Ready to Start Chemo

As promised, the past two weeks have been a bit like watching paint dry with lots of rest and various chores to prepare for chemotherapy. 

The highlights - We've visited with various friends and family.  The wig has been purchased (a fun adventure with good friends). It has been styled (another good afternoon with a dear friend). I have a couple of hats to wear. Christmas shopping is started but not quited finished.  To occupy myself and try to stay quiet, Brittany and I made homemade Christmas and Thank you cards.  Craftiness is not a talent but it was a great distraction.  If you are a recipient of one of them...please look at them and understand their origin. 

My last surgical drain (aka Francis Ferdinand) has been slow to finish up its job.  Most people are able to have the last drain removed after 2 weeks but FF has been stubborn.  At the 5 week mark, it is still going strong and draining more fluid than it should.  Typically, they wait for the drain to slow down to less than 30 cc in a 24 hour period for 48 hours and then remove it.  I've been consistent at 50-60 cc per day.   Yesterday - it decided to have some fun and drained a whopping 148 cc in a 24 hour period.  This came with a low grade fever and knocked me down a bit.

My biggest concern with all the unexpected action of the drain was that chemotherapy would be delayed further.  It is hard to explain but I am anxious to start this journey or more accurately to finish it...and the only way to finish it is to start.  

We met with my plastic surgeon this morning and I'm happy to say, he was supportive of chemotherapy starting on Monday, November 19th but the compromise was to keep the drain in until the day of the infusion.    I'm to sit quietly and not exert myself this weekend. <insert eye roll>  I did my best to convince Dr Agarwal that taking the drain out today was a good idea...so I can heal the open wound before chemo...but he didn't fall for my extensive 'powers of persuasion'.  I think I like him all the more because of that.  I'll take the compromise of Monday and run with it. 

Thanksgiving will be a quiet affair.  Dawn and Jim (my brother and sister) will be over with my sister's husband and son.  Dawn has agreed to come over and help my husband and kids make the meal just in case my reaction to chemo impacts the holiday.  According to my oncologist - I can expect to lose my hair around the 10 day mark.  After this first infusion, my schedule will be every two weeks and on Thursdays.  The second treatment will be on December 6th. 

Although I'm tired of the drain and frustrated by the speed of things - I'm  in good spirits.  We are so lucky to have such a great support system. Thank you all.  We'll keep you posted on how things go.