Still here - July 21st

Boy, I sure feel like I have been put through "the wringer".   I haven't updated my blog because I have not been able to focus on anything.  Last week was my first week on the Interferon.  I was busy with many appointments (3 a day) related to either my prior surgery or to this treatment.  I was functional last week, but was very nauseous and had diarrhea.  In addition to this, I spike a fever of 101 degrees and that made me not feel like eating.  So, I continue for the first few days like this, then I began to fall apart.  I was not drinking my 4 liters of fluids (one!).  I felt like calling it quits already.  Then, yesterday, a very observant nurse pieced all of these little facts together and gave me a one liter drip of fluids.  WOW!  I was feeling better just after the hour of the drip.  She also gave me a drip for nausea.  So, I can now drink without feeling like I am going to puke. 

So, I am feeling okay and it is 7 am.  I have to leave at 8 for my next infusion.  I think I will be late.  I am going to enjoy feeling almost normal for an extra hour.

In the meantime, here is a bit of catch-up:

LYMPHEDEMA - My new therapist wants me to be in a higher compression stocking.  So, I went to the vendor she recommends and ordered up a pair.  She also wants me to wear a slightly lower compression at night (I begged for "open toe" at night.  I sleep with my feet dangling out of the covers.  I tried wearing the closed toe at night and could not fall to sleep.)  She also wants to see me daily (like that is going to happen soon!) and she wants me to start working on breaking up the scar tissue from my surgery.

PICC line - We had a visiting nurse come by Saturday to train us on flushing the picc lines.  There are two lumens that need a saline flush and a heperin flush.  She also showed me the blue cover for showering (big plastic thing to keep water off the equipment) and helped me with the arm band which keeps the lumens from getting snagged on things.

OTHER STUFF:  My dental appointment last week was a shocker.  I need a root canal.  I am not in a lot of pain, so I hope to schedule it for September.   Traz is at camp, so he does not get to see me suffering.  I did promise him a trip to Vermont and a week of looking at colleges in New York.  I think this all needs to be revisited after I finish this daily torture.  I still have my hair.  It should start to fall out in the next two weeks.