Shake Rattle and Roll

Just not in that order

Yesterday, Cheryl and I did the normal Spring trick, We overslept and failed to Spring forward. Well, Cheryl overslept, I woke up just fine and thought the clocks were right and did not check on her until it was too late to make our normal first service at church, so we went a bit late ans visited with our usual crowd as they left the first service. At least those who did wake up on time.

We got home in time to pack up for our mini-trip to Houston for the start of the second big round of Mega Chemotherapy at M. D. Andersen. M. stands for Murphy, did not know that until we were leaving after the adventure was over and we saw a sign on the exit road. Hmmm.

Roll

Anyway, the Roll part of the adventure is the drive over to Houston. With the clock pushed back, we managed the trip in daylight, which I liked. I also liked the fact that I have no vision issues now, so I drove my fair share, at least a goodly chunk to la Grange, a nice little town half way or so over. We stopped there for a drink/snack. I got a drink, and Cheryl said she was going to get some Cheetos only to come back with a huge Cinnamon bun, fresh baked! I guess I know where we will be stopping on future trips!. Then to top it off, as we drove through town, an old car dealership has two Sally McMillian MG-B TC cars in the showroom windows. She has been wanting one of those forever, so I guess I will have to wander back there and see if I can wrangle (that is how they do it in Texas) one of them away from that place soon!

We stopped at a Pannera's in Katy, Texas for Dinner about 20 minutes from our Hotel for Dinner how she could eat after that bun, I will never know), and I managed to eat a bowl of chicken and wild rice soup - bland enough to get past my mangled mouth. Cheryl managed part of a chicked pasta (see, if you had not started with desert!)

We got to a much nicer La Quinta, right next to a MicroCenter, but too late for me to do any shopping! phooey, oh well, maybe next time. The only problem with the room was that it was right next to the Interstate and a bit noisy, but very nice otherwise. I guess we have elevated our tastes to La Quinta level for now.

We had a nice night, and a nice breakfast, way too early for me at 6am, the next morning, then headed off for about a 15 minute drive to M.D. Anderson. We even found a quicker way into the parking garage, and made the appointment for the vampire feeding in plenty of time.

Shake

The next part of the adventure stated with the requisite feeding of the vampires. The nurse laid out four vials - FOUR! I looked at her and said "hungery, are we?" She just smiled and stuck me with the needle! I said "Ouch" and glared at her", She did her thing and did not even give me a cute bandage with happy faces on it, just a crumby couple of strips of tape. When I pulled them off later I even had a bruise. She is off of my Christmas card list! Four vials, (mutter, mutter...)

We had plenty of time to wander up to the tenth floor to visit with Dr. Kies, the Oncologist in charge of mu Chemo plan. We signed in and were directed to the "Elderberry Waiting Room". Shoot, No wine anywhere in sight! We were about 45 minutes early, but had hardly even got settled down in front of our favorite fish tank when a nurse called us back in and we wandered into a room where they stole a few of my "vitals". (I always bring a bunch with me, I just know they will want some). Turns out I have lost about 11 pounds since I started this whole adventure three weeks ago. That is a lot, but it did not surprise me given the mouth issues I have been living with.

We went over everything, all the drugs I had been given in Austin, new side effects I was having and how the drugs were doing, all that stuff. Then she directed us to another waiting room to wait for the doctor.

Dr. Keis cam in about 20 minutes early! Wow! He looked me over and talked about all the side effects as well. He was a bit surprised at how hard I had been hit, but very pleased with how well my vision had improved. The rash was about normal, the vision very good, the fatigue a bit too much. All in all, the plan was going well, but he did think he would dial down the second round a bit, and maybe not add in the day eight treatment. He would decide that after seeing how today's treatment went later in the week. The current plan is to do the full three chemical dose today, get the white-blood-cell booster tomorrow, then assess things toward the end of the week and decide about day eight. After three weks, we will re-image and see how everything worked before deciding what to do next. He is feeling pretty optimistic, which is very encouraging!

We both left the meeting feeling pretty good. Were we shaking yet, Nope, not yet!

We were a bit early for our Chemo treatment, but we took the mini-bus ride over to the Infusion-center anyway, and stopped in their cafe for a smoothie/more breakfast before heading up. I did not realize how far away the center was nor how big that building was until I spotted it looking through a window from the main building. Boy is this complex huge!

Once we were in the Infusion Center on the eighth floor, they gave us one of those vibrating gizmos you get in fancy restaurants so you can wander to the bar before dinner, but I could not find the bar. Just a bunch of tables with puzzles on then with way too many missing pieces. Why do they do that? And, who steals the pieces? Are these people just mean, or what? It is bad enough to have to wait for your treatment, but a puzzle you cannot solve - phooey! I know there were at least three missing pieces on the one I sat in front of until my buzzer went off!

My cute little cubicle was much like the previous one only switched around so everything was reversed. That meant I had to be plugged into on my right arm this time, when the vampire got fed. "Double-Cheese Burger" (Sorry, too many Papa Johm commercials on TV)

The IV stick was it's usual annoying thing. I waited a few seconds before doing my normal "OW" thing, just to make sure they knew I was awake. Cheryl told me to breath, which I was doing, sort of! I am allergic to rusty nails! Bebedryl

They started off around 9:30am with the normal nite-nite medicine, but it did not really seem to put me out as well as it did last time. I got drowsy but not out like a light. I seem to remember watching Cheryl search for something on television, and it took quite a while for the chemo drug to show up.

The original order did not cover the full treatment they were going to do, and Cheryl was all over making sure they knew that. The nurse called up to confirm the real orders were coming and cleared everything up but it still took the pharmacy quite a while to get the drugs delivered.So the actual chemo did not start until about an hour after we really started.