Chemo #1.. been there, done that.

Well. I had myself all worked up over nothing.  I just knew after my treatment was over, I would either be wheeled to the car in a wheelchair or carried out on a stretcher.  lol

I got to Vanderbilt Health Center around 11:30, signed in and almost immediately they took me back to have my port accessed and blood drawn. (got a video of it! haha)  The only pain I felt was the pressure of the nurse pushing on the port just a tad to get the needle in.   It is still a little tender, but its getting better every day.  For those that want to see exactly what it looks like.... 

 The only part I can feel is "A"... the little "button" that the needle goes in to.  (I wish I had those boobs!)

Anyway. 

Got the blood drawn, and then I was sent to talk to Katie Sibler, the nurse practitioner.  My biopsy results aren't back yet from the T3 Process biopsy-- but she did go over all the side effects of the chemo meds.  She was very thorough.  She spent a lot of time with us and made us feel very at ease. 

After a bit of waiting, it was time for me to go to the infusion room.  It was a private room, with a large flatscreen TV on the wall.  The recliner was comfortable and there was an extra chair for some lucky person to keep me company in. I can pretty much do anything I want while getting my cocktail.  Text, watch TV, read, sleep, knit (if I knitted).  If I have to use the ladies room, I have to unplug the IV stand and walk it with me to the bathroom.  I am surprised I didn't trip over it and fall.  I made several trips.  Those fluids ran right through me.  I got Benadryl, Zofran, and Decadron.  Those were my pre-meds to prevent any sickness or allergic reaction.  Then came the fun stuff.  Taxol must have won the coin toss because it was first.  Then came Cisplatin.  All in all, it took a little over 4 hours.  My next treatment shouldn't take as long.

Mitch stayed with me most of the time (God I love that man).  My mom, dad, sister and even Jordan took turns coming in and keeping me company.  They won't be at every treatment, but the first one was important, so they were all there.

It is nearly midnight and I have been up since 5am.  I am not the least bit tired. (hello, steroids)  I know tomorrow I should feel ok but then Thursday I should start feeling the effects.  I do expect to be a little run-down feeling but I am really not going to plan on being completely knocked out.  We'll see. I will probably feel like I've been hit by a freight train in a few days... but fingers crossed I won't.

I will have my treatments every Tuesday.  My main doctor changed my regiment and instead of taking treatments once a week for 3 weeks and then taking a break... I'm going once a week for 6 weeks straight.  No break for me.  Not unless my levels start bottoming out.  I still have to learn about my blood count and all.  I was advised to watch my temperature. (Note to self: BUY A THERMOMETER)  If I have a fever over 100.4,  CALL THEM IMMEDIATELY.  

So far, so good.  Thank you for the continued support, thoughts and prayers.  They will be a huge in helping me win this battle.  I could not do this without my faith in God, my medical team, my family and my friends.  So, from the bottom of my heart.... THANK YOU.