Well - I have had a busy week - appointments appointments and it has been difficult to keep up - in fact I missed one appointment on Tuesday - the eye doctor - who is thinking about eyes these days!!! Not me obviously.
Met up with friends on Tuesday for a lovely lunch and get-together - it is great to have something to look forward to when I get up in the morning. Good chat - tears and laughter and lots of love.
Wednesday - the drain came out - yippee!! It is nice not to have to carry that around with me and be concerned about how much fluid is coming out of my body. Did you know those darn things are sewn in - so the stiches had to be cut first and then it is pulled out - a little blip initially as it comes out of the hole, but then nothing. Of course I was a chicken and complained - it is that anticipation - but really it isn't a big deal.
Thursday was an appointment at Womens College Hospital for a CT scan. I hate the drive down there these days - but this is a standard test after breast cancer surgery apparently - it is to check that the cancer has not spread to other organs, and to provide a marker or baseline to measure any changes in the future. For those of you that have not had this type of test before, it is nothing to be concerned about. I arrived about 9:40 and was given a cup of liquid to drink - mainly water, but something added that would work with the machine (probably radioactive stuff). It was a large soft drink cup filled and I was to drink 1/4 of it every 15 minutes over 1 hour. It wasn't bad. (Luckily I was able to use the bathroom). Once the liquid was finished I was asked to change into the hospital gowns and go to the room with the machine. I was asked to lay on the bed - they make you as comfortable as possible. I was injected a couple of times with who knows what and then you just lay still and the machine moves up and down your body - it is quite close to you, but not claustrophobic because your head is not covered. It is very quick and then you are done. One lady I met in the waiting room had an allergic reaction to whatever it was they injected - she broke out in a hive on her face - she just waited it out for a 15 minutes or so and no other welts showed up and then was allowed to leave. But they explain this to you - I had no adverse reaction to the test.
On the way home stopped by the office for a chat with HR and visited my colleagues in the department. Seems they miss me!! It was good to see everyone and I certainly miss them. The girls are planning on visiting in November and so I look forward to seeing them all then.
Today, I had a busy day. First was an appointment for a Muga Scan at Oshawa General Hospital. This is a test of the heart to measure how my heart is working before the chemo etc. It is very similar to the bone scan I had the other day. I was again injected with the radioactive stuff - it is really tricky these days to find a vein - my right arm is not coming up to the mark in this regard!! The technicians usually have to go find someone with more experience to find a vein that will do the trick. You should see the bruising on my arm today! This is a very similar test to the bone scan - they make you comfortable on the bed - cushion under the knees and an extra pillow (at my request). I figured I could have 1/2 hour extra nap. So first pictures lasted about 15 minutes or so whereby the machine goes around the body - not touching. For the second set of pictures, the machine is stationery. I just relaxed and closed my eyes. And that was it!
I decided on the way home to drop by the cancer support centre - Hearth Place in Oshawa. This is a centre that addresses the social, practical, emotional, educational and spiritual needs of people dealing with all types of cancer. I had heard about it from breast cancer survivors and from the hospital. So I stopped by and introduced myself - I was given a tour by a volunteer and spent some time with one of the managers there. It was very enlightening - they have so much going on - lots of support groups for cancer patients and their families - wellness programs - fitness programs - I was very impressed. So I came out of there having signed up for Reiki treatment, Massage and Therapeutic Touch sessions. I think I will join one of the support groups and take a yoga class. I also want to get involved with the 'look good feel better' program - this discusses how looking good can make you feel better about yourself - teaches you to use makeup, wear wigs and turbans etc. Sounds like my cup of tea. They also have wigs and prosthetics. All of this is free to the patient. It is an amazing place - very comfortable - rooms for group discussions and one on one discussions. I felt very comfortable there. So I will let you know how I make out.
I got home just in time for the nurse coming today - and another friend dropped by bringing food and other goodies. I can't believe the generosity of everyone. George is enjoying all this company as well.
At least he is getting well fed.
So I have all these appointments made - hard for me to keep up with. I have made myself an Excel spreadsheet and hopefully I can keep track now - everything is not written on bits of paper all over the place etc. (You have heard about the cobbler whose children have holes in their shoes - well it is like the executive assistant who is organized at work and not so much at home!!! lol)
Next week it another busy week - will be in touch.
J
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