Sixth Treatment Down With Excitement!!!

Well, Stephen has beat me to reporting the excitement of yesterday's treatment. But I will write it out for you to read from my perspective.

I was not looking forward to this sixth treatment because I was anticipating the next week's unpleasant side effects but I was ready to get it done. But I did not anticipate the excitement that was about to happen today.

Denise was the lucky one to accompany this treatment and we should have know from the way our day became it was going to be quite eventful. We started off at 6:50 am on our way to the cancer clinic in London. It was a nice leisurely drive with a quick stop in Lucan at the Tim Horton's for a bagel to go. Denise had gone into order and three times had to come and ask what I would like because all my favourites were not available. I had to settle for the cinnamon and raisin -- it was quite a disappointment to my not such cooperative taste buds. But at least it was some nourishment to down with the meds I needed to take prior to the treatment. From then into London, we were behind several slow cars, construction, and every possible light we had to stop at.

The doctor's visit was once again encouraging, with things progressing as they hoped. The side effects are what I should expect and then it was on to have chemo.

When we got into the chemo ward, we were settled in to a lazy-boy next to Glynis. From my second chemo treatment until yesterday, Glynis has become a familiar face in a neighbouring chair.

Nurse Elly hooked me up with the iv. That went not too bad except for the horrible black and blue bruise I am now donning. Then Elly got the meds going and placed on the ice slippers, one mitten, and was working on the second. I was involved in conversation with the nurse, Denise and Glynis and was beginning to feel "Not so good!" It was not until the nurse drew my attention by asking "If I was alright?" did I realize that I was not. Suddenly four nurses swooped in out of nowhere with two emergency kits containing reaction medicines. The chemo meds were stopped and benidryl was administered and some other meds I can't remember. My blood pressure and oxygen level was closely monitored, and my RED face was closely scrutinized. All I wanted to do was sleep but was a little afraid to until Elly said it was okay to give into the sleep it was just the reaction to the benidryl. This took about 3/4 of an hour to get me settled down and then the chemo was restarted. This time with no reactions.

To pass the rest of the time Denise entertained me with a Christmas quiz from the Reader's Digest. We both failed miserably, but we both have to say that the Christmas questions are not about the true Christmas story that we have both to love and believe. It was most enjoyable having beat her by one more correct answer.

Leave it to my sister to take the camera out, well actually my cellphone, and capture the Kodak moments. Denise was a little disappointed that she did not capture the nurses swooping in but she did get some of the excitement with two nurses monitoring me near the end of the reaction.

Oh and here are a few "lovely" pics of the dough girl just for your entertainment. Not my best photos but just so you can visualize what it is like for me.........