Bryce
Yesterday was a bit of a mess, but I’m finally starting to settle in. Mary Beth dropped me off at the hospital after a nice lunch with my parents in Big Orange’s parking lot. I had to wheel all my stuff in to the admissions desk and then up to my room. My room was pretty nice, better than anticipated. After 15 minutes of unpacking a nurse drops by and tells me they’re moving me to another wing. “Cool”. My hemoglobin was at 6.9. My head was killing me, and now I get to repack and wheel my stuff to another wing.
Beeramid of Fire
Back in my younger, college days my roommates and I drank several beers and decided to coat the beers in Sterno and proceeded to light them on fire in the room. Not a minute later our fraternity’s elected safety officer, walked in and said “I wouldn’t be doing my job if I didn’t call you to exec.” We had him sit down and offered him a beer while we discussed the situation. Once the dust settled all was well and we didn’t get called to exec.
As I was rolling my luggage to the new room I see a friendly face in an office and say hi. Turns out, my old fraternity brother who was the safety officer is now the head nurse on the floor. He explained that treating me would be a conflict, which I totally understand, and therefore I had to move to a different wing. We spent a few minutes catching up and the last thing he says to me is, “Bryce, there are no beeramids of fire allowed here.” I lol’d but wished I had anticipated needing to pack a negotiation beer or two.
Treatment Starts
After arriving to my new room a medical person pops in to install a picc line in my arm. He explains the process which seems easy enough and per him, the worst part is the initial shot. That’s not the worst part. The worst part is when the line goes the wrong way and gives you the oddest sensation you’ve ever experienced. The only way I can describe it in writing is like an internal wet Willy in your neck/ear. The first time caught me off guard and the second time was unnerving. My heart fluttered after the first wet Willy and that further increased my anxiety. The line finally made it where in needed to go but the trauma remained.
Next I received heart scan which was uneventful other than I was still wound up from the picc line installation. I made it back to my room around 6 and ordered dinner. Over the next couple hours I was given a unit of blood, fluids, and a steroid. Chemo started around 10:30 and ended at 1:30. I dabbled in sleep between 10 and 2 but didn’t get any significant sleep until 2:30 – 7:30. I woke up feeling better post transfusion and picc line anxiety abated.
Treatment Day 2
So far today has been uneventful. I showered, started chemo at 10:30, and walked a mile around the floor, or 12 laps. Just found out I’m getting a lumbar treatment/spinal tap today 🙂
Metrics that Matter
- Physical feels: 7/10 – fatigued but no pain
- Emotional feels: 6/10 – yesterday was rough and I’m kinds dreading this evening
- Butt: still intact but I haven’t had a movement today
- Re: packing list
Tomorrow’s Plans
More chemo, more walking
