New Chemo....and...STEROIDS!!

Relax.  You are all safe.  I am tucked away in the backwoods of the George Washington National Forest.

And Tom can just shut his office door; go to work or escape to his Dad's house.

With no license and no car, I am effectively incarcerated.

So....Pomalyst.  Don't Google if you are going to ask me questions.  I am not ready yet.

But steroids? We already know this story.  I have the living room pulled apart for cleaning.

 I only stopped because I was wicked thirsty.  Chemo aggravates my dry mouth (a common side effect of many medicines.... and I take many!!).

Back to it!

Poor Kate!

So I get here to Tufts/NEMC and I'm all "wah" that the valet was closed because I am so fatigued. But I "stalk the block" and get a good parking space.

It's just as crowded up here in infusion and there is no chair for me. They pull me in some little meeting room to put in my IV and draw my blood....then it's "catch and release" since nothing can happen for an hour. I go get a cup of tea, make phone calls, fool around online, etc.

Then a chair opens up and Kathleen tells me that today is pomidrinate. That's then one that takes two hours......so.....it was a good thing that I didn't get valet, since they close at 4 pm. Kathleen starts the steroid (20 minutes) an I ask her to page Kate, my nurse practitioner. Kathleen says she already has. LOL! Some things happen before I even think of them.

Kate comes in and I ask if she's ready for my problems and whiny weekend story. Kathleen comes in to administer the Velcade and start the pomidrinate. Kate uses this opportunity to step back into the hall and gets me two tootsie rolls. Very smart!

We talk about my bald spot, my IV site bruise, my leg/ankle/hip pain. I ask if I am her most difficult patient. She says I am challenging, but that's a compliment. She thought my story wasn't that bad. She was afraid I was backing out of the transplant. Like I could get away with that!

Kate decides we will bring Dr. Miller into this conversation. He holds my right leg, which is the one that hurts today and moves his thumb up my shin. It hurts. He is not pushing really, but it hurts. It aches with no touch. but his thumb hurts.

This is likely peripheral neuropathy from the Velcade. since the velcade has produced such great results in getting my IgA number, they decide to SKIP THE LAST INFUSION!!!!

M&Ms all around!

When I leave here shortly, no more IV chemo until at least mid-January. I still have to take the Revlimid until sunday night. You know I asked. I was offered a gift....I asked for two!

Could I Sleep Any More???

My mother and I were bookends at the kitchen table for dinner. Slow moving. Slow eating. I couldn't finish, neither did she. My Dad made us baked stuffed chicken breasts, baked potatoes.....giant baked potatoes, we could have split one and had some left. He's a blur of activity.

Earlier, he had called up to me...."Diane, what are you doing today?" I said there was nothing. "Ok, 'cause everything after 2:30 is Patriot's time!"

Kick-off was 4:15....but there are pre-game activities. Sure enough, he had everything done by 2:30.
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BTW, for all my grousing - and My Marine pointed out today that I am "an exceptional grouser" - about the flat tire & the $337.00.....I lucked out. It happened right at exit 8 and I wasn't alone and someone came to get us. It could have happened during my road trip far from home & that would have been awful.
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I am listening to @punditreview & @punproducer & @McQandO on Pundit Review Radio on WRKO. They are talking national politics for political junkies like me.

Lasix & Potassium - how Did Those M&Ms Get In There

So Dr. Miller says that I have to take stuff with extra potassium when on Lasix - 40 mg once a day. I am supposed to take it in the morning....but between being awake until 3 am.....moving very slowly....and having to run several errands....it was 3 pm before I took it.

He suggested tomato juice....you know I have no poker face. He said "What about Gatorade?" Well that sounded ok. but guess what? Gatorade had 30 mg of potassium per serving...and tomato juice has 900 mg. Seriously, 900. I read all the labels. Smart water. V-8 Splash. V-8 Infusion. All the sports drinks and enhanced waters.

So I guess I am stuck drinking the stupid tomato juice. With my bananas, which work just as well when topped with ice cream. And no....I don't know how those M&Ms got there.

I've Got a Lot To Do Today

And I am being thwarted...but alternately helped by drugs. Energy from steroids....and leashed to the bathroom by lasix (was that TMI, well TFB).

I have to clear out the last of the stuff in my old house by Friday. There is no running water there, which makes flushing a pioneer kinda challenge.

I have to be organized or when the boys show up I will not use them to their full potential. When they show there is talking and fooling around and chaos and demands for lunch...and that's just from me.

Just in case the favorite Naval Consort stops by this blog.....you're a jerk.

I told the Armorer that I believe I am best served in such times by an imperious attitude....fortunately, that's no problem for me.