OK, I'm a slacker

I'm now done with the second to last infusion and it's been weeks since a post. Blame it on the holidays? Maybe. Mostly I think the treatments have become routine, the best thing being an additional drug, Emend, and saline infusion which is preventing the horrible nausea attacks.

I can show you more pictures of Lake Union or the infusion rooms but they are pretty much the same.

So what I think I'll entertain you with is the sometimes conflicting information I've gotten while being treated at SCCA. First of all, the care has been excellent. I am lucky that Seattle has such resources. But sometimes I wonder we're people are coming from.

When I first had my teach about the port, the nurse said it would be in for a year! I freaked out! I didn't want this thing lurking under my skin all of that time. The nurse, however, thought it was great for all of the tests I'd be having. I've come to learn that nurses love anything that makes their job easier, regardless of how the patient feels. As it turns out, the alien will come out with my final surgery in March. This nurse also thought taping a bottle cap over the port when I've applied Lidocaine was an excellent solution to keeping it from getting all over your clothes. Even other nurses thought this was silly as a piece of that sticky plastic wrap will do the job discreetly and well. Speaking of plastic wrap, this sticky wrap is supposed to be the answer to keeping my bag dry when I shower. It is supposed to stick to my skin while keeping the water out. Well, it does stick to my skin but does not keep the water out. So the the solution I was given was to use a hair dryer to blow the bag dry. OK, I ask you, how many of you want to blow dry a bag of s*it attached to you when getting ready in the morning? Thought so. And when I was first getting my teach about getting the bag and freaking, the surgeon said it was temporary so I shouldn't react the way I was. That doesn't help when your facing months of having this thing stuck to you! And then there are the directions for medication. The bottle says take after a meal, the RN says take half an hour before a meal.

In the end you listen and adapt to what works for you. Conflicting advise seems to be a part of the process.

Thanks for listening and best wishes for the holidays and a happy and healthy new year!