The Chemo Cowgirl
Been in the hospital for almost 20 days now. In just over two weeks I’ve had so much wrong with me. Lots of infections vying for center of attention. That’s what can happen when you have a compromised immune system. Multiple infections landing you in the hospital for an extended period of time. Lame. They took me off the pca pump, which I’d been on from the time I got here pretty much. Just waiting for the mucousitis to clear up now. (Someone please tell me how to spell that word.) Once I can eat on my own, that will be the sign they’ve been waiting for.
To the steadily growing list of allergies. Erwinia has now joined the ranks, alongside pegaspargase and methatrexate. Technically I’m not really “allergic” to methatrexate, it just gives me strokes. Way cool.
But this time it’s not because I was admitted. I’m visiting a family member.
Albeit the worst club in the world, Club Cancer. When I was first diagnosed with cancer, I was kind of lost. I didn’t know what to expect, or what was going to happen, how I was going to feel. In a few months, it’ll be a year since I was diagnosed.
In the past year, I feel like I have learned a lot since I found out I had this dreaded disease. I know how best to treat nausea (Ginger People Ginger Chews + Ondansetron + another-anti-nausea-med-that-I-can’t-remember-the-name-for), all of the nurses in the pediatric oncology unit, what a spinal headache is, how to run a flush through my port when it’s hooked up to a syringe pump, how to turn off the monitors in the hospital room, how to work the pumps for the IV fluids/drugs, and way more. The list goes on and on.
The hospital feels like my second home now. My friend, Piper, got sad when I told her I was happy that I got to pee in my own bathroom and things like that. She said that I shouldn’t have to be happy about things like that. That I should just be able to do that all the time. I’m not sad though. I’m happy. Happy that I’m alive, and happy about the positive things that happen to me.
The underwire of your bra is on top of your port, and it starts to hurt.
The life of a cancer patient Taken by me :)
crowsteeth Asks:
thechemocowgirl Said:
Thank you! You are also beautiful and amazing!
Anonymous Asks:
thechemocowgirl Said:
I just want to clarify: I never condoned self-diagnosing cancer. Actually, in the post you are referring to, I actually advised AGAINST going online to look up cancer “symptoms.” To reiterate what I said then, THERE IS NO WAY TO SELF-DIAGNOSE CANCER. Thank you for the compliment, and if you think you are sick, go to your doctor. Please don’t assume you have cancer or try to self-diagnose it.
Love and Cowboy Hats,
The Chemo Cowgirl
I was released from the hospital today, I got to hang out with my friends, and now I’m checking up on my internet personas from the comfort of my couch! I don’t think I can convey just how happy I am.
They finally took my IV out! I hated that thing. My IV site is probably going to develop a bruise. Hopefully I will go home tomorrow.
I thought I was done with IVs when I got my port. My port wasn’t giving a blood return though, so they had to stick me. I’ve been getting morphine and caffeine through my IV since Friday. Severe spinal headaches are wonderful, aren’t they? The doctors are talking about possibly giving me a blood patch if the headache persists. Hopefully I’ll be released from the hospital before it comes to that.
I’m going in for my first lumbar puncture since my stroke. They’re changing the med from methatrexate to cytarabine plus hydrocortisone. Here’s hoping it goes well….
So good that I could almost eat a salad without worrying about it. They’re at a little over 3200!!! Oh yeah :)
After spending thanksgiving in the hospital, I was extremely glad that I didn’t have to spend Christmas there, too. I did have an appointment at the clinic today, though. So I show up, and the elevators aren’t working. We finally find someone to help us. Then, we get up to the clinic and it’s EMPTY. Why didn’t they tell me? Why would they schedule me for an appointment if they were closed?
