So it has come to pass that my hair is falling out again.
Yesterday, I was constantly picking hair off my shirt, but it did not dawn on me that it was falling out. Last night while having coffee at Linda's, we were talking about my nails and how they seemed to be in good condition, when I ran my fingers through my hair and was left holding a handful of it.
So, the plan this morning is to shave my head again, get it all over with in one fell swoop. Having it fall out on it's own just is not an attractive look. Now all I have to do is find all my hats from last time.
~Inez
Tuesday, October 19, 2010
Wednesday, October 13, 2010
Back Into The Fray
I guess it is time to update everyone on the last week. Saturday passed uneventful. Sherry and I went out for breakfast. The nurse arrived around 1 o’clock and started a new IV, as the one they started Friday at the Cancer Centre won’t work. She hooked me up to my IV pump, which I would be toting around for the next 26 or so hours. I spent a quite day, as my right hand was bandaged up like a prize fighter, and there was not much I could do.
Sunday arrived and I was going nuts. I found a large pair of rubber gloves, so that I could at least do the dishes. Afterwards, I noticed a wet spot on the dressing, and saw that the IV line had come undone. I was able to do it back up. I called in to the agency and let them know what had happened. The nurse called and said that since I had done it back up there was nothing to worry about.
I watched a little tv and decided to make myself some lunch. As I was opening my can of soup, and was shaking it into the pot, I noticed water spraying all over the place. My IV had come loss, just as the pump entered its’ active phase. It was splashing all over, in my soup so I poured it down the sink, so much for lunch. I turned the pump off, and called the agency again. They said they would notify the nurse. She called in about an hour saying she would be there soon. When she arrived she was surprised to hear that my IV was not finished, since the office had not called her. Her call had just been to let me know she was on the way.
She attempted to restart my IV (4 times) and finally admitted defeat. She sent me off the Emerg, again, for them to restart the IV, or to reassess me. Luckily Sherry was nearby and she drove me to the hospital. She seemed hesitant to leave me, but I anticipated another long wait and convinced her I would call if I needed a ride.
This visit was much more pleasant than the last one. After my initial interview with the triage nurse, I was ushered inside were I was seen by the doctor within 5 minutes. Almost immediately, Adam, the nurse was in and on the 2nd attempt got my IV started. He used a new style of IV and clamp. They ran the full course of antibiotics and he wrapped me up with IV in place ready for Monday.
Monday morning we saw Dr. Zalewski, and he was pleased with the process of my port infection. He ordered another week of antibiotics, oral to make sure we got it all. He decided that my treatment would take place, so off to the chemo suite we went. When we got in, the nurse was questioning whether to use the IV or port, as the orders did not indicate either. After a wait of almost 45 minutes, the doctor confirmed that she should NOT use the port and to use the IV. But guess what, she could not draw any blood through it. She had to run another IV. I think that by now I up to about 9 attempts/or accesses in my hand. Anyway, she starts another IV and it was off to the races.
This chemo drug is extremely hard on your nails, so in order to slow down the circulation in your hands and feet, they wrap them in freezer packs, imploring you to keep them on as long as possible. You are courting frostbite in an effort to protect your nails. Kyle spent the whole period jumping up and down either taking the ice packs off or putting them back on my feet, my hero. Anyway, I survived the freezing and the treatment was soon over.
Tuesday started a new adventure. We started with a 10 am visit to Sunnybrook, for Mandy’s 4-month check-up. We ended up10 minutes late, as the 401 was at a stand still and the arterial roads were not much better. We made it and her doctor was pleased and she received the good news that her check-ups were now going to be every 6 months. We stopped at IKEA on the way home and did a little shopping and had lunch.
After a short rest at home, we headed out again, this time to Toronto General Hospital for Kyle’s CT Scan. We left at 4:30 for a 6:30 appointment as you never know what kind of trouble you are going to run into driving into downtown Toronto, given the mornings adventure. We arrived at the doors of Toronto General in 38 minutes. Now he was almost 90 minutes early for his appointment. He decided to go in early, get his hospital id card (figures, they closed at 4 pm) and headed down to imaging. The technician came out, asked if he could drink that yummy water is 30 minutes, and they took him in early. He was done and out before his 6:30 appointment time. And we were home before he should have been done.
Wednesday was my post treatment nursing visit. My blood pressure was fine and she took off my port dressing. And of course that meant I would get to have my first shower in a week. Yippee. She did not have a suture removal kit, so will have to wait until next week to have my stitch in my neck removed.
Kyle and went to the cottage alone for Thanksgiving. Greg wanted to go paintballing and Mandy was going with Luke to his Nan's.
We spent a pretty quite weekend, we had Thanksgiving Dinner with John and Nancy and Jay on Sunday night. It was the first time since we have owned the cottage, that I did not do Thanksgiving at our place. On Monday we went into Pine Valley and had another Thanksgiving Dinner.
Today was Kyle's visit to see the surgeon at Princess Margaret Hospital. Good News, he does not have cancer.
Anyway, That is all for now.
~Inez
Sunday arrived and I was going nuts. I found a large pair of rubber gloves, so that I could at least do the dishes. Afterwards, I noticed a wet spot on the dressing, and saw that the IV line had come undone. I was able to do it back up. I called in to the agency and let them know what had happened. The nurse called and said that since I had done it back up there was nothing to worry about.
I watched a little tv and decided to make myself some lunch. As I was opening my can of soup, and was shaking it into the pot, I noticed water spraying all over the place. My IV had come loss, just as the pump entered its’ active phase. It was splashing all over, in my soup so I poured it down the sink, so much for lunch. I turned the pump off, and called the agency again. They said they would notify the nurse. She called in about an hour saying she would be there soon. When she arrived she was surprised to hear that my IV was not finished, since the office had not called her. Her call had just been to let me know she was on the way.
She attempted to restart my IV (4 times) and finally admitted defeat. She sent me off the Emerg, again, for them to restart the IV, or to reassess me. Luckily Sherry was nearby and she drove me to the hospital. She seemed hesitant to leave me, but I anticipated another long wait and convinced her I would call if I needed a ride.
This visit was much more pleasant than the last one. After my initial interview with the triage nurse, I was ushered inside were I was seen by the doctor within 5 minutes. Almost immediately, Adam, the nurse was in and on the 2nd attempt got my IV started. He used a new style of IV and clamp. They ran the full course of antibiotics and he wrapped me up with IV in place ready for Monday.
Monday morning we saw Dr. Zalewski, and he was pleased with the process of my port infection. He ordered another week of antibiotics, oral to make sure we got it all. He decided that my treatment would take place, so off to the chemo suite we went. When we got in, the nurse was questioning whether to use the IV or port, as the orders did not indicate either. After a wait of almost 45 minutes, the doctor confirmed that she should NOT use the port and to use the IV. But guess what, she could not draw any blood through it. She had to run another IV. I think that by now I up to about 9 attempts/or accesses in my hand. Anyway, she starts another IV and it was off to the races.
This chemo drug is extremely hard on your nails, so in order to slow down the circulation in your hands and feet, they wrap them in freezer packs, imploring you to keep them on as long as possible. You are courting frostbite in an effort to protect your nails. Kyle spent the whole period jumping up and down either taking the ice packs off or putting them back on my feet, my hero. Anyway, I survived the freezing and the treatment was soon over.
Tuesday started a new adventure. We started with a 10 am visit to Sunnybrook, for Mandy’s 4-month check-up. We ended up10 minutes late, as the 401 was at a stand still and the arterial roads were not much better. We made it and her doctor was pleased and she received the good news that her check-ups were now going to be every 6 months. We stopped at IKEA on the way home and did a little shopping and had lunch.
After a short rest at home, we headed out again, this time to Toronto General Hospital for Kyle’s CT Scan. We left at 4:30 for a 6:30 appointment as you never know what kind of trouble you are going to run into driving into downtown Toronto, given the mornings adventure. We arrived at the doors of Toronto General in 38 minutes. Now he was almost 90 minutes early for his appointment. He decided to go in early, get his hospital id card (figures, they closed at 4 pm) and headed down to imaging. The technician came out, asked if he could drink that yummy water is 30 minutes, and they took him in early. He was done and out before his 6:30 appointment time. And we were home before he should have been done.
Wednesday was my post treatment nursing visit. My blood pressure was fine and she took off my port dressing. And of course that meant I would get to have my first shower in a week. Yippee. She did not have a suture removal kit, so will have to wait until next week to have my stitch in my neck removed.
Kyle and went to the cottage alone for Thanksgiving. Greg wanted to go paintballing and Mandy was going with Luke to his Nan's.
We spent a pretty quite weekend, we had Thanksgiving Dinner with John and Nancy and Jay on Sunday night. It was the first time since we have owned the cottage, that I did not do Thanksgiving at our place. On Monday we went into Pine Valley and had another Thanksgiving Dinner.
Today was Kyle's visit to see the surgeon at Princess Margaret Hospital. Good News, he does not have cancer.
Anyway, That is all for now.
~Inez
Friday, October 1, 2010
Still At It Part 2
So I saw the doctor again this morning and he is pleased with the progress being made on the port site. The infection is breaking up and looking better. I had another course of antibiotics this morning. He also ordered 2 more courses for Saturday and Sunday, to be done through home care.
So I am home this weekend, having sent Kyle and Greg off to the cottage.
I plan on reading, sleeping and treating myself.
On Monday morning, I see Dr. Zalewski again and if all is well, I start my chemo on Monday.
So, til then, ciao
~Inez
So I am home this weekend, having sent Kyle and Greg off to the cottage.
I plan on reading, sleeping and treating myself.
On Monday morning, I see Dr. Zalewski again and if all is well, I start my chemo on Monday.
So, til then, ciao
~Inez
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