And So It Begins...

Tomorrow is the big day...chemo treatment #1. Yesterday was a big day too...surgery to place a port in my chest. Not the kind of big days I would choose for myself if I could, but steps along the journey.

The port surgery was very successful. In fact the radiology nurse said my images were absolutely perfect! Everything is where it should be, and as it should be...although what they had to do to get it there caused me more than a fair share of pain. There are two incisions one up by my collarbone and another a little lower on my chest. The procedure was done under twilight sedation - and for some reason I didn't fall asleep - at all! The blessing is that I was so drugged up, I didn't care, HA! And, they numb your entire chest, so you don't feel anything more than tugging and pressure.

Afterwards however...whoa! Let's just say that when the block wears off you realize just how much work they did! By this morning, I felt like I had been in a fight (and no, I don't think I won!). When I looked in the mirror, I understood why...I LOOKED like I had been in a fight too! Not only was I bruised, but you could see the catheter tube under my skin where it enters the jugular vein and the triangle-shaped  port that it connects to on the other end. Kind of creepy - yet cool ;).

It helped to hear from the nurse, who called this afternoon, that it was all perfectly normal...the level of pain I was experiencing was to be expected for a couple of days. Ice helped tremendously, so I kept applying it and tonight it's bearable. Feeling all that stuff under my skin may take some adjustment though.

My mind is shifting to tomorrow now and my first chemo treatment. A mom-friend from school, who I've known and worked with on committees and boards for many years has graciously offered to be my chemo buddy. She'll drive me to and from and keep me company. BFF Betty Ann may actually get some work done and visit me at lunchtime (hehe). I may have other visitors too...and who knows, maybe I'll be the most popular girl at chemo!

I'm packing my fully charged iPhone, my brand new Kindle (pre-loaded with a great book by friend and awesome author Kim Falconer!), and a notebook in case I want to write. That should give me plenty to do - along with all that company I'll have ;). And, I'm dressing for this party! No sweats for me! Shower, make up, hair (while I still have it!), nice outfit, jewelry...There's a LOT of truth to the Look Good, Feel Better philosophy. Gotta dress the part - I am healthy, whole, and complete (Oh, and still pretty damn hot for 50! Hehe).

Tonight I got to chat with a new friend, who recently completed breast cancer treatments. She gave me lots of great hints and tips for getting through it. As it turns out, her drug combo and treatment schedule were exactly the same as mine and at the same hospital too! It was so wonderful to talk to her...and I'm grateful to my BFF Karen for introducing us.

So, here we go! Ready as I'll ever be...back to my sassy, feisty self, and also ready for bed! Ha. One of my favorite quotes, "Rest is a weapon" is advice that I'll likely need to remember over the next four months.

I'll let you know how I'm doing tomorrow night. It may be a long day - they told me to expect that the first time, so my next post may be short, but I'll at least let you all know how it goes.

For now, sweet dreams!
xoxo
Lisa