All Pinked Out

On Wed. August 27th I had my first round of chemo for the treatment of breast cancer . Although I had taken a prescribed Ativan prior to arrival at the Cancer Clinic, I became exceedingly tense as several staff members took turns  attempting  to insert an IV in my arm. A port had been installed in my chest the day before but it was still too swollen for use. I proceeded  into an anxiety attack and was told that I needed a second Ativan and when I explained that I had not brought any with me , the response was “NO PROBLEM”. Whatever they gave me worked instantly and the treatment began. One and one half hours , simple! Ha Ha on me.

On Monday Sept.9th I awoke with my burning scalp starting to shed huge clumps of hair. As advised by the chemo nurses, off I went in tears to the hairdresser to have my head shaved. It really is a good idea if you are not interested in having clods of hair all over your bathroom as you go through the process for another couple of weeks. I brought a friend with me to do the photo shoot. I may share the pictures with you later.The hair thing is getting to be more than the missing breast bits.

That night I began to experience shakes, shivers, and I  was above the temperature at which we had been advised at Chemo School to seek emergency medical treatment.

We called the ambulance and the attendants were really confused when they realized that Eric was not the passenger for the vehicle. I really do not  remember much about my night at VGH other than they whisked me away to isolation. The next morning  I sort of came to when I was transported to Royal Jubilee Hospital. After parking me in the emergency for the day.(By the way,the cast of characters there can almost rival the emergency at Valley View Hospital in Las Vegas) I was sent upstairs to the 8th floor of the new patient care center. I was to remain there in the Brenda Ingram Suite.Brenda was born in that hospital a really long time ago before that building was ever constructed, thus my naming of the room. We do these things for our friends.  I had one week in isolation with only my husband visiting me. No television, just me and my IV pole called Lurchette, my bald Buddha head, and my thoughts to occupy me. And you all know the kinds of thoughts I can come up with.

My white blood cells had been impacted big time by the chemo. Normal neutrophil count is 4.75 and I was -0. I developed a variety of infections as I had no immune system. All kinds of things took hold:strep throat, back ache, headache, infection in my baby toe. Those infections can be bad for people with diabetes as in chop, chop. A community care nurse is checking on my toe and changing the dressing every second day since I have returned home.

So, after a week of food which was amazing in its own special way and excellent clinical care I was able to leave the hospital. Gosh, I had 4 different doctors. That can really scare, or flatter a girl or am I a crone ?

As this is my first official post, I think I will cut it short as I could have messed this whole exercise up. After all, at my age, what can you expect of me.