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Moving right along...

2/16/2013

3 Comments

 
It was a fairly busy week for me, well, at least on Wednesday. Got a lot done that day, though. Lots to prepare for chemo. I met with Dr. Harris (my general surgeon), so he could make sure I was healing well from surgery so we could schedule the port surgery. He will place a port under the skin by my left collarbone area for the IV. This will stay in place the whole year that I will receive chemo. It feeds into the superior vena cava (major blood vessel). This way there is easy access and they don't have to try and find a vein every time.
So this procedure will be done on Tuesday, the 19th at Renown. It is an outpatient procedure, so I won't have to stay.
After my visit with Dr. Harris, I went to Bellisima Salon and bought my wig. They spent a lot of time with me there, and had like a million choices for me, but the second one I tried on was thee one! It was me. Other than the fact that I told you all, I don't think anyone will know I have a wig on! That was exactly the feeling I wanted to have! It turned out to be a good experience!
Finally, I had another follow up visit with Dr. Kiener (my plastic surgeon). He had to drain some fluid from my back on the right side. He said this happens frequently, about 60% of the time. Didn't hurt, but I'll probably have to have him do it again when I see him next week. Otherwise, he seems to think I am healing well. Still some soreness and tightness around my chest. They said to really give it about six weeks to feel good. I'm not even at four weeks yet, so I'll be patient!
Next week will be another busy one. Tuesday, the port placement, Wednesday an echocardiogram, a visit to Dr. Kiener and the Look Good Feel Better meeting.
Then on 2/26, I start my first round of chemo. That will be a long day. But I have some movies loaded on my tablet, meditations to listen to, and there's always Word with friends!!!
Speaking of friends, I'm late for my lunch date... More later...
3 Comments
Carolyn
2/16/2013 06:44:21 am

Besides prayer, is there anything we can do for you? Learn to play words with friends? Set up a rotating visiting schedule? How long are you there - where ever there is - on chemo day? Do you want anyone coming to see you, to break up the day?
And OK, how does the fluid get to your back, and where do they drain it from? Love you muchly....

Reply
Lois Welch
2/16/2013 07:08:45 am

Care,
I think for the first chemo session I don't really want anyone there ( Scott will be there, of course). I kinda want to see how this first one goes and they will be watching me closely this first time to make sure I don't have a reaction. They do the chemo at the oncologist's office in a "chemo" room. I don't think they like a lot of people in and out of there anyway, due to risk of infection. The room has a bunch of recliners and they recommend bringing a blanket, food, whatever you want basically.
I will have to spend the night in town because the next day I have to go back in and have another shot of a medication to boost the white blood cells (Neulasta). They also load me up with anti-nausea meds so I'm really hoping I won't be puking! So we'll see how it goes...
As for the fluid they drained from my back, it is from the site where they took the muscle tissue to use over the implants. Lymph fluid builds up during healing, especially on the side where some lymph nodes were removed. So basically, he just gave me a little bit of local anesthetic there and aspirated the fluid out.
Thanks for the continued prayers and support. I'll let you know if there's anything else I can think of!
Love you,
Lois

Reply
Carolyn
2/16/2013 08:25:18 am

Jeeze - just thought about the nausea, and you. Bad enough for most of us, but the disgusting? factor, or fear? factor makes it that much worse. So we will hold a happy thought that there is no nausea. And of course you are right about the risk of infection; didn't think about that either.
I feel like the original star wars movie, where the stars are all flying past at warp speed. Or driving through a snow storm. The information is out there; I just can't seem to grasp it as it flies by.... (Age, lack of capacity, or early onset dimentia; you decide!)
Hope you get to do something fun before you begin this leg of your journey....




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