I didn't get every picture I hoped to get. My oncologist didn't see me today so I didn't get a picture of him or his precious nurse (who will be leaving any day to have her baby). My favorite oncology nurses had other patients today so I also didn't get any pictures of nurses in the infusion area. Next time, I hope!
We arrived at the hospital at 12:15. We were supposed to be at the hospital by 12:30. You check in at the main desk and wait to be called.
I didn't look at my watch, but I am certain we didn't wait more than 10 to 15 minutes before I was called back to have my blood drawn. At UTSW, the wait is rarely very long.
Accessing the Port
Right after I began treatments at UTSW, I got a port installed in my chest. You can read all about it at http://mybattlewithlungcancer.blogspot.com/2013/08/got-port.html. Unfortunately for me, I received all of my chemotherapy prior to going to UTSW through an IV in my arm instead of getting a port from the get-go. My veins are shot now. You can't have poison infused into your body through those vessels and expect them to stay supple and healthy.
At any rate, with a port, getting blood is easy-peasy. It takes a special oncology nurse to access the port. Some are better at it than others! But, overall, there is very little pain involved and there is NO searching for a vein or sticking you again and again and again trying to get blood to flow.
At every visit, which in my case is every two weeks, a very comprehensive blood test is done. From three to five tube of blood are drawn and tested prior to visiting with the doctor. If your blood levels are not good, the oncologist may decide to put off chemo or might change the amount of chemo. In my case, there has never been a problem. I am often heard saying that if I didn't have cancer, I would be as healthy as a horse.
There are several nurses who draw blood through a patient's port, but I usually get Grace. We hit it off from the get-go. I love to see her every two weeks and I think the feeling is mutual.
We both have to wear masks while she accesses my port in order to reduce the chance of infection. I hate wearing the mask. My glasses always fog up while I'm trying to talk!
Below, you can see the needle that Grace is going to use to access my port. It is rather large!
It only takes a few minutes to get my port accessed and the blood drawn. Because I really like Grace, we often visit for a few more minutes before I return to the waiting room. You can see all of the tubing attached to the port. When I go for my infusion, it will be administered using this access point. Notice the pink circle on my sweater. Any guess what that is for?
Believe it or not, people were leaving the hospital with their ports still accessed. The pink dot is supposed to alert hospital personnel that my port is still accessed. I personally can't imagine someone leaving the hospital with all of that tubing sticking out of their chest, but that's just me. Chemo brain, perhaps, makes some people forget.
Back in the Lobby
I don't know why, but this man felt special to me from the beginning. You see all kinds (including crazy kinds like me) at the hospital. This precious man seemed to lack confidence and had something wrong that caused him to shake violently. Another patient offered to open his lunch after he fumbled with it for a few minutes.
As it turns out, I ended up feeling so sorry for the man. It seems his wife is the one with cancer. I don't know if she turned mean after she was diagnosed, if she was having a really awful day, or if she's always been mean. She yelled at the man (loud enough that we could all hear it) for not sitting up straight and then for shaking while eating. Hello?! He obviously had a physical problem that caused the shaking. Now, it is possible that his shaking is worse when she is around. If she was MY wife, her being near would make me shake. Violently.
When they came to get her to take her back to see the doctor, the man still wanted to be supportive. He asked if she wanted him to come along. She rudely told him she didn't care one way or the other. So, he went with them, trailing behind a bit. But, long before they would have reached the doctor's office, he was back in the waiting room. I guess she decided she cared if he came after all and sent him back to us. I didn't, but I just wanted to hug him.
On a happier note, we have had rain here in Dallas day after day after day. I'm not complaining because we needed the rain desperately. Last year, by the end of April, we had received only 3.93" of rain. This year, we had been blessed with 14.67" and so far, it has rained nearly every day during the month of May. It was exciting to see a break in the clouds while we were in the waiting room. We could see bluish skies and even a hint of sunshine!!
I am a people watcher and I tend to make up stories about the people I'm watching.... Well, this guy looked like a thug to me with his shorts down far below his butt. He also had jailhouse-appearing tattoos all over his arms and neck. I HATE seeing men with their pants worn far below their waists. I really think it is out of place at a cancer-treating facility.
I hate the way the guy dressed ... and if I was a betting woman, I would guess he hasn't been out of prison for all that long. I'll give credit where credit is due, though. His children were very well behaved and he seemed to take an active part in their lives. So, I guess pants worn with the waistband closer to the knees than the hips is not a clear indicator of how a person acts.
I did get a kick out of watching him try to walk when they left. His shorts were so low that he couldn't get a decent stride going. Sheesh. Who thinks that look is cute or macho or whatever? Not old fogie me.
People watching makes the time fly by! Soon, an aide comes to get us to take us to the doctor's office.
Doctor's Office
Things at UTSW move along like clockwork. I hear about others who go elsewhere that have to wait and wait and wait. Not so here. It is very, very rare that we don't get in to see the doctor within an hour after the blood is drawn. The reason for the hour wait is that it takes an hour or so for the blood testing to be completed.
I was hoping I would see the doctor today so I could get a picture with him, but I guess he was too busy. I need to quit referring so many people to him! Maybe he'd have more time to see me!! (I am not honestly complaining. I am delighted that more and more of my friends are seeing him because I hope they have the same luck as I have with him treating them.)
On the other hand, I love Sharon. She is very thorough and we have a GREAT time laughing with one another. My visit usually lasts longer than it probably should because we enjoy the time together.
Sharon wasn't quite sure what was going on until after our selfie was taken! You can tell by her beautiful smile that she's a lot of fun. She's also very smart and very dedicated. She'll take as long as you need her to answering questions and addressing concerns.
My blood tests were fine. My CT scan that was done last week showed that my organs are "unremarkable" - a good thing!!! I have no swelling or lumps. The exam doesn't take too long. Since all is well, the immunotherapy I receive can be ordered from the pharmacy. We return to the waiting room one last time.
Waiting Room Again!
In the lobby, there is a giant Chihuly sculpture. When I first saw it, I hated it. I have grown to love it over time. It is very intricate. What do you think? Love or hate or indifferent? Can anyone be indifferent to such a piece?
We now have to wait for a chemo room to become available. And, for the pharmacy to get the drugs ready.
Robert always comes with me to chemo. It is a long boring day, but he never complains. He doesn't have to come, but it sure makes the day go more smoothly having him with me. I have read of so many couples that break up when one is diagnosed with cancer. I am so happy that our marriage is probably stronger now than ever before. Which says a lot. In August, we celebrate 41 years of wedded bliss!
Infusion Room
It isn't long before we're escorted back one last time. This time, we are going to the infusion room. Where I received chemo, the infusion room was one giant room where everyone getting a treatment sat in chairs side-by-side. As much as I enjoy people watching, I always hated that room. It was such a big, cold, depressing room, just full of cancer patients receiving poison into their veins. Some people got sick, some slept, some visited ... but it just seemed it should have been done in private.
When I switched to UTSW, I was DELIGHTED to find that we would have individual chemo rooms. Each room is a little different. The one we had today was relatively small ... but certainly big enough to be comfortable. There is a television on the wall across from the infusion chair. The infusion chair itself is very comfortable and I usually request a heated blanket when we get to the room. I love those heated blankets!
The chairs for the visitors are not nearly as comfortable as the ones provided for the patient!
An aide always brings us to the infusion room, retrieves the warm blanket and any requested snacks. I am not sure what this aide's name is, but he is my favorite in the chemo area. He is always so cheerful and he's a hard worker. He wasn't the person who brought me to the infusion room today, but he walked by and saw me in the chair. "Hello, Mrs. Fernandez," he said. I asked him if he'd come take a selfie with me and he obliged!
This is the best picture I could get of how the port looks when it has been accessed and readied for an infusion. In the second picture, you can see how all of the tubing is attached. I think I have already said it, but the port makes getting a treatment much, much easier.
My infusion takes one hour. When I was getting chemo, an infusion could take from two to six hours. I like the one hour treatment much more!! So, my treatment began at just minutes after 3 PM. And I become a clock watcher!
YES!!! It is 4:00 ... the treatment should be over! Most of the drug has dripped into my blood stream. Where is the nurse to disconnect me??
What's going on? Where's the nurse? It is now 4:15 and here we still sit! Typically, the nurse appears immediately when the hour of infusion ends. Something must have taken my nurse's attention today because she was late getting to our room.
It isn't too long, though, before she comes in and prepares me for departure. She has to flush the port with herapin, disconnect the port access, give us a parking pass, and send us on our way. We are soon outside and waiting on the valet to bring our car.
You can't really tell from the photos, but the campus at UTSW is amazingly beautiful and serene. One of these days, I am going to take my good camera and spend an afternoon exploring the grounds.
Rewards
Because chemo day is a long day, we nearly always eat a leisurely breakfast before we go and then treat ourselves to a nice dinner afterwards.
Tonight's treat: Dunston's Steak House.
As we drove into the parking lot at the restaurant, we passed this gorgeous cactus. I wonder if it is because of all of the rain we've had that it is blooming like it is? It was so beautiful that I had to stop and take a few pictures before going in to eat.
It smells divine sitting near the wood-burning grills!
Steaks were cooked to perfection and the baked potato was delicious. A perfect ending to the day!
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