I slept well, but only after a few hours of phantom pain before dozing off.
I am wearing my new angiosarcoma bracelet, and my new watch. I really like this watch. :-)
It is chemo day :-(
First a nice fruit salad, and some anchovie toast.
--
10:30
Getting dressed for the chemo. I tried on the new hat my Brother sent me. It has arm loops to keep it from blowing away. It needs eye holes.
Maddie told me to "smile", when she took the picture.
11:30
We're sitting in the hospital cafe. Pre-chemo coffee and muffin.
--
13:30
Getting chemo. 3 bags almost empty. Next should be Paclitaxel. that usualy makes me passout.
Some lady is making coffee. I hope she brings me a cookie.
Just sstarted the Paclitaxel. Bye bye.
--
16:20
At Home.
I woke up and the Chemo was done, and the IV was out. Maddie was there with a wheel chair, coffee, and a cookie. :-)
While I was out, the Oncologist wanted to see me, but I was out, so she chatted to Maddie.
The oncologist has changed my chemo schedule. Instead of 12 weeks of chemo, she has me on cycles. Each cycle is 3 weekly chemos, and a week off (28 days). The cycles also mean that I will only finish chemo end of Feb. :-(
She wants 6 cycles of chemo. I have done the equivalent of 2 cycles so far.
After the next chemo (#9), I will have a week off.
That might be a good time to go to George and visit Maddie. I do the last chemo of the 3rd cycle on 1 Dec. The next chemo is on 15 Dec. I should be back for blood tests by the 14th.
Maybe I could leave for George with Maddie on the 3rd of Dec and return without Maddie on 13 Dec.
Then I start thinking about logistics. Do I buy and take a wheel chair to George? Which crutches? That is going to mean we need to move me, Maddie, two large suitcases, crutches, and a wheelchair to the airport. How does Maddie drag 2 suitcases, and push me at the same time? When I come back, how do I drag a suitcase, carry my carry on, and wheel myself through the airport.
Airlines will only supply assistance once you are checked in and headed for the departure lounge. On arrival their responsibility stops at the arrival lounge.
A lot of research is needed. I also need lots more money. :-(
--
22:05
I have also been googling "wheelchair vs prosthetic vs crutches". Lots of research done there. Young military guys were the source for the survey. Basically, the higher the amputation, (foot, lower leg, through knee, above knee, hip) the more a wheelchair is preferred over prosthetics. The older a person is, the more a wheel chair is preferred over a prosthetic. Almost 80% of above knee amputees over 60 preferred a wheelchair for majority use. Because all the surveyed guys were military, they all had the best, expensive, bionic prosthesis.
Most of the guys have all three (wheelchair, prosthetic, and crutches). Crutches for midnight toilet. Prosthesis for socializing, and sitting, like at a restaurant. Wheelchair for normal around house, or for long periods of motion, like at a mall.
This makes me wonder at the wisdom of wanting a prosthesis at all. The old beat up wheelchair we borrowed has been my main mobility in house now for 2 days. It is sure a lot easier than crutches. I can zoom around like the office chair, but also go to the toilet, and bed.
I think logic and common sense say a wheelchair is far better for me than an office chair.
There is a good wheelchair place near here. There prices have one to many zeros at the end. A nice wheelchair that is lightweight, and fold able, but it costs R30,000. That is what I wanted to spend on a car. Shriek!
It is now 23:00 and I am wild awake. Usually chemo makes me sleep. I just had Horlicks, and now a hot shower, then I will try bed.
--
16:20
At Home.
I woke up and the Chemo was done, and the IV was out. Maddie was there with a wheel chair, coffee, and a cookie. :-)
While I was out, the Oncologist wanted to see me, but I was out, so she chatted to Maddie.
The oncologist has changed my chemo schedule. Instead of 12 weeks of chemo, she has me on cycles. Each cycle is 3 weekly chemos, and a week off (28 days). The cycles also mean that I will only finish chemo end of Feb. :-(
She wants 6 cycles of chemo. I have done the equivalent of 2 cycles so far.
After the next chemo (#9), I will have a week off.
That might be a good time to go to George and visit Maddie. I do the last chemo of the 3rd cycle on 1 Dec. The next chemo is on 15 Dec. I should be back for blood tests by the 14th.
Maybe I could leave for George with Maddie on the 3rd of Dec and return without Maddie on 13 Dec.
Then I start thinking about logistics. Do I buy and take a wheel chair to George? Which crutches? That is going to mean we need to move me, Maddie, two large suitcases, crutches, and a wheelchair to the airport. How does Maddie drag 2 suitcases, and push me at the same time? When I come back, how do I drag a suitcase, carry my carry on, and wheel myself through the airport.
Airlines will only supply assistance once you are checked in and headed for the departure lounge. On arrival their responsibility stops at the arrival lounge.
A lot of research is needed. I also need lots more money. :-(
--
22:05
I have also been googling "wheelchair vs prosthetic vs crutches". Lots of research done there. Young military guys were the source for the survey. Basically, the higher the amputation, (foot, lower leg, through knee, above knee, hip) the more a wheelchair is preferred over prosthetics. The older a person is, the more a wheel chair is preferred over a prosthetic. Almost 80% of above knee amputees over 60 preferred a wheelchair for majority use. Because all the surveyed guys were military, they all had the best, expensive, bionic prosthesis.
Most of the guys have all three (wheelchair, prosthetic, and crutches). Crutches for midnight toilet. Prosthesis for socializing, and sitting, like at a restaurant. Wheelchair for normal around house, or for long periods of motion, like at a mall.
This makes me wonder at the wisdom of wanting a prosthesis at all. The old beat up wheelchair we borrowed has been my main mobility in house now for 2 days. It is sure a lot easier than crutches. I can zoom around like the office chair, but also go to the toilet, and bed.
I think logic and common sense say a wheelchair is far better for me than an office chair.
There is a good wheelchair place near here. There prices have one to many zeros at the end. A nice wheelchair that is lightweight, and fold able, but it costs R30,000. That is what I wanted to spend on a car. Shriek!
It is now 23:00 and I am wild awake. Usually chemo makes me sleep. I just had Horlicks, and now a hot shower, then I will try bed.
--
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