Well it has been a minute Hasn't it?
There is a lot to tell,
Went in for Chemo #4 on the 10th. I had gotten wind from some friends that had just visited the Associated hospital a week before my Chemo treatment and they were telling me that the Hospitals computer system was all Freaked up due to switching over to a whole new system. Everyone's information was all jumbled up and appointments were running over an hour past their appointed times. They said it was Chaos.  My Friends said that the new system has a 45 minute FORM you must fill out before you can be seen, and it was filled such invasive and intrusive questions. At this point I figured, I have no choice.. I need the treatments. I checked several days before my appointment and no sign of a form.. The day before I got the notification that I had a couple forms to fill out, so I went on and did it. I didn't see the intrusive questions though, in my mind, yes they want to know about Siblings and Parents Mental and physical health because they need to be aware of how to treat you when symptoms arise..  Anyway, I filled it out. It went smooth..
Chemo day:
We get there early as usual. This time, we following directions given to us at the prior appointment. We went to 2nd floor to get blood work done. It was chaos. Jam packed with people that were angry for having to wait. I was told by one of the nurses that a nearby "cancer treatment" facility had Closed down (or was Closed down) and all the patients were sent to My cancer center. I saw that proof in the waiting room. SO not only did these poor people (the workers) have to deal with getting used to a new system and a new way of dealing with patients (it was all changed on them last minute) they had to deal with stressed out patients that didn't understand why they were having to wait over 45 minutes past their appointments before being seen.  I expected the long wait times as they sent a NOTE telling such.. So, no big deal.  When I went in to give blood the Nurse was stressed out. I personally didn't want her to stick me and make it painful due to her mood, sooooo, I started talking to her about the changes and told her I understood and was sorry they had to go through that crap. Her mood changed and was very soft and gentle with me. We laughed and I hope I set her up for an easier time with the next rounds of patients.
Got done with that and went up to 7th floor to speak with my Once Doc. Waited in line for what seemed forever because, now, the poor secretary had to deal with getting people checked in that do NOT use the app, so she had to manually go through the online FORM and input the information for them.. Lot's of new patients, mostly the elderly were the ones' that didn't fill out the forms online. I understand that. Not everyone is savvy with computers or even cell phones. They really should have options for elderly to fill out paper forms at home and bring them in. But, I digress.
Finally got seen by my Doc about 45 minutes past my appointment. I was NOT going to be that patient that complained. So, the visit was usual, we laughed and joked and then got series.  We went over my CT scans and once again, nothing really was found. She said all she could see was that my intestines (around the scar tissue from prior surgeries) was inflamed and it appeared I was getting Impacted again, NOT serious yet, but might get that way down the road. SOOO, I will be getting an appointment with the Gastroenterologist in the future. Going to get through Chemo first. The pain has subsided for the most part and only acts up when I forget I am sick and try to do too much at home.  Other news is that I had freaked out when I saw the Scheduling in the app on my phone that said I had 6 more chemo treatments. UM.. NOOOOOOO.. I am on 4 of 6 this is wrong.  Turns out the System automatically started everyone out at Treatment #1. The nurses have to go in and manually correct every single patients information.
Got sent back down to 2nd floor for Chemo treatment.
That was interesting. Every single chair in that place had a body in it. Very unusual. I even saw a few people get sent home because they just didn't have the room and had to reschedule their chemo treatments. The new system over booked.
Considering the problems the system was creating, I became a little unsettled as I realized, what if the system reverted my dosage back to the original amount.. So We asked the nurse to double check to make sure it was correct.. She said yes. But Now, I think she didn't compare this dosage to the adjusted one at chemo #3.
This one hit me like a ton of bricks. Just like chemo #2 did.. I now have to have the Doctor look up and compare dosages, and make sure that I will be getting the reduced dosage for #5 and #6..
Hubby said that from the research we have done, everyone says that the chemo is accumulative in your system and my reactions NOW could possibly be that and not that the dosage was reset to original.. We will find out because I am going to ask. Â I need to be prepared for whatever it is.
So it took me up until about Saturday afternoon (this past) to start feeling well enough to visit with friends / family. It was rough, a repeat of the 2 weeks of pain from Chemo #2.  I keep saying this, but, if it is going to be that rough, I'm not sure i can do this.  I know I will because it won't actually kill me. But, this is not living, not even for a sick person.  The pain is unreal and I need relief..
My Sister and I are rebuilding our relationship.  It has been nice, we have upwards to (and over) 2 hour conversations on the phone. She is bugging me about going to see our mother, but I can NOT do that. I am too vulnerable to illness. It might be ok and or controllable if she could bring her to me instead. With her having Alzheimer's / dementia it makes it very hard to get her out of her house. I hate it, but I can not take the risk. Many people (family members I am still not speaking to) are there all the time. I don't need that stress either. I HAVE to choose MY mental and physical health over everyone else feelings right now..
Well, that's about it.
PS: I Have been working on a few more books and getting a new cookbook up for sale.Â
I now have a webpage that I sell the PRINT (paperback and hardbound) copies of all my books and also a Page where you can buy the Download/printable versions of all my books.