Day 1 of 84 Chemo Journal

Pretty uneventful so far, got in around 8:30 to sign in, pay our copay and wait to get started. I'm getting an arm IV vs. the port, so have to get that "installed" each day--not bad at all, by this point they don't even warn you about needles anymore, it has become standard practice.

So...paid and wating by 9ish.
Bloodwork at 9:15.
Cleared by doc for chemo by 9:30.
IV inserted about 9:45.
Got comfy & waited for nurse & med instructions...
Talked with nurse, reviewed routine and all drugs/drips.
Plugged into saline for 2 hrs at about 10:30.
Started pre-meds for 1 hr (3 different bags of goodies) at 12:20ish.
Started chemo at 1:20 ish. And so the slaughter begins.

I've got a comfortable chair, and Melissa is with me. TVs here and lots of other folks. Pretty surprising how many people are here...have to be 20 or so. A few distractions are readily available with the TV/DVD/VCR combo, a library and my iPod.

Been on a saline drip for 2 hrs to hydrate, on my premeds now for nausea and the diuretic to keep the flow going for my kidneys. Nothing to worry about so far beyond the trips to the bathroom with all these damned tubes...six bags in total, and what looks like a cell phone from 1978 controlling the show. Carting this thing in & out of a bathroom is crazy...