Chemo, scans, and doctors

Last Thursday's chemo appointment turned out to be a trial. First, the nurses couldn't get bloodflow from my port. They shot in some Heparin to clear out any clots and after waiting 20 minutes tried again -- nothing. They shot in some more and took blood from my arm so they could get my blood counts. Meanwhile, I started coughing and just couldn't stop. It went on for an hour, all through the port problems, the blood draw, my 30 minute wait to see the doctor, and my doctor visit. By the time I got into the chemo suite, I was ready to start crying. The good news is my counts were good and they finally got a blood draw from my port (there must have been a clot at the end of the catheter). I was so wiped out from the stress by the time I got home that I went directly to bed and slept for two hours. Had they not been able to get a blood draw, they would have sent me for a portogram, during which the port would have been filled with dye and then scanned to see if there was anything blocking it. Thank goodness we didn't get to that point.

While I was meeting with Dr. Windsor, we discussed the need for another bone scan. It's been almost a year, so we decided to go ahead with it. I will have it at the end of August on the same day I have my brain MRI. I will have my spinal MRI the following day, because scanning the entire spine requires two injections of contrast material, and they will only give two a day. Therefore, they can't do the brain and the total spine on the same day.

Yesterday I went into the city and had my CT scans of the chest, abdomen and pelvis and I expect to get a copy of the report when I go in for chemo on Thursday, if not sooner. I also had x-rays of my ankle for my follow up appointment with the surgeon on July 27.

As I mentioned previously, my appointment with the pulmonologist was scheduled for August 18. Dr. Grabowy spoke with Dr. Pristas and apparently told him there was some urgency, so I was given an appointment yesterday, on Dr. Pristas's normal day off. After speaking with him about my history, I was given a series of lung tests (my lungs are in very good shape) while Dr. Pristas reviewed my April scans. It is his opinion that the largest met, which is located in my right lung, is causing my cough. He prescribed a medication that supresses the need to cough and also prescribed a cough syrup for when the coughing doesn't stop after 30 minutes. Of course, when that happens, I'm likely not to be near the cough syrup, but it will help while I'm home. I just started the pills, so we'll see what happens. I have a follow up with him in two months, but we'll have to see what the thoracic surgeon has to say about removing that met. At least we would be resolving two problems with one surgery.

I will be having chemo on Thursday and Zometa on Friday. Otherwise, the summer is racing by and I feel like I haven't gotten anything done. Hopefully tomorrow I can get working on another room and then I can pick up my cleaning next week after the chemo effects wear off.

I hope you are all enjoying blue skies and not too hot temperatures!