So I finished up my last day of chemo yesterday. Even though the actual chemo does not effect me until several days after, it just feels better to know that it is done. The only thing left now is to wait for my blood counts to drop and then rebound (may take several weeks) and 8 more rounds (days) of radiation.
They came in this morning at 6:30 AM to let me know they were going to take me down for radiation treatment. A transporter (person who pushes the wheelchair), would be here in 10 minutes. Right after that, my doctor comes in to check me out. Rash, vision etc.. Checked out OK I guess. Now, I am down to 5 minutes before the transporter arrives. So I get out of bed, head into the bathroom to "ready myself." I emerge from the bathroom in under 5 minutes and there is now a wheel chair in my room, a transporter, a CNA to take my vitals and my nurse to draw blood. Keep in mind, I was sound asleep 10 minutes earlier.
I get vitals done, blood drawn and I am off. My transporter is all of 90 lbs trying to push me in this over sized wheelchair with one hand while using the other hand to navigate my IV pole. She is having some trouble to say the least. As you leave my floor to approach the elevators, there is a slight downward slope of the floor. I knew this was going to be eventful. We get halfway down the ramp and she starts to loose control of the situation. I see my IV pole start to go past me. I quickly reach out to grab that. You see, I am attached to to the other end of that IV. By me grabbing the IV pole, she is able to use both hands gain control of the wheelchair. When we got to the end of the ramp, I made it pretty clear I would take care of navigating the IV pole. She seemed relieved!
So we get down to radiology at 6:50. No one is there. They do not open until 7:00. They need two technicians to run the machine. There was one technician there promptly at 7:00. The second person did not show up until 7:15. It appears she has a history of tardiness based on some of the comments and eye rolling that the technician that was there at 7:00 was making to me while we waited for her. Today she had a great excuse of how she had ATM trouble at the gas station blah blah...
So I had my radiation, got wheeled back to my room and was done with all my duties for the day at 7:40AM. No side effects from the radiation. I have not seen any of my brain leaking out of my ear or anything on my pillow. (I do check). Vision is at about 80% and skin rash is pretty much gone. Walked 2 miles today.
6 comments:
I'm so glad you haven't had any side effects! sweet! congrats on finishing the treatment! :)
Chad, you had me laughing with this one. At least your morning was eventful right!! Great to hear the chemo is done!! Will be praying for a quick rebound on the blood counts. As always, you are in my thoughts all the time!!! Stay positive!!! Love ya!!
Got it in the mail...Im on the bone marrow register! Thats thanks to you It felt great to know I might be able to help after feeling i couldnt help you. "What cancer cannot do...."
Nice catch on the IV pole...you did your good deed for the day- your 'transfer' didnt catch it for yankin out your IV!!! Good karma is heading your way! Hope they let you sleep in tomorrow.
Nik
Talk about reading your blog and laughing one minute and then watching the YouTube video and shedding tears the next. I got my donor packet over a week ago and set it aside to read over it "later" ....well, it's still untouched but i will drag it out of the pile tomorrow...do the swab and sent it away to hopefully become someone's much needed match:)
Glad your chemo is done, rash almost gone, vision better and now high hopes that your counts will climb rapidly!! Love these blogs.. keep em' comin'!
Your are the best Chad!! So happy you are coming home this weekend!! Love ya!!!!!
That is a great story...The visual in my head is hillarious. You will have to reinact it using your office chair when you are back at work. I will play the role of the transporter. I know where there is a good hill.
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