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 April 16, 2004
In the last update, I said the stem cell schedule was subject to change. How right I was: Day One – Change! I went to the hematologist on Wednesday for pre-admission tests.
As usual, first things first: blood was drawn – but Nurse Laura wasn’t available. No further comment. (Well, only that it took three tries to fill five glass tubes. And now the top of my hands radiate the color of ripe plums.)
For a discussion about my procedure, I was escorted to an office to meet with one of the doctors on my stem cell team and Sharon, my assigned nurse practitioner. I fell asleep during my hour-and-a-half wait.
Dr. Kassim and Sharon entered the room and once I became fully awake, I told them that since our last meeting, I had stopped taking Thalidomide because my heart nearly pounded out of my chest during Easter weekend and that Dr. Murphy (oncologist) said to stay off them since the stem cell procedure was so soon. They both agreed that was no problem. Then I casually mentioned that my temperature had flared a bit over the weekend and I had taken an Aleve. They looked at me with expressions that should be reserved only for confessing axe murderers. I feared the two of them were going into cardiac arrest. My admittance of a fever changed everything. A zillion questions followed: “Do you have a sore throat? Cough? Ear ache?” “No, no and no.” They pondered on the mystery fever and started to discuss Plan B. I was sent to collect a urine sample (always humiliating) and get a NasoPharynx culture (to test for respiratory infection or influenza). I can honestly say that I’ve never experienced anything that comes close to the uniqueness of getting a NasoPharynx culture. Nurse Marsha took an 8-10 inch cotton swab out of its sterile paper wrapper and proceeded to shove it up my right nostril then all the way down my throat. (I do not exaggerate; you know that.) She took another swab and repeated the process in my left nostril. Because I had tensed up a teensy bit on the right side, Marsha had to swab it again. When I stopped gagging and hacking, I asked, “Why don’t they use swabs that BEND?”
More blood labs were required as a result of the weekend fever. Marsha plunked down two sets of two bottles (the size hot sauce comes in) on her desk, and said she needed 10 CCs of blood in each one. In my mathematical mind, four times 10 CCs is about a freakin’ gallon. Each bottle had varying levels of liquid in the bottom, but my contribution was the same for each. Shall I say it again? I HATE “donating” blood.
The final test was a chest x-ray. Thankfully, that only took about 10 minutes. Then my friend Michelle and I indulged in an Indian lunch. That was absolutely the best part of the day.
Sharon called me at home on Wednesday night to say that the team of doctors would review my case in the morning and decide if the catheter will or won’t be inserted. I was told to take a pain pill that night before bed and not to eat or drink anything after 6:00 a.m. as if the chest catheter surgery will proceed as planned. I’ll let you know what happens.
Thursday, April 15, 2004
This is the day we definitely went off schedule. Sharon called at 8:15 this morning and said come to the hospital immediately. Yesterday’s tests indicated blood in my urine. (Is nothing sacred? Here I am, telling the world about my urine. Gross.) Diane Marshall came over earlier than planned and drove me to Vanderbilt. Sharon met me with a grim expression and a few sheets of paper in her hand. “You have a urinary tract infection,” she said, glancing at the fine print on the pages. That was news to me. I had no idea.
Just to make sure they had an uncontaminated sample, I had a “straight in and out catheterization” (tube inserted directly into the bladder). Without a doubt, I now have no dignity left to my body being, uh, poked and prodded and stabbed and drained. Sigh. Who knew cancer would make my life a living confessional.
Thursday’s scheduled chest catheter insertion was cancelled. I went home, in possession of giant-sized tablets of antibiotics. As a result of the infection, the first three weeks on the original calendar have been pushed back a week. I’ll do admission labs (again) on April 21st; catheter insertion on the 22nd; chemo on the 23rd. Jim will learn to give me Neupogen shots on Saturday, April 24th (two shots every morning for 9 days). Friday, April 30th, will be a final check before the stem cell harvest on Monday, May 3. All this, of course, is subject to change.
How grateful I am for the promise that God never changes – the same yesterday, today, and forever. God is the stability in my ever-changing life.
As always, thank you for your e-mails, prayers and love. I am overwhelmed by your compassion. Thank you for walking with me through this unexpected journey.
Janice
P.S. To our Nashville/Franklin friends who have so kindly offered to help: Please contact Mary Bess to schedule meals from April 21 through May 3. Phone: 615-301-3655. E-mail: mary.bess.smith@cpa.christpres.org. In advance, thank you for relieving Jim of “Chef Duty” – one less thing for him to worry about.
To all our friends: Thank you for the lovely flowers that have arrived since the first of the year. I have enjoyed each of the beautiful bouquets. However, my doctors have told me that I cannot have any fresh fruit, vegetables, or flowers in the house for the next few months, as they might be sprayed with chemicals or toxins. Again, I am so disappointed. I love eating all the summer fruits and having flowers in the house. One more thing to look forward to in 2005.
Mark Lowry is a true friend. Behind his comedic talent is a very compassionate heart. He took copies of all my updates and put them in chronological order on his website. If some of the updates didn’t get to you, or if you have any desire to read them, go to www.marklowry.com/janice/janice001.html .
"All material, unless otherwise noted, are owned and copyrighted by Janice Chaffee and James Chaffee, © 2004, 2005, 2006. Permission is granted to forward e-mails, or print for personal use only. No portion of these updates may be quoted in part or whole in any published material or on any internet site without authorization from authors.” |
