It is once again drug trial day. First stop, as always, the vampire's lair. Today they are taking a whopping twelve tubes of blood. Really!!! Southpaw and I do not approve. And, I must not have had enough water this morning because it was taking forever to fill them all (over 15 minutes). Blah!
After a quick chat with the doctor, it is time to prep for the shots. A little Ativan and some Lidocaine cream on the thigh for me while the pharmacist mixes the injections.
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| Southpaw making sure the Lidocaine cream is working. |
Now it's time again for the injections, four in the thigh. Oh yeah!
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| Number 1 going in. |
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| All four done and bandaged. Now we wait. |
So, after treatment there is an observation period for an hour. Why? Because you never know when this might happen:
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| Just a little bit of swelling. |
Let the games begin. The nurse came by to check on my leg. She lifted the blanket and was taken aback by how large the welts were at the injection sites. They were also very itchy and super sore. She asked if this was normal. I said no. She went to get the research nurse. A couple minutes later they both return. "Oh, that doesn't look good." The research nurse was a bit surprised by what she saw and went to get the doctor. She returned a few minutes later with the Investigative Pharmacist (have no idea what that is). They were both perplexed. A couple minutes later the doctor arrived. "Oh, my. That's not good." Mind you, I am already a bit loopy because of the Ativan so this is all very comical. The doctor prescribes a dose of Benadryl intravenously.
Doctor: "You won't be able to drive."
Me: "She's my ride." Pointing to my friend sitting in a chair near by.
Friend: "I'm only drunk."
Doctor: "That's okay, you are still going to be better off than her."
Good times at the cancer center.
A few minutes later, after a couple of tries, the IV is in place (it gets to come home with me tonight because I have my yearly scans tomorrow) and Ethel is back by my side.
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| Hello, Ethel. It's been awhile. |
After about an hour, all is good and I am finally discharged. My leg is still swollen, but I have been reassured that the swelling will start to go down this evening.
Never a dull moment on this journey. Now it's time to eat.
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| Aussie meat pie on mashed potatoes with gravy. |
A well deserved treat today.
