Sunday, 16 May 2010

BITS OF ME LOST IN TRANSIT

So I was having my low-dose chemotherapy this week was I? Anyone want to take bets on that happening? Of course I didn't! You all know by now that nothing in my life runs smoothly.
I set the alarm for 5 a.m to give myself plenty of time to get ready for the medicar/ambulance at 8 a.m. I even managed to put some make-up on even though I did make a few mistakes with the eye-liner but that has taught me to try applying the eye make-up first not last, doing it that way will make it easier to mop up my errors. I wasn't waiting too long for the medicar/ambulance either. 9 a.m saw me on the way with fully charged IPod and Nintendo, oh, and of course, the ever present family history magazine.
The ward I was taken to was a bay that had no beds but was full of armchairs with a nurses desk, there were three recliners that had already been taken and two 'old women' type in other words upright with wings. I was the only newbie so was placed in the seat nearest the desk and subsequently discovered that the upright chair did not stop me falling to the side.
Then began the pincushion time, I was asked which arm I wanted the blood taken from and after a discussion it was decided to use the left arm for the extraction of blood and the useless right one for the chemical infusion, plus the easy one, a urine test. The blood was sent to the lab, but nothing could be done until the results were returned. A while later, after two free coffees I learnt the infusion had to begin before noon and the lab had lost my blood plus results, a quite common occurrence apparently, so it was decided to take some more blood, this time from the back of my left hand and label this as urgent.
A doctor then appeared, asked me how I felt and did a check up, I told him that I had felt dizzy all weekend etc. and had dry cough, on this basis he decided that I most probably had an infection and so put the treatment back a week. I was told to come back next week and drink plenty of fluids between time. I knew the cough was because of de-hydration but he was the doc, well he had a security tag that said so.
This means two appointments at two hospitals in two days next week, although I haven't yet received a letter with the revised attendance date so I do hope transport has been arranged, I will ring them on the Monday if still no letter arrives.
The Wednesday appointment, at the other local hospital is for the bone density scan which probably will be affected by the chemotherapy especially being the following day, yet more problems and delays.
Why am I fretting about the whole situation when I know that all the chemotherapy can do is stop me getting worse? Even at this level of disability I know that I need a wheelchair and stair lift etc., and all I can do is to wait.
And there, friends, I will leave you. Join me again after the second attempt.

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