I had my first chemo yesterday and so far only a little nausea as I hadn't eaten, and a minor bout of diarrhea, (eeyyew!) It took 5 and half hours, only 3 longer than I had been told. It was not at all bad; the lady that managed to get the IV inserted had the most gorgeous green eyes, like J's. I had a bag of Tagamet and Decadron (Tagamet is actually a histamine blocker too) and a flush with plain saline. Then another bag with Benadryl and Anzemet an anti-nausea medication. After a flush I got a bag o'nasty called Taxol, a flush and another bag o'nasty called Carboplatin. It was mondo boring. If I had known that I was going to have to sit in a chair for nearly six hours, I would have insisted on the left hand and taken my freaking writing journal. A book. I napped after the Benadryl hit, so that was good. The chemo lab is a long room with about 30 reclining chairs and nurses running everywhere that check things as they go by. The other patients are a little chatty and friendly; they all sussed out it was my first treatment and there was a definite feeling of camaraderie there.

Boy Unit and I went to pick up some Chinese food after wards. I was STARVING. I had a little run in with nausea waiting at the restaurant, but I distracted myself by calling the pharmacy and making sure they had what I was going to come in and get filled, if I should take it before eating, and how late were they open. It worked, too. Visualization is something else I've been using. Just imagine all those toxic chemicals racing through my bloodstream as Alex Krycek with a plam, and all the cancer cells as Alien Bounty Hunters. If you don't have a clue about what I said, I could explain it if you wanted.

I feel well enough that I am planning on running some errands and maybe drop in on a wedding reception this afternoon I had thought I wasn't going to be able to attend. Tonight, tomorrow, who knows? In the meantime get up get out and go for it. I feel much better emotionally now that I have a goal, a plan and a destination. The unknown is always the worst for me I HATE SURPRISES> and I could never get anyone to understand that, though I have learned to accept fun surprises with more grace as I move towards my cronage. (heh, new word.)

I see surgeons next week and get a new pile of tests and scans done in
preparation for them to give me their guestimation of how many body parts I can expect to be removed, bisected, dissected and hacked up. That will be
sometime in the last week of April. I suspect I'll come out of it a whole lo0t lighter. Maybe they can do a tummy tuck while they are in there.... LOL. I'll do a chemo on April 25 and then surgery right after that, with the intervening three weeks to recuperate before they continue with the Chemo.

And I am insured out the kazoo. I have health insurance, a cancer rider on top of that, short term and long term disability so if I can't work beyond the 6 weeks paid time off I get, then I am paid portions of my salary. I am in no
danger of being let go from my post; the folks at WWTS have always been my allies and support group for the last 19 years. It might get tight, but I
can let go the car and immediately see a huge reduction in expenses-- it's
really hubris that thing, but I love it.

I am in no mood for introspection today. I have a window of opportunity here today, so I scavenged bits and pieces of things to make sure I have missed anything. I have to do taxes still (Chris still hasn't gotten his W2!!) and pay bills balance the check book and go out get a few things and brush up on my disinfection protocols here. That is the hard part learning to NOT BE A SLOB!! {g} Living off in the ozone if fun, but I rather don't pay attention things here on earth and they get out of hand.

The post office is open now so it's time to go.