This week's chemo already started out a little different than usual. My aunt came into town to be my driver and fellow mischief-maker, while my regular friend was recovering from surgery.
We had an early start (8:30) and got going right back to the lab, where my port was accessed and viles of blood taken. So far, so good.
With no wait at all, I was escorted to Dr. Cole's side of the office, and Mike the Nurse went to the waiting area to collect Auntie Deb, so she could help me remember all the advice for the following week's instructions.
Over the weekend, I had really developed a sharp AND dull pain in my lower-left abdomen. The pain had been dull all the time and sharp when I moved in certain ways. Basically, I was in pain all the time. In my mind, this felt like I expected appendicitis to feel like, but the major source of discomfort was on the wrong side for that. Stephen suspected that the cause was of adhesions along my DEIP Flap surgical scar.
Dr. Cole came in with happy reflections on my most recent lab results, with ALMOST everything back into normal ranges. I was a bit anemic, but not enough to need another blood transfusion yet. When she asked how I was feeling, I talked about this strange pain, and she did an examination. As she pushed and prodded around my lower abdomen, she expressed that she was "not happy with how sensitive those areas are."
Dr. Cole called to her nurses, who called down to the scanning center downstairs to fit me in for an emergency CT. "If they don't have an opening, I'm sending you to the ER. We need to know what's gong on."
Just like that, the first MAJOR divergence from the day's plan had begun. Instead of reaching my infusion room and starting on Herceptin, I was headed downstairs.
My last CT was also performed during these trying times, but that one only required two, large glasses of water. Now that there was been more time to contemplate
Once enough time had passed, I was escorted down the hall and into the scanning area. The actual test did not take more than fifteen minutes, but the entire process of set up and waiting took a couple of hours. What was supposed to get us out before lunch was anything but. (And, I was especially feeling it because I only had a banana early in the morning, planning on a short day.)
We waited to STAT results, expecting another doctor visit. Instead of another in-room explanation, we got a hallway step-out, a break in another patient's appointment to tell me the news.
Good news first: The cancer spots HAVE ALREAD STARTED TO GO DOWN!
(Dr. Cole wanted to jump up and down and hug me, but elbow bumps had to do.
Bad news next: The pain was being caused by an infection around my colon.
Not-so-terrible news: It should be cured with an antibiotic infusion and some steroids, plus a 10-day treatment of antibiotic pills.
*BEST NEWS: The pain was only a colon infection, and NOT more cancer!
We FINALLY made it to the infusion rooms!
I FINALLY got to get back on track, but not really.
I am staying off the chemo for another three weeks, hoping to rise out of anemia and allow my body to tally heal this infection.
Even with all the changes and unknowns and questions and never-ending fighting, I'm still fighting.
I had the opportunity to bring smiles and hoy to my fellow patients and to my nurses and doctors with a little gift of gratitude and love. I was able to get some lunch and a rest and not have to focus on what to write, as I assumed today would be so quick that no writing would be able to take place.
So, instead of thinking of how to describe my concerns of the day, I was able to focus on the good. Again, I'd been given small miracles to let me know that I am known. There are reasons why I continue to fight. Even when my plans don't turn out as expected or I am unable to continue down the predicted treatment plan, I am not forgotten. My life is meaningful. I have things for which to be grateful, and prayers have been answered. I am still fighting, but I AM STILL FIGHTING!
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