chemotherapy. The person on the tape was also the nurse who is the point person for any questions. I signed more forms concerning my care.

Secondly, I needed to give a blood sample. As usual, they couldn't find a good vein. Several nights ago, I dreamed I had great blood vessels, much like my husband. But dreams aren't reality. They stuck me once, gave up on that spot, and tried my wrist and managed to suck enough for their needs.

We waited for a moment in the waiting room and were called back to the treatment room. Lined with recliners and privacy curtains, we found an empty chair and companion chair. I was introduced to the nurse who would be caring for me, she is the daughter-in-law of one of my hubby's old-time Wildlife co-workers. So, that was nice.

She got her gear together, and stuck a needle in my port. She couldn't draw blood back, a major item, as if the chemo didn't get into a vein, it would literally eat my flesh. So, she tried a longer needle and thank heavens, it worked.

The needle in the port thing didn't hurt at all. It was like getting a little pinch. No big deal, especially after the two tries to get a blood sample.

The dh asked what time I might be through and went off to do whatever men like to do. The two medications were to take an hour and fifteen minutes or thereabouts. Cell phones are our friends.

They gave the chemo in two segments, first one, then the other. I felt a little flush in my face, as though my cheekbones wanted attention, I was told the next day that your face might flush redder on your cheekbones, so that was interesting.

There were three or four nurses taking care of the chemo patients that lined the four walls, if a pump gave an audible sound, one of the nurses would check up on you. There were a few rooms with beds in them for the patients who needed them.

Time passed, I read a book. Watched another patient getting her dosage. The dh came back, he never left the truck, but had three phone calls from his buddies. Men! They're so funny.

Finally, the procedure was done. I was instructed to come back the next day, at approximately that time as they needed twenty-four hours before I could get my shot to boost my white blood cells, as chemo attacks them as well as the cancer cells.

It was after lunch, we both decided that the hospital's lunch menu wasn't for us and went out to eat.

That night, I felt as though tiny ice shards were streaming through my blood stream. I wasn't cold, but there was a coldness in my blood.

The next day, we made the trek to get my shot. By the time the dh parked the truck, I was done. Aha, we went to lunch. Italian food this time.

So, all in all, it's a relative painless process at this point. The mediport isn't tender anymore, as it was after the surgery. I was given some cream and a huge see-through bandage to administer before my next treatment to deaden the area. That's always a plus.

I have to give another blood sample next Monday, and can do it in my hometown, so that saves on a long drive. I'm hoping that my white blood cells are feeling up to the task. They are the ones that fight infection, so I might be very prone to catching anything and everything unless I watch myself.

Monday night, we did go to the funeral home as my hubby's last uncle passed away. I did hug a few relatives, but they weren't my usual hugs. My hubby was counting them.

But...the NOLAStars Conference is out. As is RWA National. I haven't missed a RWA Conference in years. But I'll be at home, my chemo and radiation should be finished by then, but knowing how things are, maybe not.

How do I feel right now. Fine, except for those little tiny icy shards that are flowing through my blood stream.

The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly

THE GOOD

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Well the results are in, and they're good. The PET scan didn't find any cancer in my body, except for the one breast area. The family was concerned because of the lympth nodes being infected.

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The Good News is that chemo will start on Monday, with four treatments every other week, then the medication is changed, and then another four treatments every other week. Then comes six weeks of daily radiation.

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I was warned that there would be hair loss. Hello! I won't be shaving my legs for awhile, nor will I have any bad hair days.

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I have a few hats, but they are straw. I wonder if the insides will scratch my head? This is a good time to buy a really cool hat. Something that will go with my personality.

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And of course there is that wig I bought last year that I haven't worn yet, as I couldn't get it to look right on my head. Maybe a loss of hair will make me look better.

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THE BAD

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The oncologist gave me three prescriptions to fill, and one of these is for nausea. I hate being nauseated. Now this might turn into a 'good' if I can shed some poundage.

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We'll be doing a lot of driving as the Cancer Center is thirty miles away.

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For the first time in years, I'll be missing the RWA National Conference. I figure if everything goes right, that I'll end treatment in July a week before the conference begins. But there might be delays, and radiation is a daily thing.

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Only three 'Bads'...that's doable. I can live with that!

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THE UGLY

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I still have some bruising from the last two surgeries. But they will go away in time.

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SOME MORE GOOD

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I can't help but admire all the good people who have reached out to me during this lengthy process. Their words of encouragement are so comforting. Let me end this post before I start crying.

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Oh, the picture of the beagle is there, because it reminds me of my childhood dog, who was like a brother to me.

Swimming in the Stream

The Cancer Center has a huge aquarium with various saltwater fish, including Nemo and his mate. Watching them is very relaxing, while you sit and wait for your appointment.

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The dh and I were there for my occupational therapist meeting. With the node removal, I will be more likely to develop lymphedema. Just what I needed, another thing to watch out for. One of the things she told me was not to carry my purse on that side. That might be hard to remember until I retrain myself. While I was with the therapist, the dh went and bought a ladder.

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Afterwards, we went to the kidney specialist, where their personnel drew blood (again!) and I had to fill the cup. They should give people a plastic glove, cause it's hard not to go on your hand. Or is that TMI (too much information). LOL

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It was lunch time and we stopped and ate.

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My next appointment wasn't until 3:15, so we went to Sam's and my dh went shopping while I rested in the truck. The day was really nice, so the windows were partially down.

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It was still early for my appointment, but we hoped that they would take me early. They did and didn't. We waited for an hour, and they finally let me in at 2:45. The dh walked across the street to check out the prices on framing his Yank magazines. I had jelly rubbed on my kidneys during the sonogram. I think there might be something wrong with the one on the right, as that was the only one she made me stand up for.

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On the way home, we stopped at LSUA's agricultural barn as the area 4-H clubs were showing their animals. Our granddaughter won a Grand Champion ribbon for her pgymy goat. I sat in the car. My daughter and grandson walked out to the truck to talk to me, the daughter grilled me!

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So, I'm on hold until Monday, when I see the oncologist again. The mediport area is still sore. It's not painful, but a dull ache and tender to the touch.

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How does the title connect. Like the fish in the aquarium, I'm following the stream of women before me.

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One thing I've noticed, is that people are generally kind and thoughtful once they hear I have cancer. The lady doing my renal sonogram asked me questions, and one of them was 'Did you ever have cancer?' which was hard to answer, I mumbled something that resembled 'I'm in the midst of cancer treatment now.' And she said something comforting, which touched me.

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A lot of people have 'touched' me during this journey. And one good note, one lady read my blog on the vegan diet and found it helpful, as her hubby is having blood pressure problems. That's the whole purpose of me detailing my journey, to help others that might find themselves on the same path.

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The MediPort

My narcissus were upset because I put up the picture of the daffodil before theirs...and they've been blooming since late December.

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One of my goals this year was to take a daily picture, and I'm failing in this goal. I have a digital camera, but it seems like it's never around when I see a photo opportunity.

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Yesterday was the installation of the MediPort. I was to be first in line for surgery, but got bumped. We had to arrive at 6:45 am, and after getting into the gown, laid down on the narrow bed, throwing a sheet over myself, the dh and I were left alone to wait. We both fell asleep! It was too funny.

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After nine, they started to prep me for surgery. My veins are not good. If only I had my husbands, you can see his from across the room. Mine like to hide. So, the first needle stick didn't work, the second one did. In my left hand index finger! I have so many needle tracks in my wrist it looks like I'm an addict! Not to mention the bruising.

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They gonked me out and off I went. Waking up later, I was ready to go home. But, the first thing they did was feed me lunch, a liquid lunch. I slurped up a vanilla pudding, strawberry jello, chicken broth, milk, apple juice, berry juice, a grape popsicle, and two other items that I can't remember.

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By two-thirty we were on our way home, a quarter of a mile away. I went to bed and managed to sleep the rest of the surgery drugs out of my body, I was comatose.

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So...I have a three-inch incision just above my heart area. It's sore, but nothing that a pain pill can't control.

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The adventure continues. Tomorrow is an appointment with an occupational therapist at the Cancer Center.

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PET Scan

The daffodils have started to bloom in my garden. There's nothing like seeing their bright faces around the yard.

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The PET Scan was yesterday. A total breeze. While in the waiting room, our next door neighbors walked in, so we visited for awhile.

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When my turn came, I was in a small room with a lounger chair, was given the radioactive drugs. Yet another needle injection. Then was told to relax until they came back, which was thirty-five minutes later. I know I fell asleep, thankfully, I didn't snore!

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Then it was into another room where the scan is done. I laid down on the narrow table, a foam triangular pillow was put under my knees, and my head rested between a curved surface. A blanket was thrown over me, as the room was cold. I was asked to put my arms down with my hands on my lower stomach, then the man pulled up a velcro wrap that kept my arms in one position.

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Asked to remain as still as possible, the scan started. It's a good thing I didn't weight five more pounds, else I might not have fitted in the tube. My mind wandered, I breathed as normally as I could, but did count three breaths where I took in more air than usual. The test took about thirty minutes.

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Painless...and restful.

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I'll find out the results next Monday.

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Tomorrow is the installation of the Medport.

Going 'Green'

I'm at a strange stage.

Last Thursday I had an echocardiogram of my heart, with good results.

Then we raced to the building where I was to have a PET Scan. After drawing some blood (I need a little zipper for all the blood everyone has drawn) and my blood sugar was up. The scan had to be rescheduled.

Since it was still early in the day, I scheduled an appointment with my family doctor. Luckily, after an hour's wait at the clinic, he put me on a long-term insulin to take at night. That relieved me. Unfortunately, the next morning the blood sugar only went down six points.

Friday I had an appointment with my kidney doctor. My lab results were elevated. They sucked more blood out of me, and later I had to go in a cup. (Don't need to get too graphic.) I'm waiting on those results.

This is Sunday, my blood sugar went up this morning from yesterday. I am not a happy camper. Tomorrow morning is very crucial. I need the PET scan, so the blood sugar has to be down.

I'm afraid it might not be down tomorrow...

As I was doing some work on the computer, I had the food channel on, and a woman with high blood pressure and type II diabetes was featured on a show dealing with vegan diets. Apparently, she was able to get off her oral medications for those two diseases and managed to lose sixteen pounds, as well, in a three week period.

I'm sure you know what synchronicity means and if you don't here it is: Synchronicity is the experience of two or more events which are causally unrelated occurring together in a supposedly meaningful manner.

Vegan diets apparently work to lower blood pressure and blood sugar.

Hello!

So, this morning I ate oatmeal, no sugar, no milk. I like oatmeal so it wasn't a biggie.

While cruising the internet, I found this article on what is a vegan diet.

Right now, I'm desperate enough to try anything. Even if it's going the 'green' route. If it works the benefits would be fantastic. Lose weight, control my blood sugar and blood pressure. It's a win-win for me.

Again, thanks for all the kind wishes and prayers, you can tell that I need them!