Ooops. I think I broke it...

Okay, I didn't break it, but it doesn't work anymore. It's not even there anymore. Maybe you're wondering what the heck I'm talking about 'cause my last post probably didn't make any sense. I'm talking about my central line or "port". For those of you who haven't been graced with the view of two tubes sticking out of my chest - that is what my central line is... umm, was. It's where they hooked the chemo up when I go in for treatments. I guess there's a few reasons for this. One is because the medication would jack up my veins if it was administered directly. So maybe the doctor didn't use the term "jack up" but that's what I heard. Another reason is because I need to wear a pump (aka banana phone) for two days after treatment and that's what they hook that puppy up to.

Last week I had my stitches taken out and the port was being held in place by a stat lock (sticky thing). Unfortunately, yesterday when I went to change the stat lock and was cleaning the area, the tube slipped out - alot... This morning I called and they said I would have to go in to get it checked. Then I went to clean it again and it slipped even more. The nurse told me that it only had about another inch and the whole thing would have came out! That would have FREAKED-ME-OUT! Thank God that didn't happen.

So they took the whole central line out. No more tubes in my chest. Just a big ol' bandage that I have to wear for 24 hours. I had a choice to make after that. I could either go in and get another central line in the same place which would require surgery again. Or, since I have only 4 more treatments (that's right, I said four!) - that's considered "short term treatment" now and I can get a PICC Line. It's the same thing, just in my arm. I wasn't really psyched about either option. If you recall, my first surgery for the central line kinda went whacky and had to be done a 2nd time. And getting something in my arm just sounds weird. But it's all weird I guess. The nurse recommended the PICC, plus it will cost less than another surgery - so I'm going with that. And here's a plus - I'm without any line until next Tuesday when I get the install. Yay! I can't tell you how cool it will be to be without that plastic installation - even for a week!

So that's what's up with me. What's up with you? :o)

No chemo for you!

So, today's been fun... kinda.

I made a bright and early appointment for a haircut this morning so that I could make it in time to my chemo. (Hey Sue, what do you think of my hair all pinned up? - Sexy huh? hahaha!)

The schedule should have went something like this -

9:30am to 11:00am: Haircut
11:30am: Blood Draw in Oncology
12'ish: Lunch
12:30pm: Doctor's Appt w/Charlene Trouillot (NP)
1:00pm to 5:00pm: Chemotherapy

Things went well until I got to my Doctor's appointment where I found out my bloodcounts were too low for me to get my chemo treatment. I really didn't even know what that meant, but I do know that I didn't expect to encounter this problem so soon. Bloodcounts were on my list of questions to ask today. I can't say that I am crystal clear, but for those of you that want to know - here's where I'm at -

		Range
	Actual	Low	High
Bloodpressure	119/73	(Less than 120/80)
WBC	3.4	3.5	11.0
HGB	13.0	12.0	16.0
HCT	38.1	34.0	47.0
Platelets	306	150.0	450.0
Neutrophils	0.7	1.5	7.5

Oh Yeah, sounds like a party to me.

So what's the deal now?
I'm told it's probably not the 'norm' for someone who has only had one chemo treatment to have low counts. Here I am, beating the odds again huh? Charlene said I might just have a higher sensitivity to the drugs than the average person. I will be going back in on Monday to see if my counts are up and hopefully they are. If so, I will go ahead with treatment, likely with a lower dosage of Oxaliplatin. If this doesn't work, there is a second protocol that would involve a new medication in shot form called neupogen. We'll see what happens.

It's a bummer that this is going to throw my chemo off schedule - but I can look on the brighter side. I should be feeling okay this weekend and that means I might be able to better enjoy the stuff my family has going on - a babyshower, graduation and housewarming party. That sounds good to me. Plus, I might actually feel like combing my new d00! I got bangs - yeah.

Also, I visited NP Theresa again. She had a book for me Crazy Sexy Cancer Tips and while I sat and talked to her a bit, she just made me really appreciate her being one of the people I've met through this. She asked me if I wanted to join a team for a walk that the American Cancer Society is sponsoring. It's called the "Relay For Life" and I am thinking that would be fun. I will post more on this later, but if you are interested - please let me know. That would be cool if I could talk a few people into going!

Who's afraid of chicken pot pie?

I have never been so afraid to eat in my life.  I guess since nothing sounds good to me, I'm afraid if I try to eat it might make me sick. 

Last night I had a dream about school.  Not really about school, but about the cinnamon rolls they used to sell at school.  They were rolled really thin and super gooey and so good.  I had a dream about going to school to get some cinnamon rolls and nachos.  Could it be that my appetite is coming back?

I don't know, but I'm about to make a trip to the grocery store for some tortilla chips...  And I'm not even scared!