Wahooo....we made it half way through the first treatment plan! I'm estastc! 6 down...6 more to go!! My older sister, Van, (the kids call her HaiHai--Di Hai means oldest aunt but since Carter couldn't say Di he nicknamed her HaiHai. The name stuck like how the kids refer to My as MyMy instead of Di My) was my chemo buddy today. She took the day off and insisted on coming with me. She's a hoot! Earlier in the morning, she sent texts of all her food stash for the day. I reminded her it was a shorter infusion day but that didn't change what she packed! Mind you, all that she packed was for herself since I'm offered lunch and snacks during treatment. One of the most random benefits of going in for treatments, one that is still very foreign to me!
I was assigned to infusion room 16 with nurse Ann again! Ann joked and told me I was behaving so didn't need to be directly in front of the nurses station this week. 😊 As we were settling in the infusion room, Van decided it was a good time to start exercising! She was doing squats, lunges, etc. Since she had to accompany me early, she didn't get her exercise routine in. It was quite funny and entertaining! We laughed so hard that I seriously that Van might get kicked out!! Thanks for the laughs and fun today big sis! Let's see if I need to be reassigned to a room in front of the nurses station next week. 😜
The nurse assignment is random so the patients and nurses get to know everyone but I truly have been so lucky to have been paired with Nurse Ann 3 out of my 6 treatments so far. Ann is an awesome nurse and has been my advocate during this treatment plan. She's truly awesome at her job--she comes in early to review her cases, she's personal, kind, has so much empathy. She's checks on me constantly and offers snacks, beverages and warm blankets. She knows what works for me and conveys this with Dr. Commander. She shared she knows the feeling of Bendryl so the delivery of it makes a big difference. The pharmacy had to special order small bags for me since I need the medication slow dripped as opposed to pushing it through an IV. Although this extends the appointments, we know it works without side effects.
The treatment was exhausting and I faded a bit but didn't fall asleep. I had a decent night sleep the day prior and I think that really helped. The day shaped out to be a good day! Dare I say it...best treatment session so far! I was tired but powered through and managed to also run some quick errands and have some fun with Van before logging to work after the treatment. Will happily take these treatment days again!
It's a bit coincidental that we booked a trip roughly a year ago and this treatment marks my halfway point in this first round of chemo treatment. I'll take it as a victory sign and a celebratory trip! We are heading to Mrytle Beach tomorrow. I have mixed feelings about the trip. Upon the diagnosis, I was worried I wouldn't be able to go. My doctor originally said we would have to come back in time for my weekly treatments. As the weeks progressed, she said I was responding well and received the green light to go without any modifications to our original travel plans. I'm happy I was given the medical approval to go and have a week off of treatment but am also sad to think I may weigh down the family's fun and activities. I can't be out in the sun for an extended period of time and my energy level is limited. I had tried to convince Mike to take the kids without me but that wasn't happening. I will do my best to enjoy this time away with my little family and forget that I have cancer for at least a week!
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