When I went in for chemo on my 5th visit, my blood count was too low to have chemo. This meant my treatments would be prolonged, but it also meant that it would be three weeks between treatments. I now have an extra 7 days before my next treatment. (Yeah for me!!) Today when I leave the chemo facility, I can walk out just as I walked in. At this point in time, I’m drinking lukewarm water, lukewarm tea, and lukewarm pop. (You know what the bible says about lukewarm, Revelation 3:16). I am still able to drink coffee. (Praise Him for the little things). After chemo, I seem to follow the same pattern except it is more intensified. Rick is by my side while I’m getting chemo, but there is about a 10-minute period when my chemo infusion is finished and the nurse connects my pump to my port, he goes outside to get the car to pull it up to the door. After my pump is connected, I have to use the restroom. They load me up with liquids during the 3-hour infusion. I am so weak; I’m literally holding onto the walls and door handles. For this to be a chemo facility they did not take into account all the metal handles. The metal handles on the doors, water faucets and other items are cold and when I touch them it’s like a weak voltage of electricity shooting through my fingers. If you know we at all, I’m always thinking about how to streamline processes. Apparently, they have never asked a cancer patient about, “How to make things better”. They do give you a toasty warm blanket to cover up with while taking chemo before sending you out to touch the cold walls and metal handles. I’m a terrible mess getting to the car after chemo. Once I make it to the car, Rick finds a place for us to eat that has a drive-thru. We order and then sit in the car and eat before traveling home. Once I get home, it’s straight to the sofa and I go to sleep. I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills – From whence cometh my help? My help comes from the LORD, who made heaven and earth. He will not allow your foot to be moved, He who keeps you will not slumber. Psalm 121:1-3
