Poke

Wow what a day. I was so exhausted from my appt yesterday, even tho I had my husband wake me before he went to work at 6:30am, I didn't drag my butt out of bed until 8am, in time to get the kids up and get ready for my mother in law to pick me up at 8:30. We get to the hospital for my first appt with my oncologist Dr. T. My file seems to be lost. They finally find my file so they can fill the requisition for blood work. This would be my first poke of the day, expecting only one more. Appt with Dr. T went well, she doesn't feel we need to proceed with chemo anytime soon, in a month we will run the whole gamut of scans again, bone, ct and xray to see just what those menacing tumours are up to. If they are quiet (not growing) we do nothing, if there is activity, we discuss chemo again, either intravenously or by a different pill from last time. Appt done. I head over to the chemo room for the easy task of being connected to my pamidronate, or so I thought. I had 3 nurses with many many years of experience try to put my IV in 5 different places. I hate my veins. As soon as the nurse finds them, they either collapse or hide, or they can't find them at all. Two of my veins were blown (pain and bruising) - but I will live. HAHA that was funny. Sorry, I digress.Finally the IV is in place with the meds, pammi for short, is attached and flowing. With this medication, they send you home and you get to take the IV out yourself.
How hard can it be right, I've seen my nurses take mine out 100 times? Pull off the tape and pull out the IV. Well, bit off more than I can chew. Got most of the tape off, but then I panicked. I couldn't get the last piece of tape off therefore couldn't get the IV out. I just sat there and laughed at myself thinking how stupid I was to think I could do this. OK big breath. I thought I should just sit tight and call my home nurse to come over and help, I leaned over to get the binder for the phone number and spurt (blood) out came the IV lol. Well at least that is over. Phew. Will have to give it a second thought whether I want to come home and this myself again, or stay and have them do it.

My 2nd appt was really good. My regular pain doc who has the personality of a piece of cardboard was away and Dr. V was inher place. He did more examination, talking, suggestions and explanation in 10 minutes than she did in 1/2 hr. He confirmed I *do* have arthritis in my right knee quite severe *and* it's also swollen and filled with fluid. Unfortunately because of my brain clot I cannot take ibuprofen (nsaids/anti-inflammatory) so that's why I have been suffering. He is referring me to a rheumatologist, although it may take awhile. At least my pain was validated by this doc. Sometimes people who have never suffered from arthritis have no clue how painful and debilitating it can be. I really liked this doc, too bad he was just filling in, he was just so much more professional and educating than the other doc.

So that is it for my appt. No more until next month.