Post-Chemo #4 – Day 2

TLDR; I’m doing pretty well today!

But first, a…

Mom Update

The current place where she’s at is pretty crappy, it sounds like. It can take 20 minutes to an hour for a nurse to show up in her room after she’s pressed the call button. The nurses aren’t following care directions either, so sounds like Mom is pretty frustrated. She’s supposed to be moving to a different facility for Medicare reasons, but she also has another lung infection. The “care coordinator” doesn’t know what’s causing it, so she can’t really go anywhere until they solve that.

The halo is staying on for at least 12 weeks, as the trach so long as she’s in the halo. I guess she hasn’t had any PT in a week due to someone being out, so she’s unable to learn how to speak with the trach. Dad said she’s in a lot of pain and depressed. She can finally text now, so she’s been asking about me and the kids.

The plan for now is that after mom makes her way through the requisite hospitals/nursing homes, she’ll end up back at the same house she fell in. I’m not on-board for this but no one listens to me, so for my own health, I’m staying out of it.

Laura Update

I can tell this round is going to be different than the last, which is a good thing in this instance. I have more energy day 2 than I did the last day 2. The next few days are usually the hardest, so it’s a good thing I’m taking it easy for the holiday. My water intake has been good so far, and my appetite has been great. I even got Starbucks my 2 p.m. post-chemo shot! I felt that good. Fingers crossed this is the trend! LET’S DO THIS.

Got a notice from my Mayo portal that all of my pre- and post-surgical appointments have been officially scheduled! It starts two days before surgery, first with a mammogram, and then with whatever a “pre-op exam” is. The day before surgery is an early morning COVID test followed by an appointment with my actual surgeon. In the afternoon, I have the breast ultrasound followed by the seed placement in my lymph node and breast tissue. They don’t tell you what time you need to check-in for surgery, so you have to call that evening (like bedtime) for the time. And that’s not the time of surgery, that’s just what time I check-in.

The plan is that Lindsay will be with me for surgery, so she’ll be able to update all of you while it’s happening and I’m hopefully passed out. The crappy part is being by myself after they get me behind the desk. At least at the port procedure, Linds was with me in the pre-op room. I’m not necessarily afraid of the surgical part – I’m nervous about how many lymph nodes they’ll need to take, but that’s just gonna be what it’s gonna be. The five weeks of radiation is also making me nervous – a lot because I’ll be in a strange place – kind of a public place – and I hate being away from home without the home comfort. And it’s a logistical nightmare for Josh, who is usually at work by 5 am, so I’m the morning ride for the kiddos. But, we’ll figure that out.

Mayo also scheduled my post-op appointments starting out with three appointments on February 8th. First, a survivor’s clinic education visit (SURVIVOR!!), then a post-op visit with my surgeon, and finally, a visit with my oncologist. I’m assuming my oncologist will recommend when I restart the targeted therapies (Herceptin and whatever the other is).

I don’t meet with the radiation oncologist until February 18th, where I’m assuming the radiation scheduling will happen.

That’s if everything goes well with the infusions. I have two extra days to recover this time, so that’s a positive. I’m happy to be feeling good especially after the crappy last round. I’ll keep doing the things to maintain. My heart rate has been better which is also a good sign! Probably helps to have the bathroom back on the first floor. It’s not totally fixed yet (the bathroom – it’s basically a remodel), but at least it’s available! It’s the little wins…(granted, GIVE ME A BREAK!)

Thanks, as always, for all the support. <3 You’re all pretty amazing humans. I’m grateful to have you in my life!