Wednesday & Thursday

OCSRI (Oklahoma Cancer Specialists and Research Institute) is very good at minimizing patient waiting times. Thus, Bev and I figured that with my labs and appointment with Dr. Moussa’s nurse at 2 pm, we would easily be done by 3pm and be able to get back to Bartlesville in time for the 4 pm Ash Wednesday service at Good Shepherd.

Yes, you’re right. Things did not go as planned. The problem was not waiting times; instead, it was my port. It is usually a bit difficult to start the blood flow from it, but this time it just didn’t work. The nurse spent a good twenty minutes trying, having me get into various positions (turn on right side, turn on left side, arm or arms up, sit up and bend over, stand up and bend over) but none worked, though they did make me plenty dizzy. So she went to the last resort, loading a clot buster into the port.  No, not for a blood clot but to dissolve fibers that can build up within the line. Thus, I had to have blood drawn from my arm.

By the time I got to my appointment, the technician and nurse were wondering where I was. I explained even thought they could readily see that needle and syringe were still attached to my port. Because the blood draw had been delayed, only my white blood count was available, and it was high, which was no problem as far as getting my infusion the next day, so she tentatively approved it. I told her about my problems with sleep lately (which could be a side effect of Trodelvy) and she suggested some things for better sleep hygiene that I agreed to work on.

After that, I went back down to the lab to have the needle and syringe removed. I think we left shortly after 3 pm.

So far, so good, except for the stop and go traffic backed up for several miles on Hwy 75 due to a bridge repair. We finally got to the church about 4:15. The service ended around 4:30. Pam, our commissioned pastor, used a lovely liturgy, served communion, and imposed ashes on our foreheads. I’m glad we at least caught the last half of the service.

The next day, Thursday, was my infusion here in Bartlesville. Though my liver enzymes were high, they were still able to follow through with my treatment. It was a quieter and smaller group in the treatment room than the last time.

Getting home, I had the usual treatment day effects: drowsy still from the Benadryl and brain fog that did not allow much concentration. Surprisingly, I slept pretty well despite the steroids in my system.

And today is Friday. I am hoping that no one is sick in the Hemminger household so that I can hang out with them later today. . . and no one was, I’m home now and one happy camper.