For those who didn’t see the Facebook pictures, last week my hair decided to revolt from the first batch of chemo. The shower looked like a flooded barber shop and my head looked like I fell asleep first at a party and someone had a razor – random patches of missing hair. So I got out the clippers and took care of it!! But the mustache!! For only the third time I can remember since freshman year of high school the ‘stache is gone! Such is life… So now I have to get used to shaving my face AND head and not grabbing the shampoo, just washing my bumpy dome.
Yesterday was a regular check-up with Dr. Ferber. It was a relatively quick visit but he had good news – my blood counts are back up to normal level instead of being below as they were when I started this trek! Awesome news!! He also said he was at a conference in Florida and tracked down the doctor from HUP to talk about my case. The HUP doc said I have an appointment with them but he didn’t have his schedule with him. So I’m not sure if it’s the appointment I already have scheduled for next month or if I have an earlier one I don’t know of!
Then he said he wanted to get on with Part 1B and asked “can you go tomorrow”? Uh… I guess…
So here I am one room over from last time after spending a better part of the daytime in the CDU (I think it’s the Can’t Decide what to do with you Unit). They put the PICC line in while was downstairs but no meds. Finally got up here around 3, got settled in and now I am hooked up to Igor the IV pole for my visit. This time I made up some shirts with snaps on the side so I can change them if I sweat during the night. I looked online and found some but none for long-term IV, so I got a bunch from Formal Mills, snaps from Wally-World and made my own! I’m going to have to make more for next time because they are going to put the PICC in the left arm.
They can’t say how long I am going to be here this time because it depends on how long it takes for my body to get rid of the one medication, Methotrexate. The levels have to come down to a certain point and then I can get the other medication. The fun part is I have to give a urine sample every 4 hours along with vitals. They have to keep an eye on my pH because the Methotrexate will mess with it and they have to give me meds to balance it, so I have some cups ready to go.
Thanks again for all the thoughts and prayers!
Yesterday was a regular check-up with Dr. Ferber. It was a relatively quick visit but he had good news – my blood counts are back up to normal level instead of being below as they were when I started this trek! Awesome news!! He also said he was at a conference in Florida and tracked down the doctor from HUP to talk about my case. The HUP doc said I have an appointment with them but he didn’t have his schedule with him. So I’m not sure if it’s the appointment I already have scheduled for next month or if I have an earlier one I don’t know of!
Then he said he wanted to get on with Part 1B and asked “can you go tomorrow”? Uh… I guess…
So here I am one room over from last time after spending a better part of the daytime in the CDU (I think it’s the Can’t Decide what to do with you Unit). They put the PICC line in while was downstairs but no meds. Finally got up here around 3, got settled in and now I am hooked up to Igor the IV pole for my visit. This time I made up some shirts with snaps on the side so I can change them if I sweat during the night. I looked online and found some but none for long-term IV, so I got a bunch from Formal Mills, snaps from Wally-World and made my own! I’m going to have to make more for next time because they are going to put the PICC in the left arm.
They can’t say how long I am going to be here this time because it depends on how long it takes for my body to get rid of the one medication, Methotrexate. The levels have to come down to a certain point and then I can get the other medication. The fun part is I have to give a urine sample every 4 hours along with vitals. They have to keep an eye on my pH because the Methotrexate will mess with it and they have to give me meds to balance it, so I have some cups ready to go.
Thanks again for all the thoughts and prayers!