A Minor Setback

Yesterday's doctor visits yeilded some not so great news - I have an "inflammation" in my "treatment area".  My skin has healed well, but apparently some of my innards aren't healing like they should.  The doctor didn't think it was an actual infection, but he does want to keep an eye on it for a month or so, which means more follow ups.  Yay.  I actually really like my doctors and the nurses, too, so while I wouldn't call it my favorite way to spend the afternoon, I don't mind going into the cancer center.  I just would like to step away from it, at the moment.  Maybe stop in for a visit in the spring or something.  Given that this inflammation is a bit painful, I don't think I'll be skipping any appointments.  The last thing I want is for it to get worse.

Today, I went back to the home health care place to make a second attempt at getting a compression sleeve.  I had a noon appointment, and showed up at noon on the dot.  The person behind the desk informed me that I didn't actually need an appointment.  Well, talk to you co-workers, then, honey, cause they would not help me without one.  And really: I have an appointment on the books, and I'm here.  If I didn't need said appointment, big deal!  Why even bring it up?  Just do your thing, measure my arm, and send me on my way.   Sheesh!  So then she asks me if I have a prescription.  Um, no.  Then she asked what compression rate I needed.  I have no idea, so  I offer to call my doctor, and she tells me since it's just a preventative thing I'll be a 15-20 compression rate, whatever that means.  Again, I wonder, why bring it up? You clearly know what I need, why not just get it for me?  So anyway: I get measured, which takes literally two minutes.  Neither of the ladies who could not help me on Saturday wanted to watch and learn, so the next poor soul who comes in on a weekend will also be SOL.  My measurements indicate I'm a "medium" which they do not have in stock.  My sleeve has been ordered and will take a week or so to come in. I didn't actually need a prescription, so I'm not sure why I was asked for one, other than to make sure I never, ever come back to that shop again.  It's a pretty safe bet that they won't be my first choice.

Ring That Bell!

One day last December, a couple weeks into my radiation plan, I was in the dressing room at the cancer center changing back into my clothes after a treatment when I heard Kristen, one of the radiation techs, going over the procedure with a newbie: "You'll come in here, get a gown from this closet, choose a dressing room, and get changed.  Make sure you take the key when you leave the dressing room.  Go ahead and get changed and I'll come back for you in a few minutes." 

When I came out of the dressing room, there was the newbie: a woman about my age with curly blonde hair.  She looked scared to death.  I was not so far removed from my first treatment that I didn't remember how it felt.  I smiled at her and said, "Don't worry.  You'll be back here changing again in less than ten minutes and you won't feel a thing."  She didn't say anything but she smiled a little, still looking terrified.  I was thinking maybe I should sit with her but then Kristen came back and off they went to the treatment room.

Over the next few weeks I saw the newbie almost every day.  Her appointment was right after mine.  We usually passed each other in the hall and just said a few words to each other.  We never had a proper conversation and I don't know her name.  The only things I know about her are that she also had breast cancer, and she lives an hour's drive away.  I looked for her on my last treatment day, but it was December 23rd and the cancer center was closing early for the holiday.  None of us had our regular appointment time.

Today, I had follow up appointments with both the medical oncologist and the radiation oncologist.  I was hoping to see my no-longer-a-newbie friend, but I wasn't sure if she would even still be taking treatments.  My first stop was the lab for a blood draw, an ordeal that sometimes takes a good hour due to the tiny veins I inherited from one of my parents.  While I was sitting in the lab, swaddled in hot blankets and sucking water down as fast as I could (two methods thought to "plump" the veins) I saw my friend pass by the window.  I figured if the phlebotomist hit blood on her first attempt (a rarity with me) I might just get back to the waiting room in time to say hello.   Well, the phleb did, and I did, but my friend did not come out of the radiation area.  I was out there for a good half hour and no sign of her.  Eventually I was called back to a treatment room, where I waited alone for the medical oncologist.  It was there that I heard the most musical sound imaginable to a cancer patient  - the "I'm done with treatment" bell was clanging away.  I could hear everyone cheering, and I cheered, too, alone in my little room.  I was pretty much certain that my newbie friend was the one ringing that bell.  She would have had a meeting with the cancer guide after her appointment, which is why she didn't return to the waiting room.  When I came out from my appointment there was my family - my mom, Diva, and Walker - waiting for me.  Walker confirmed that the bell ringer was, indeed, Ms Newbie. 

I know how dumb this sounds, but I am so proud of her, and so happy for her!  I don't even know her name but it was all I could do to just not lose it.  I really felt like my good friend had just kicked cancer's ass, even though I doubt all our "conversations" added together were even ten minutes' time.  Somehow it doesn't matter.  I know what she went through and she knows what I went through and we encouraged each other, in our own way.  And I know she would understand what I mean when I say I hope I never see her again.

What Took Me So Long?

I have a guest room again.  In the interest of full disclosure, there are four boxes stacked between the window and the bed.  The boxes are full of things I need to list on eBay for my mom.  I'm doing a box a week.  This week's box was done yesterday.  Normally I wouldn't have the boxes sitting back there, but we have a contractor coming tomorrow to give an estimate on installing the exhaust fan in the bathroom.  The attic access is in the guest room closet, so I had to take the boxes out of there. No biggie. 

 

Saturday Errands

Walker woke me up early today so we could pick up Diva and go see her exhibit at the regional art center.  It's been snowing for days, but today the winds were howling, too.  There weren't many people on the streets and we were the only ones at the art center who did not have employee badges.

The theme of the show was a celebration of cultural diversity, which in all honesty is not what this area is known for.  I'm glad the schools teach cultural diversity because the kids don't get much exposure to it in every day life. When I was Diva's age, our school had one family with two African American kids and one family from India.  When I was in fifth grade, we had a week long "culture fair" which I now realize was some sort of sensitivity training because a Hmong family was going to be sending two kids to our school.  What I remember most was one of the teachers telling us not to pat the kids of the head, because it was disrespectful in their culture.  The thing is, I don't ever remember us kids patting each other on the head to begin with.  This area has seen an increase in different ethnic groups in recent years, but we're still a long way from being truly diverse.

Diva's self portrait

After the exhibit we decided to go for lunch at a Chinese restaurant that has lots of shrimp dishes on the buffet.  Diva is a big fan of shrimp.  A few doors down, I noticed a reptile shop I've not seen before, so of course I wanted to go in.  At the door, the clerk motioned for us to stop outside.  It was immediately apparent that one of the larger critters had gotten loose.  We watched the cleark chase him around for several minutes before he was captured and we were invited in.  I don't think we'll be adopting any reptiles any time soon.  That lizard was jumping around, knocking stuff over, and generally wreaking havoc on the store.  It was interesting, though, to see all the snakes and lizards and to read all the info cards on their habitats.  One large scaly thing was bigger and more active than my cat.  Of course that's the one Walker liked the best.

After lunch we had one more stop to make, in the same strip mall.  I needed to get measured for a compression sleeve, which my doctor says I will need to wear whenever we fly.  Our vacation is still a few weeks away, but sometimes they have to be custom sewn.  Walker had called the store to make sure they carried the sleeves.  He also asked the store hours.  When we got there, however, the two women working told us we have to make an appointment and come back on a weekday for a fitting.  Neither of them were trained in taking the measurements, and the staff that is trained will do it by appointment only.  That information would have been more helpful had it been shared when Walker called.  Sigh.

Writer's Block?

I've read some blogger pals' comments about how they're having trouble coming up with blog material.  I can relate - I've lost count of how many posts I've done about my bathroom remodel, but I'm sure it was a few more than anyone would care to read. So I wonder - would y'all ever try doing  photo memes? Every day of the week, a host puts up a list for their topic, and you post your photo for that topic on your blog and link back to it on the host's blog. Then you visit the other participants on the list.  I don't get to play as often as I'd like, but I do participate in Watery Wednesday and Ruby Tuesday from time to time. I did a few Skywatch Fridays a while back, too.  Quite a while back, now that I think about it.  My friend Tink has perfected the art of the Meme Trifecta - she will do one post that covers three daily memes at the same time.  I'm not that good, LOL, but I do have fun.  Here's a link to one of my favorites: Watery Wednesday.

Booking Through Thursday - January 13

Here's the question of the week:  Do you remember the first book you bought for yourself? Or the first book you checked out of the library? What was it and why did you choose it?

I would imagine my mom let me choose books from the public library when I was small, but he first book I remember checking out from the school library was "One Fish, Two Fish" by Dr Seuss,  When I started second grade and was still reading Dr Seuss, my friend Becky told me she was embarrassed to be seen with me while I was carrying a baby book (Becky was in third grade).  She marched me over to a stack of chapter books and told me to pick one.  I chose Laura Ingalls Wilder's Little House in the Big Woods.  I've been hooked on reading ever since. 


To see other Booking Through Thursday entries, or to post your own, click here 

Just When You Thought It Was Safe to Go Back in the Water

I don't think I will ever learn.  Never. You know how excited I was to have the shower fixed?  About that.  It seems that our new fixtures have a safety valve installed on the "hot" side, so that when you install them, you don't scald yourself testing for leaks.  Good idea!  The installation instructions are very clear about how to remove said safety valve before you finish installing the plumbing.  There's just one thing:  Walker and his plumber friend did not actually read the instructions.  The safety device that prevents hot water from coming out of the pipe is STILL ON THE DANG THING.  The fixture has to be dismantled to remove it.  And yes, I had a nice, chilly shower this afternoon.  I kept waiting for the water to get  hot.  You think I'd learn by now - let Walker go first!

The other thing is, if I know Walker he will try to fix it himself as soon as I leave for work.  No worries there, right?  At least now he has the instructions.  Hopefully he can get at it without doing anything to the new, expensive acrylic wall. 

Where did I put that bottle of margarita?