I could use a Snickers.

Pretty Please. With a cherry on top!

1/5/11 – Hello all!  Today has been a busy day.  I think doctors like to test cancer patients to ensure their sanity.  (1) I think that is cruel. (2) Challenge accepted! 

I had my oncologist appointment this morning.  I was told to get to the office at 9:30 and that I would be taken back at 10:00.  Todd and I get there, I fill out all the fun (not) paperwork, and then we wait.  Wait. Wait. Wait.  What time was my appointment again?  At 10:30 and I hear other patients talking “I have a 10:20 appointment with Dr. XYZ.” “I have a 10:30 appointment with Dr. XYZ.”  Well, news flash, I have all of you beat.  I have a 10:00 appointment with Dr. XYZ.  Bam!  I finally get called back just to immediately step on a scale – Oh, thanks.  Make me wait forever and then remind me just how much I weigh.  You’re really endearing yourself to me.  The Diva is coming out.  Snickers!  I need a Snickers! – I have had a little time to stew, so when the very nice lab lady tells me that my blood pressure is high and asks if I’m stressed I honestly respond “Nope.  I’m pissed because I’ve been waiting over an hour.”  I know all of you are probably looking for a sensational story where I storm through the office and tell everyone where to go and then stomp on the scale until it tells me that I weigh what I would like to be in my mind, but sadly no.  After my vent session with the lab tech I was good.  I got to wait a little while longer before actually seeing my doctor.  I then had to tell my “how did all of this happen?” story for the 51^st time.  My appointment today was basically a consultation to go over my chemo schedule.  Here is the basic run down.  I go to have a PET scan on Tuesday just to make sure that the colon cancer is all I have in my body.  I get a port put in on Thursday. (This will be an outpatient surgery and I will be knocked out – score! After the whole almost passing out during the staple removal I have been afraid I would pass out in the office when the port is put in.  I’m turning into Bionic Woman!)  On Friday I start chemo.  My chemo will be a 3 week rotation.  I will go in and be hooked up to an IV through my port for 3+ hours and then for the next 14 days I will have to take pills.  I will have a week off and then start all over again.  I get to do this wonderful rotation 8 – 10 times, which will take around 6 months.

It seems kind of weird having new information after being out of surgery for 3 weeks now.  It seems like all I’ve done is sit around and wait.   I did ask about my lymph nodes.  I didn’t know how many were removed and how many had cancer in them.  I knew that I was stage 3 because the cancer was in my lymph nodes.  Well, they removed 11 lymph nodes and I had cancer in 9 out of 11.  I am glad to have a plan and to have some answers.  I know next week is going to be busy because I will be at the hospital each day except for Wednesday.  I plan to relax and enjoy my day on Wednesday.

On my way home from the hospital Todd and I stopped at Chick-fil-A.  I needed a milkshake.  Apparently the chemo I’m getting is going to make me very sensitive to cold things.  I am supposed to have sensitivity to touch and I will have to drink or eat things that are at least room temperature.  Room temperature!  You know what that means right?  No smoothies!  What is it about cancer that denies me my inalienable right to smoothies?  So, I HAD to have a milkshake.  I am going to enjoy all the cold stuff until it is taken away from me.  Ever notice how when you are told not to do or not to eat something that it is the one thing that you have to have? 

Back to my original thought about how doctors make patients jump through hoops and my new challenge to not lose my sanity.  Here is where it gets confusing for someone who is not 100%.  I have to have the port put in.  I call the surgeon to schedule having the port and I learn I have to have an office consult with him before the port is put in.  I am going for the consult at 2:15 on Monday, but then I have to go to the hospital on Monday for my pre-op.  My oncologist needs me to have a PET scan.  I have to be at the hospital at 9:00 Tuesday but I don’t have the scan until 11:00 (what is that?!).  Wednesday is my by day.  Thursday I’m getting the port so I have to be at the hospital at 9:30 but I don’t have the surgery until 12:00.  Friday I go to start my chemo at 9:00 and it is going to last 3+ hours.  Oh, yeah, I also have to remember to mention that the port should be left accessed.  They want me to bring snacks to chemo because they want to see me eating – weird.  Then I have to remember to take my pills each day after that.  I’m going to need a pill box.  It is going to be a miracle if I remember all the times and don’t show up at the wrong place at the right time.  But, I’ve got this.  I love a challenge!

A port.  I’m getting a port put in me.  Apparently this thing is about the size of a quarter and it may poke out a little.  It is going to have to stay in me for 6 months.  I’m not liking this.  Not liking this at all.  You all know how I was with my incision, what am I going to be like with a port in me that’s not coming out quickly?  I wonder if I can talk my surgeon into putting it on my back?  Out of sight out of mind.  I don’t think he’s gonna go for it though.

Once I got home I was disappointed to find that there wasn’t much on TV.   Why is day time TV so boring?  I guess I should do something constructive with my time.  Sigh… I worked on my art project some more.  Everything is coming together well.  Hopefully I will have it finished before the week is done.  I’ll share a picture of it with all of you if it turns out cool.

Right now I am watching TMZ – I know, I know.  I just can’t stop watching.  You learn a lot of important information watching that show.  Today I learned that some people don’t know who Lisa Rinna is.  All the astronauts that walked on the moon get together a lot.  There is also some debate between the astronauts whether there are aliens or not.  Snoop Dog won 20K from Dana White because the Lakers beat the Celtics and he rode Southwest Airlines to collect his moolah.  Zac Effron and Vanessa Hudgens may be back together.  Fascinating! I know!  Can you imagine how well informed society as a whole would be if everyone watched TMZ as opposed to the news?  Children, watch TMZ.  Quality television.

Since Todd went with me to the oncologist today he is working the later shift which ultimately means that I am starving waiting on him to get home so we can eat dinner.  I’ve had a lot of time to think about what I would like to eat and have decided I want some Thai food.  Not spicy, just yummy.  Maybe I can talk Todd into going to Myako soon.  Since I’ve been watching so much TV I’ve seen a lot of commercials for Country Strong that is coming out this Friday.  You know, the movie with Gwyneth Paltrow?  I keep getting the lyrics “shake that thing, shake that thang!” stuck in my head.  I want to see that movie just because of that song.  On that note, I’m out. Night y’all!