9/19/22

It's Monday, and no, I didn't have to look it up.  Memorable day, unfortunately.  I went for a flu shot this morning.  Super dose, cause I'm over 65.  That went well - no issues.

Next was the oncologist.  Just as I gave my name at the front desk, the computer system went down.  And stayed down.  The entire building.  Good grief.  They rely so heavily on that, that the place turned into a freaking zoo.  They wouldn't send me for labs, so when the doctor saw me, she had nothing to go on.  She did the best she could with what she had.  I had a complete exam and I'm having a bit of trouble retaining fluid.  I've gained 7 lbs. in the last 6 days.  My torso is swollen, and even my legs.  The remaining lymph nodes just cannot seem to keep up, so that's gonna be an issue soon unless they perk up a bit.  My torso is a bit painful.  Ok, more than a bit.  It's annoyingly painful.  We discussed my 'maybe' decision to not take the Tamoxifen in depth.  I asked some pointed questions and she explained things well.  I'm not going to take anything until I get back from Idaho/Oregon on October 5th.  We are leaving this Friday and she said it would not be a good idea to start this drug right before I'm going to be out of pocket for the next 2 weeks.  I am going to start taking it when we return.  If the side effects make me miserable, I'm going to quit.  She said only I could determine how much quality of life I'm willing to give up.  Everyone is different and there are no averages to go by.  However, this drug has proven effective enough to extend my life.  Without it, I would probably be cut short by 50%.  My type of cancer is notorious about returning and it usually goes to the bones next.  It can show up anywhere, but the bones are more popular.  She wrote down the lab order next, gave it to the nurse, and the nurse walked me back to the lab and handed the paper to the technician.  I waited 40 minutes and finally the tech came out and said I should go home.  She couldn't run labs without the computer and they had no idea when it would be up and running again.  I told her to take my blood anyway.  She had the order and knew what to do.  If the system didn't come back up by 5:00 p.m., I would just come back tomorrow and give more blood.  Blood will go bad after 3-4 hours and it would simply be useless.  I told her I'd take that chance.  I'll look on MyChart in a short while and see if any results made it there.  If not, I know I'll be getting a call tomorrow to go back in.  I was so tired by that time that I didn't care much.

Next, I had to go to the Women's Boutique to get new bras.  I have to have special ones and they have to be fitted to me.  I had to order a new prosthesis to go with them, too, so that took quite a bit more time.  At least Medicare pays for this stuff, so that was the only bright spot in the day.  I didn't get home until 4:30.  I'm pooped.

I took my radiation smocks that I got from MD Anderson and gave them to my doctor today.  I also took nearly $4,000 worth of medication to her, also.  She can give it away because it's been hermetically sealed about 4 times in those boxes.  I can't sell it and I can't take it any longer, so it was just money down the drain for us.  I have no idea what it would have cost without insurance.  Good grief.  That was only a 5 week supply.  She was extremely grateful and said they would go to someone in need, so that made me feel better.

Doctors, doctors, doctors.  I'm ready to get away from here for awhile.  I told some of you about King Charles III recent health issues.  They found out that he's severely constipated.  He's been waiting 70 years to sit on the throne.

Come on.  Now, that's funny.