Chapter Seven
Thursday, June 19th was the second chemotherapy.
I believe the anxiety got to me as I was unable to fall asleep until 2:45 a.m.
that very morning. I awoke at 6:30 a.m. to begin preparation for the event.
First, the blood draw at 8:50 a.m., then meeting with the
oncologist and going over new meds and any symptomatic issues. My blood levels
were all on target. I am having blurriness of vision, so I have to pick up
special eye drops – fortunately OTC. My “angry vein” is actually phlebitis, so
it was determined to use another vein. From there, we wait for the pager to
signal our move to the infusion suite. We moved from the right arm to the left
arm; changed up the order of the meds being injected. The Alimta was first up
after hydration, then followed by more hydration (both oral and infused) and
finally the Cisplatin being dripped with hydration and followed with even more
infused hydration and a number of potty breaks. Part and parcel of this event,
but hydration is imperative – before, during and after.
They (read we) are
trying to keep from having to have a port placed as I am only having four total
chemo infusions. Depending upon the outcome of this infusion, they may consider
a Peripherally Inserted Central
Catheter, or "PICC line." This is a thin, soft plastic tube — like an
intravenous (IV) line — that allows you to receive medicines and fluids. A PICC
line stays in place for as long as needed. You
may know all about these, but I don’t, so I googled it.
A nurse places a PICC line into a large vein in your arm and guides the catheter up into the main vein near your heart where blood flows quickly. The nurse sutures (stitches) the PICC line in place and covers the site with a sterile bandage. An x-ray is done to make sure that the catheter is in the right place. It takes 1 - 1 ½ hours to place the PICC line. Most patients feel little or no discomfort during this procedure. A local anesthetic may be used.
A nurse places a PICC line into a large vein in your arm and guides the catheter up into the main vein near your heart where blood flows quickly. The nurse sutures (stitches) the PICC line in place and covers the site with a sterile bandage. An x-ray is done to make sure that the catheter is in the right place. It takes 1 - 1 ½ hours to place the PICC line. Most patients feel little or no discomfort during this procedure. A local anesthetic may be used.
I’m praying I have no more phlebitis due to the chemo
infusions and would appreciate prayers to that end. It took a week for it to
show up in my right arm and was treated with warm compresses and ibuprofen.
I’ve been experiencing some depression / anxiety and have a
med for that now. In fact, when this great excursion began in January, I was
merely taking one prescription. We are currently up to fifteen. Thus the
depression and anxiety, if my self diagnosis is correct.
I was taken to a private room on this day. I asked why and
was told “luck of the draw” and how full up the other areas were. Remembering
back to my first tour of the infusion suites, we were led past a private room,
where a woman had turned her back to the door so she could not see those who
were passing by. My heart went out to her in her isolation and pain. The pain
if physical, I do not know, but most surely emotional. I thought to myself that
I did not want to be in a private room for whatever reason and prayed for her
in whatever condition she was in and may it not be a coldness of her heart.
I reconsidered my thoughts on a private room with the
overwhelming tiredness from not sleeping the night before. I hooked up my
headphones and listened to music, yet still could not sleep.
Dennis left on his
mission. A family member provided funds to purchase the lovely piece of art I
mentioned in the first post. Dennis bought the item then drove it home so it
would not have to stay in the vehicle as our temperature was 108 degrees and
that can degrade art work. Thank you, Mom!
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Monsoon Steam by Ruth CaƱada |
Now, two days after chemo, I am tired, dehydrated and
drinking water like a fiend! I don’t have much of an appetite, but must
maintain my weight. The inside of my mouth is “peeling” and the moisture from
the water does indeed help.
The infusion site is a bit bruised and tender. I’ve begun
the warm compresses as a preemptive strike.
Last evening, Dennis asked me to come outside with him and
our dog, Dudley . There were three young owls
on the neighbor’s roof. One flew off before I arrived, but we watched two others.
How amazing to watch them turn their heads in what appears to be a 360 degree
turn when I would make gentle clucking noises. I do hope his pictures turn out.
It was amazing to watch. One by one the other two flew off as they grew bored
with our invading their privacy. It was a wonderful ten minutes of awe and
wonder in the middle of Tucson ’s
metropolitan east side!
I’ve been reading a book on Sabbath rest. It is intriguing.
I have determined that I will not use social media on Sunday. From my pen to God’s ears… The phone may
or may not be answered, I haven’t fully worked through that issue.
In the meantime, as “She Who Walks in Faith”, I read this on
a cancer site and have determined that hope is imperative:
Study after study shows that when we think
we are going to do well at something, we actually do.
Often when we believe that we can be
healthy, it’s the first step to being healthy.
Hope is believing the best is still on
its way and that goodness will triumph in the end.
Losing hope might be the saddest human
experience.
I am also holding fast to The Wesleyan Means of Grace
Courageous and forward-leaning mission
congregations practice spiritual disciplines. Our vital work is a
spiritual adventure based in John Wesley’s means of grace. John Wesley
taught that God’s grace is unearned and that we were not to be idle
waiting to experience grace but we are to engage in the means of grace.
The means of grace are ways God works invisibly in disciples, hastening,
strengthening and confirming faith so that God's grace pervades in
and through disciples. As we look at the means of grace today, they
can be divided into works of piety and the works of mercy.
Works of Piety
Individual Practices –
reading, meditating and studying the scriptures, prayer, fasting,
regularly attending worship, healthy living, and sharing our faith with
others
Communal Practices –
regularly share in the sacraments, Christian conferencing (accountability
to one another), and Bible study
Works of Mercy
Individual Practices –
doing good works, visiting the sick, visiting those in prison, feeding the
hungry, and giving generously to the needs of others
Communal Practices –
seeking justice, ending oppression and discrimination (for instance Wesley
challenged Methodists to end slavery), and addressing the needs of the
poor
Making disciples, growing vital congregations
and transforming the world is part of a spiritual adventure that
is empowered and guided by the Holy Spirit as churches engage in the
means of grace. Spiritual goals are accomplished by connecting the means
of grace with proven vital church practices such as planning, strategic
direction, prioritization, clear focus and alignment.
This has been a difficult week for those of faith especially
when on the evening of June 17, 2015, a mass shooting took place
at Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church in downtown Charleston , South
Carolina , United States .
The church is one of the United
States ' oldest black churches and has
long been a site for community organizing around civil rights. Nine
people were killed, including the senior pastor, the Rev. Clementa C.
Pinckney, a state senator. A tenth victim was also shot, but
survived.
I so wish I had an answer to the violence and the hatred
that seems to permeate our culture. The best responses I have witnessed are the
survivors, the family members’ and the church members’ response to this
horrific tragedy. They have responded with forgiveness, with love, with grace,
with dignity, and yes, with loss and appropriately requesting justice. God
bless them and our nation as we heal from yet another devastation.
This is all for this edition of “Love In the Time of Chemo”. I choose life, so until next time, I remain "She Who Walks in Faith".
Dear Friend...
ReplyDeleteMy first prayer for you tonight is "no more phlebitis" Please, Lord....no more phlebitis for my sweet friend.
I LOVE the painting!! Gorrrrrrgeous. Thank you for sharing it.
I'm right here....not physically.....but right here. Reading your thoughts and words....praying for you, and holding your hand from a distance. Feel the hug from South Georgia (hot as blazes, here....probably hot 'most everywhere in the USA this time of year.)
Nuther hug,
Jackie