Tuesday, April 2, 2013

Sorry I have been out of touch for the past several weeks but there really hasn't been much to write about (which I guess is a good thing). 

Chemo last week was pretty typical.   I did get a new nurse who learned a valuable lesson from our time together.  Although I have tried not to interfere with how they insert the IV needle, let's face it after three years I'm pretty much aware of what's going to work and what's not.  So when he laid down the IV kit and I noticed he had a blue (22 gauge) instead of a yellow (24 gauge).  Experience tells me that due to the fact that my veins are small that a yellow works much better then a blue because they are able to advance it into my vein without it breaking through.  So I mentioned to him that I usually have a 24g but it was his call what to use (see I'm getting better at letting them do their jobs).  He decided to use the 22g and proceeded to insert it and advance it right through my vein.  Second try was with a 24g with no problem except now I have a huge black and blue mark where I bled out under the skin.   To his credit when all was said and done he did tell me he should have listened to me since I knew better having gone through this so many times.   Lesson Learned in this scenario is as a patient speak up and be a part of the team instead of a bystander.  As a health care professional listen to your patients as they have valuable information to share.

The only other thing on the horizon is a CT Scan scheduled for April 16.  It will be 12 weeks since my last and I'm feeling a little nervous.  I know how quickly things could change and how imperative it is to catch it quickly.  Fingers crossed for good results.  As I always say when I'm asked how I'm doing "you're only as good as your last CT Scan".  Not being negative but stating a fact.

Otherwise I'm just tired and cold as usual.  I can't seem to shake this head cold and stomach virus that's been going around.

Waiting until I can put on my dancin' flip flops.

Keep on Dancin"