Report on Chemo Cycle 8

And the only reason I know it was cycle 8 is that the intern or fellow or whatever he's called was very adament on finding out.  I was all, "Sorry, I just show up when they tell me to!"  Because that is what I do. 

Anyway.  A little update from yesterday.

The first thing I did was go visit the psychologist.  She was very nice.  The first session was a bunch of questions about my background and general information.  Thinking about it this morning, I wish I would have been more positive at times.  When she asked how cancer has changed me, I told her a bunch of stuff that is probably pretty debbie downer.  What I didn't tell her?  That cancer has made me so thankful for each day I wake up.  For time with my husband and children.  For urging our family to travel.  For giving us the kick in the pants to follow our dreams.  For showing me a world of people who need prayer, for helping me look out and see people who need love or a smile or sympathy.  I feel led to share what God has done for me, but it's hard to do that.  I'll keep working on it.

I'm not sure how much I will talk about my psychologist adventures.  I'll think about it.

After that I went to get my labs drawn and was welcomed with a surprise pee cup!  Of course, I didn't really have to GO.  Surprise pee tests are never good, man.  Anyway, I squeezed a few drops out and thought to myself , "Good luck with that" when I handed it in.

Then I waited a LONG time to see the doc.  It was okay though because I've made a friend named Mary who has breast cancer.  She had a friend with her yesterday who was crocheting, so we all chatted about that and my knitting.  It was nice to have someone to talk to, and maybe I should find more friends in the waiting room.  It's not always easy to figure out who wants to talk and who doesn't.  I get that.  I keep my eyes open and smile a lot if I can.

The nurse came, took me back, and said that the doctor was working with a fellow, and was it okay if he came in?  I thought he would be in WITH the doc and the nurse, but he came in alone.  "Oh, you're the young lady with rectal cancer."  Yes, yes, I sure am.  He fiddled with the computer to try to figure out what cycle I'm on.  Then he obsessed over my liver enzymes (which are up a little bit...more later) and said he wasn't sure I could get chemo that day.

What WHAT?  I panicked a little inwardly because I have a schedule and a vacation and don't mess that up.  I opted to remain outwardly calm, knowing I would be seeing the doc too.  After the practice doctor was done, the real doctor came in, explained that the elevated liver enzymes could be from the chemo or they could be from the million vaccines (Including a hep vax) that I had on Monday.  We will watch it.  Blood pressure?  We will watch it.  I feel that my doctor has priorities, and I appreciate that.

Then I went back to the waiting room to wait MORE.  My friend Mary waved to me on her way out.  I knitted some little hearts.  I waited.  I overheard some guy wishing his son a happy birthday.  I waited.  My stomach growled, but I thought the moment I got out my sandwich, someone would call me back.  I drank kombucha instead.  The lady at the desk walked past me at one point and said, "They're almost ready for you, Ms. Sheri." 

Chemo was uneventful.  I got the guy who doubts that I need the ativan.  He said, "Oh, you have your mug rug again!"  And another time he said, "Multitasking huh?"  I was watching Daria and knitting.  He's nice, just maybe not my absolute favorite.  I'm not usually my 100% cheery self in the chemo chair, so it's not his fault.  I ate the heck out of my sandwich and most of a package of natural oatmeal cookies and drank my kombucha.  Then I started feeling like not eating stuff.  Things taste weird.

I got done a lot earlier than I thought I would, I'm not sure how that works, but I'll take it. 

And that was my chemo day.