gettin' juiced

Sicko Update:

I am going to the doctor today for my weekly PT/INR (blood) test.

Just to be safe, I called to let them know that I've been sick since last Thursday with this stomach stuff and that I've lost about 6 pounds. I'm not at all upset about that, just the reason...and the fact that I know it'll come back as soon as I'm able to eat normally again.

They want to give me some fluids to build my strength back up and run a few tests just to make sure everything is okay.

So, I will be spending the better part of this beautiful day in the chemo infusion room...but it's better than spending it in the bathroom or in bed again.

I was totally bummed that I was too sick to see Michelle or Terri who were both in KC over the weekend (separately, each for kid stuff).

Hopefully I'll be feeling better after today...I will keep you posted.

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Sicko Update #2 - 5:30pm:

Home from doc's. They gave me a liter of fluid. I don't really feel any different yet, just super tired. I'm sure my body is just soaking it all in though and hopefully that'll help me feel stronger.

My PT/INR is sky high at 5.5 (should be in the 2.0-3.0 range). They attribute the high number to being sick for so long and are having me not take anything for 2 days. So, that means no Coumadin until Wednesday, and no Xeloda until my next round is due to begin next week.

I have been CRAVING a baked potato, so I stopped at Wendy's and got one of those and a vanilla Frosty on my way home.

Stomach seems to have calmed down a bit. Time to go lay down and try to get a little rest.

And then it's back to work tomorrow...stomach willing!

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TMI Grossness (read at your own risk): If you never have to collect a stool sample count yourself lucky...if you weren't sick before, you will be after even though they give you all a special poop-collecting kit in an attempt to try to make it less gross.

I've warned Paul to avoid the white paper bag in the freezer lest he thinks it's chocolate or something he might try to eat (gag).

Yes, they asked me to freeze my poop and bring it in so they can test it to make sure I don't have some kind of weird infection thing going on.

Yes, it's in a paper bag...inside a specimen cup which I put in a zip-loc bag. The bags were my idea, there's NO way I'm walking in there tomorrow with a clear specimen cup of poop...carrying pee around your doctor's office can be embarrassing enough.

Disgusting, I know...but my immature twisted sense of humor still thinks it's kinda funny too...transporting frozen poop.

Isn't cancer glamorous? Not really. But sometimes it can be semi-humorous.

Next day - 1:30pm...

TMI Grossness Update: I didn't have time before work to make the poop delivery. So I had to bring it to work, put it in the freezer here, and then drive it over to my doc's office on my lunch hour.

There was major construction all the way there, so I was like, "Get out of my way, people...I've got frozen poop in here and I just want to get rid of it ASAP before it starts to thaw!"

I hand-delivered it to the lab and now it's their responsibility...I'm done with it!