2/8/21

 Today is Monday.  Garfield Monday, if you ask me.  David took me to the hospital at 10:00 a.m.  I sat in the waiting room for 45 minutes before they even checked me in.  Good Heavens.  They told me to be there at 10:30 a.m. and it turns out my surgery wasn't scheduled until 1:00 p.m.  They needed ALL that time to put in an IV?!?  Turns out, they did.  Sigh.  My surgery still started a little late and it only lasted about 45 minutes or an hour.  They had to keep me in there a tad longer than anticipated because I was bleeding a bit more than desired.  I had to stay in Recovery for 2 hours, instead of 1, also.  Still bleeding.  At least I'm good at something.  Natural talent, I guess.  David picked me up and we were home at 5:00 p.m.  The doctor told me that when the good stuff wore off, I would feel like I got sucker-punched.  I've got quite a bruise, perhaps from them putting pressure on it to get the bleeding to stop.  Anyway, he was right.  Hurts like a bugger tonight.  Ah, but I'm done with IV's, right?  Soooo worth it.  Wait.  I'm bleeding again.  Gotta go get another bandage.  Drat.

I'm back.

When we got home, a neighbor delivered a package.  I started bawling like a baby.  Holy Moly.  Last Friday, when we were in Chemo Class, he told me I'd want to get a Chemo Bag.  He told me all the stuff I might like to have in it.  Well, Saturday, I looked around the house and found very few of the items he mentioned and figured I would take a book tomorrow and just rough it.  Well, my neighbor (thanks, Carolanne!) had read my blog, knew I was starting chemo tomorrow, started Googling, then shopped, and brought over an entire bag totally filled with everything (and then some) I would need at chemo.  I lost it.  How sweet is that?!?  On top of that, more of my friends (spearheaded by Pauletta) got together and arranged for meals at a local restaurant that we can just pick up.  More tears.  My friends and neighbors are truly remarkable and I am SO grateful!  To ALL of you.  You can't imagine how blessed we feel these days.

I've got to tell you - yesterday was a very good day.  It was sunny.  Not a cloud in the sky.  Around 50 degrees.  I actually went outside and helped David with some yard work.  I raked leaves!  It felt SO good to be doing something 'normal'.  I didn't last a whole heck of a long time, and had to take several breaks, but it was marvelous.

I've been working on a directory for my subdivision and finally finished it last night.  I emailed it to everyone and asked them to correct any mistakes I made, so I can make the changes and send out a final version.  I didn't tell anyone that starting tomorrow, I may have Chemo Brain.  So today, I'm the Hero.  Next week, they all may have another name for me.  Zero?  That would be kind.  I may send out something that makes no sense at all and then they'll all be wondering what the heck happened to that nice lady that promised them a lovely new directory.  Well, they get what they pay for.....ha, ha!

So, yes, I start chemo tomorrow at 1:00 p.m.  Today's surgeon asked me about it.  Said it was pretty early after surgery to start the kind of chemo I'm getting.  That's what I thought!  He said to trust my Oncologist.  They know what they're doing.  He called one of the chemo drugs 'the red devil'.  I'd heard that term before.  Sounds reassuring, does it not?  Comforting label.  Makes one feel all warm and cozy deep down.  Um-hmm.

My seroma is not getting worse, but no better, either.  Maintaining an even keel, so to speak.  Well, actually, there's nothing 'even' about the whole thing.  Lopsided keel, is more like it.  The sisters were free from the compression garment the whole time I was at the hospital - or the 'straight jacket', as I like to refer to it.  The evil sister wasn't pleased, actually missed the straight jacket, and couldn't wait to struggle back into it again when I got home.

I can't shower again for 5 days.  Sigh.  Bandages stay on for 10 days.  Another sigh.  Good thing I showered right before we left and shaved - perhaps for the last time for the next 8 months.  There's always a silver lining in that cloud, isn't there?

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