Round #1 is in the Books!

Just a quick update - with some details for those who are interested

If you've checked in on Facebook, you'll know that I felt SO relaxed going in this morning.  When the nurse called me back for pre-chemo blood work she asked if I was anxious or nervous, and I had to answer honestly, "You know, not really!  I mean, nothing worse than the usual nerves I get being in a medical office in general."  What a blessing!!!

After blood work I saw my oncologist who shared I'm a bit anemic (Hematocrit of 9.5 and it should be 12, Hemaglobin 9.9 also).  Well, knock me over with a sneeze!!!  My Hemaglobin pre-port placement surgery was 7!!!
So I was ecstatic   with 9.5 even if it IS a bit low.  So we went ahead with chemo with the understanding I may need a transfusion before #2 (we'll see about THAT!).

Back to the "chemo suite" - yes, a large, windowed area with about 25 recliners situated such that you can visit or not (today was a private, between-me-Fred-and-the-staff kinda day).  They have wi fi, hence my Fb posts, and free coffee!
Fred was a happy camper (for the most part - I love him for being a real trooper right along with me).

First the pre-meds:  saline (not really a med, but infused nonetheless), nausea stuff, and steroids.

Then the first BIG GUN!!!  This med (Adriamycin) has to be given via a "push" through an area in the IV infusion tubing straight in by a nurse (no drip, drip, drip, drip...).  Take your hand and make the ASL sign for the letter "o" - THAT's the size of these 2 bad boy syringes, each about 6" long, and red as a liquid can be!!!
I new about it, so was prepared -  - for the push, the need to suck on ice to hopefully stave off mouth sores and thrush, and the red pee!

Next, the second chemo drug (Cytoxan) via the IV drip.  Uneventful for about 10 minutes, when suddenly the left side of my tongue began to get numb!???  I also felt a strange sensation across my chest.  I called the nurse over and shared.  Yes, it was odd!  She stopped the drip, checked my vitals (all good) and spoke with the oncologist.  In the mean time, I had to pull out my little Dammit Doll (if you don't know about these, check it out - way too cute: http://dammitdolls.com/
Anyway, my precious daughter gave me one after I told her about my dx (I had given HER one last year when she was going through a rough spot), then a wonderful friend gave me one too!  We decided I'd keep one in my bedroom and one in the car (for road rage!).  I grabbed it from the console and stuck it in my chemo bag today, so when this happened, I pulled out that bad girl and gave her a whack!!!  I lie, not really, I just thought about her, took her out, and posed her for a picture (thank you sweet cousin for the pillow she rested on):

We restarted at half the pace (another 2 hours - oh well).
All told we were there from 8:30 to 1:30, but accomplished A LOT!  In my opinion at least!

The afternoon and evening???

1. CVS run
2. Home for a lunch of tuna and GF crackers (nothing raw anymore!) 
3. Work-related emails, etc.
4. Support-related emails, etc.
5. Load of laundry
6. Publix run
7. Phone calls
8. Yummy dinner of salmon, asparagus, and sweet potatoes
9. Blog post!
10. Would have taken mini-Cooper for a walk but it's storming so...
11. Treadmill time!
12. SLEEP!!! (I hope - steroids do strange things!)

Right now I just feel a little "off" - nothing new for those of you who really KNOW me ("wink" - not searching for the html code for a winking smiley right now!).

I'm planning to meet some friends tomorrow for lunch (water or coffee for me - I'll bring my food), and hope to drive, which has been SO MUCH EASIER thanks to this gift from my sweet aunt:

Hugs and love to all of you who are taking the time to read my therapy!