Welcome! Trying to brighten up the mood of the blog a bit. So,
to make the Blogspot a little more warm and fuzzy, here are some kittens.
Feel better? Me too! Last week I had my second infusion treatment of the miracle drug Avastin. At that time, my nurses up on the 4th floor decided that the
new treatment would be helped along greatly if I would get a “port” implanted
in my chest to dispense the drug directly into my bloodstream. This
port is installed under the skin in my chest, then connects to a short tube (it’s
called a “catheter,” but that word still gives me nightmares), and finally to a
large vein in my heart. This makes it nice and easy for the nurses to plug me in
for my bi-weekly chemo sessions instead of having to poke
around for a vein that’s not wrecked already. It also can be used to take blood
samples, inject contrast dye for MRI's, and other handy uses I haven’t heard about yet.
Of course, nobody mentioned that this port makes the nurses’
jobs a lot easier also. I was given what looked like a Hollywood-produced video
to sell me on the idea. Wondering if I can dispense some
scotch or bourbon via this device? Perhaps that idea is just waiting for the
right genius to make some medical history!
So, last Friday I go down to UNM Hospital again to get
fitted with my new gear. After the usual hurry up and wait, I’m finally wheeled
in to get prepped for surgery. (Goodbye, chest hair.) I’m supposed to be awake
for the surgery, but that plan is scrapped as soon as they start
pumping happy gas into my breathing apparatus, and I’m off on my best nap in
months. I’m woken in time (about 90 min, or so I’m told) for the doctor
to show me his handiwork, then I’m wheeled off to the recovery room. After a
while a nurse shows up, everything is disconnected, clothes back on and I’m
good to go.
Pam is waiting for me with one of her oldest friends. I’m still a little woozy
but I’m starved (no food or drink allowed since last night), so we all head out
for something to eat. We enjoy a nice lunch, then we drop Joan off at her car
to head up to Santa Fe, and we head on home. I’m home an hour or so when the
drugs wear off and I am suddenly and rudely reminded that my shoulder was cut
open a few hours ago. Something from my stash of pain meds washed down with
a little Jameson’s helps a bit, but the recliner is where I’ll be sleeping
tonight.
The next day I feel better, tho the pain meds are still my best
friends. In a week I will be back at the UNM Cancer Center taking my newly
implanted apparatus on its maiden voyage for another infusion treatment. Here’s
hoping the Avastin does its job and we will many more visits here in the Blogspot.
As they say, hope springs eternal . . . which of course
reminds me that Opening Day is on Monday! As Cubs fans, we have little more than hope, but what the hell . . . it’s baseball!
GOODBYE AMIGOS! SEE
YOU SOON! HAHA!!
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