HOLY COW! THE COST OF PILLS TO NOT PUKE!

Fred picked up an anti-nausia prescription for me - ZOFRAN. That's the real name. Naturally, we got the generic which is a real long name that I can't be bothered writing here. We paid $5 for the generic through Fred's insurance. According to the receipt, we saved a whopping $649.00 by going with the generic. Oh, and this is for TWENTY pills. If I feel nausia coming on, take a pill. Wait 8 hours, if it still feels the same, take another one. So far, nothing. The pill bottle is always with me, no matter where I go, just in case.

Toddy Tuesday (a ritual for 4 years)

Kept the Tuesday Happy Hour schedule today. Met Dian at 3PM at Kona Grill. It was at least 105 degrees and we always sit outside on the patio, under the misters which were blowing the wrong way. I don't know if I can keep up this Toddy Tuesday for much longer. The heat is just too much and the appetite for cocktails just isn't there in this much heat. I remember being miserable last summer but keeping the schedule anyway. That may not happen this summer. We'll see.

ON STEROIDS!!!!!!

One of the first two little drip baggies, yesterday, had steroids in it. I totally forgot; they told me in the "class" that Fred and I took just prior to the treatment. After much Ambien and another anxiety medicine, I finally dozed off about midnight - then awoke ready to beat the bush. No coffee this morning, just green tea. Oh, and the wine I had last night just kicked-the-hell-up the anti-histamine they had in one of those drip baggies too. Arnold's got nuthin on me this morning.

Peeing - Snoring - Martini's, and the Food & Bev Cart

Still a little tipsy, like Martini's wearing off, although I think I could have gone to work today. Feeling a little hyper but that's probably due to the Benedryl. Feeling a little anxiety but that's probably due to the fact that I sat in a chemo room, albeit class-a, it's still a little weird. There was a woman - a huge woman - in the station about 10 feet from me. They covered her totally with a blanket to keep her snoring down. Just like a plane going over. I guess I'll learn what to take next time, ear plugs. The others in my section were kind of cracking up. The food and beverage cart finally did come around. They really do try to make us feel good. Fred finally got his coffee. He was very patient, sitting around for about 5 hours. I'm amazed at the age of people in there getting treatments. 40 - 50-ish. More men than I expected. A few people without hair but most with. I don't get that. When they give you 4 drip bags, you have to pee a lot. You have to unplug the dripper which hangs on a pole with legs and wheels. Then you pull the pole across the room to one of the restrooms - very nice restrooms, but, still you have to wheel you pole across the room. Everybody knows you're going to pee.

First Treatment

This is not the chemo room but it sure looks like it. Can't take my own photos due to the privacy laws.

There are "4" bags of fluids that have to drip.

Benedryl is first - 20 minutes.

I got kind of tipsy, like after a Martini.

Anti-Nausia is second - 20 minutes.

Still feeling tipsy.

Taxotere is third - one hour.

Cytoxan is fourth - one hour.

At this writing, I'm just about dripped out of the Taxotere and ready to start the Cytoxan, and still alive.

People come and go in this place - kind of reminds me of an upscale Mash Unit.

There are "beep-beep-beeps" everywhere, as someone's drip bag dries up; nurses running around everywhere too. We brought sandwiches and grapes - didn't know what to expect and I haven't seen that food and beverage cart which was why I wanted to come here in the first place. As someone leaves, a nurse completely anti-bacteria's that station, top to bottom. I feel hyper and woozy. That's the feeling I get from Codeine.

Tie Up Loose Ends Before #1 Treatment

Still haven't bought a water pick. No more flossing; can't disturb the gums.

Will do tomorrow.

I did go to the Fashion Show Mall this afternoon and bought a couple sun dresses at JJill. Today is my birthday and they give a pretty good discount during your whole BD month.

Fred and I are going to "Nora's" for dinner.

Nancy, you and Bill have been there.

A real good Italian restaurant on our side of town.

I just noticed, behind me, a huge vase of flowers and a bunch of BD cards.

I don't know when he snuck the flowers in here but he did.

No real estate today - phew. That's the first time that's happened in a while. Happy Birthday!!

I had the last 24 Hour Fitness appointment today.....before the chemo starts. Chris, my wonderful workout trainer, is quite young but seems to be up to the task of training a 62-year old on chemo.

This is all new for him too and I'm really touched by how mature and caring he is.

One more day of no chemo....

6/23 Met with Cardiologist

Blood pressure is down so the chemo won't do the damage to the heart that it could. Some good news. I asked him what his advise would be for the next few months. He said, while you're on chemotherapy is the one time you should be selfish. Any thoughts?

Very....Limited Dentistry During Chemo

I had to cancel a dental "cleaning" scheduled for 2 days after the first chemo treatment. It seemed okay to me, being only 2 days after the first treatment. The oncologist said "nothing to do with the gums", although he did say that the dental implant work can continue since all the invasive work is done. So, back to the city of Orange on 7/15 for another step in completing the dental implant work. Monday, 8:40AM, I'll arrive at the Nevada Cancer Institute for a blood test, then a "class" in all the side affects of the chemicals, then the injection.

DR. MILNE

Dr. Milne is a regular physician and an integrative medicine physician (complementary medicine). I saw him yesterday to go over the Chemo cocktail I'll be taking. He seems to think it'll not be a real problem. However, if, within 48 hours I feel like death warmed over, I'm to call his office and they'll prepare a vitamin, mineral and amino acid cocktail - I'll go into his IV room and get souped up. Fred asked me to ask him about this oxygen room that his daughter (Fred's) is doing now for her allergies. I guess it's about $175/visit and, according to Dr. Milne, it's FABULOUS! Both during and after Chemo. So, I may have to delve into it more. Anything that's FABULOUS will become part of the landscape. Sherry, Fred's daughter, is also doing FABULOUS since she's been using the oxygen room.

The PORT (or as they call it, the Passport)

The PORT or, The Passport, is a half-dollar/quarter-size metal thing embedded in the inside of my right arm. It requires I carry a card to get through airport security. It's not just a 25-minute out-patient surgery. It took a couple hours plus. It is in my upper right arm, on the inside. Most women have it in their chest. Fortunately, my oncologist suggested the upper arm. If this black and blue, bloody mess was in my chest, I would have panicked. The PORT will allow the Chemo staff to stick the needle into the PORT instead of a vein. Apparently, Chemo going into the veins can cause them to collapse. The Port is connected to a hose that runs (inside the body) from my arm up into my chest. The chemo will flow through it and dump out into the chest.