Chemotherapy - Part One

Well, I have come out of the "chemo coma" - that's what I'm calling the first chemo experience.  This is how it went.  On Monday morning at 6:00 am, Wilson and I arrived at Texoma Medical Center to start this adventure.  The surgery to place the port to administer the medication had to begin with an IV, of course.  The nurse had a difficult time finding my veins, as always, and found one on the inside of my right wrist.  She hit a nerve, and my hand kept going numb - uncomfortable to say the least.  The surgery went well, and then I was supposed to go up to a room to begin the chemo.  But, the person in charge told us we needed to go to the Cancer Center, so we did.  When we got to the Cancer Center, they sent us to the oncology clinic, and they sent us right back to the hospital!  The nurses on the oncology floor couldn't believe I walked in to the floor, they expected me to be wheeled in.  By now, it was about 9:30 am.  The nurse got me all comfy in the hospital bed to begin the chemo.  The pharmacist had to do some testing on my blood before the first regimen of chemo could be given.  Finally, at 2:30 pm, they started the chemo into the port.  This was a very long, drawn out process. The medicine was very nauseating and strong.  Wilson aptly called the process "wicked". They finally finished the procedure at 10:30 pm.  Because the process finished so late, I had to wait until the next day for the pump to be put in with the next medication.  We went in at 8:30 the next morning to get the pump placed.  That medication ran until Thursday morning.  I truly felt all the prayers and am confident I could not have made it without them. Now I know what to expect next time, and that helps so much!  With all the prayers, I know I will have the strength to fight this!