This week involved blood work Monday morning at the lab, followed by an IV for chemo (that took two tries). This morning it took two nurses, three sticks and forty-five minutes to get an IV started.
Someone is thoroughly sick of needles. He knows they'll probe interminably, and may or may not be successful. If not, he gets to undergo the torture again. He can deal with the minimal pain of the tumors, he seems to nap while the poison drips into his veins, he's come to terms with waves of nausea and lack of energy, but just thinking about needles gets him stressed enough to send his blood pressure up a few notches.
We can't blame the nurses when we know the problem is his veins reacting to the chemo. The poor nurses probably hate to see us walk through the door! If we'd known at the start that veins can be damaged, we'd probably have opted for a port or picc line. Too late now.
However, on the bright side, he felt good enough to make turkey enchiladas for dinner tonight and he's able to drink fluids without much problem. So the side effects are manageable nowadays, thanks very much. His blood work continues to look stellar. And the only needle he needs to worry about is tomorrow's shot which is easy-peasy.
And hopefully he'll have to face the dreaded needles for only one more round.
Also the pomegranates from Costco have been fabulously wonderful; both John and Erik have enjoyed feasting on them. Personally I think they're more trouble than they're worth (the fruit, not the guys). I have the feeling that Persephone felt the same way.
Someone is thoroughly sick of needles. He knows they'll probe interminably, and may or may not be successful. If not, he gets to undergo the torture again. He can deal with the minimal pain of the tumors, he seems to nap while the poison drips into his veins, he's come to terms with waves of nausea and lack of energy, but just thinking about needles gets him stressed enough to send his blood pressure up a few notches.
We can't blame the nurses when we know the problem is his veins reacting to the chemo. The poor nurses probably hate to see us walk through the door! If we'd known at the start that veins can be damaged, we'd probably have opted for a port or picc line. Too late now.
However, on the bright side, he felt good enough to make turkey enchiladas for dinner tonight and he's able to drink fluids without much problem. So the side effects are manageable nowadays, thanks very much. His blood work continues to look stellar. And the only needle he needs to worry about is tomorrow's shot which is easy-peasy.
And hopefully he'll have to face the dreaded needles for only one more round.
Also the pomegranates from Costco have been fabulously wonderful; both John and Erik have enjoyed feasting on them. Personally I think they're more trouble than they're worth (the fruit, not the guys). I have the feeling that Persephone felt the same way.
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