Hospitals, Nurses and Radiation

Famous last works, 6 days after my last Emerg visit, 1 am again, and back we go. This time a different doctor listens to my chest, says he isn't happy with the sound and sends me for chest xrays. He says I have a lung infection, prescribes antibiotics and sends me home. Seven days later, (the length of the script) takes us to Monday and I am still having trouble breathing. On top, my latest Muga scan (whatever the hell that is) shows decreased heart function, caused by the chemo, so they have delayed my treatments of herceptin by at least a week or two, while we wait to repeat the test.

And when I went for blood last week, they screwed up accessing my port again, and Nurse Cratchett put in an appearance. Even though both Mandy (DD) and I told her we did not mind waiting for someone who could actually do it properly, she took a stab at it, fucked up too and before she could try again, I left to make my oncology appointment where I found out about the mugu results.

While waiting for the Oncologist, Mandy set off in search of the Team leader for chemo to register a complaint about Cratchett. She said her Dad and I were to nice to say much, but she was not going to let me be assaulted by Cratchett. I love my baby. Any way, when we went back down, Cratchet was no where to be seen, and all my favourites were there. I even got a leg massage from one of the nurses while the other one ran my port.

And yesterday was my first radiation treatment. It is no worse that the muga scan, and a lot shorter. Just laying in an awkward position for about 5 minutes. The real problem though is going to be the appointment times. I was told later day would not be a problem, but Wednesdays have to be in the morning to see the radiation oncologist. And on days when I have chemo (when my herceptin restarts) I will end up going to work, to the hospital and pack to work. I really wanted to make them late enough to just go home.

And speaking about my lung infection, I finished the antibiotics yesterday and still fin my breathing laboured. I am using my puffer every 4 hours, so now I guess I have to fit an appointment with my GP in with everything else.
I guess that is enough whining for now.

~Inez

Visit to Emerg (or the ER for my American Friends)

So I started back to work on the 2nd and things have been going pretty good. I find that I am I little more tired, but considering I haven't working since May, that is understandable. As I have experienced with some of the treatments, I have found myself out of breath after walking in from the parking lot, especially if I am carrying my work bag, computer case and purse.

On Tuesday night, I joined the girls for coffee. On our way out, I told Karen if I wasn't feeling well, I wanted her to drop me of at Emerg on our way Home. (why spoil coffee!) I was feeling pretty good and we went straight home. I went to bed. I woke about 1:00am unable to catch my breath. My chest felt wet? and heavy. I propped my self up with pillows and tried to go back to sleep. Well, that didn't work and after about 10 minutes of gasping and hacking, I got dressed and had Greg drive me to the hospital. They put me in a wheel chair and wheeled me into acute care right away. They said my chest sounded clear, did blood work and gave me a puffer. They sent me home, and I was back in my own bed by 5am. I don't use the puffer every 4 hours as indicated, maybe 2 or 3 times a day, as needed.

I am feeling pretty good, and I think as I start getting more exercise, running around the office, I will start feeling better.

I have a great staff and they are looking out for me. They are constantly after me, not letting me carry supplies, putting things up for me and generally looking after me. I don't think I could over do it, even if I wanted to.

~Inez

Life Goes On

I better write this now or I may never get around to it.

Tuesday, January 27th was my radiation planning session, and the day that I got my first tattoos ever. Of course, they were courtesy of the radiation department, and are simply 4 small dots, used to line me up it the machine. I start my treatments on the 17th of February.

Tomorrow is my first full day back to work. My office opens tomorrow. For those how don't know, I work for H & R Block in Canada. I manage the office during the tax season (February to April 30th her in Canada). Our office is newly renovated and I am looking forward to the tax season. It will probably be a challenge as I move through my radiation treatments, but I will take it one day at a time.

~Inez