Day 3 (Friday)

This day went fairly well until the evening.

Pre- Op

It all began with a ride to the pre-op area. Though I wasted a day and a half sitting in the hospital for no reason whatsoever, I was glad I was finally getting my port installed, so Chemo could begin.

The  person sent to get me was a young goofy garrulous kid who was as kind as could be, and eager to tell me about himself.

The Ride

He started with a yawn and said, "Oh I guess the caffeine hasn't kicked in yet. I knew I had to get up early this morning, but I was writing away last night thinking 'Boy this idea is good, I need to keep going' and so I did."

So I felt obliged to nibble at his oh-so-obvious bait.

It turns out that he is writing, as he tells me, "a book called Intolerance--well its really a collection of short stories. Its about forbidden love through the ages--Babylon, Egypt, Rome and the present." 

Somehow I question the authority of the writer--but maybe I am way off base--I wish him the best of luck.

He also went on to tell me about a relative who's a bee keeper and various other stories. He's a very nice guy who means well.

Getting Ready for Surgery

I made it to pre-op where a very nice nurse got me all prepped. I watched a little "Who wanst to be a millionaire" which made me think of Slumdog Millionaire. 

Everyone involved in the surgery stopped by my bed--my surgeon, my anesthesiologist, and various others, and eventually the nurse anesthesiologist gave me a little something "for anxiety" in my IV drip.

I pitched my idea of anaesthetising whole airplanes for long flights so people can just wake up at their destination, and she thought that was great. I moved over to the operating table and...

Recovery

Some time later I woke up in recovery.  I had a nice nurse here too, who got me ready to go, then lined my bed up in the beds-waiting-to-go-back-to-their-rooms area. Felt a bit like you were in a ride, waiting for your car to reach the front.

I was wheeled back to my room where I mostly just slept.

There was one small tragedy of it all. Somewhere, somehow, on this journey or while out of my room, I lost my cozy warm, woolly hat. Fortunately I had not brought the one a family member knitted for me (its too wonderful to risk here) but my woolly hat was gone...

Nighttime

The night things got worse. I had a nurse, who at least from where I sat, was terrible. She just moved too fast--working on her task list and barely really communicating with me. She'd ask questions and talk over my answers. She tripped over my IV (which is now attached to my port in my chest) and it yanked so hard it pulled me while I yelled out in shock. I realized they never made my bed after surgery (I had no top sheet or blanket, just a loose blanket).  Any other nurse or tech would have made the bed--she threw a top sheet and a blanket on my bed and did not tuck them in. When she was complaining about being written up about something she said, "Nurses are very busy, we make mistakes." That may be true, but I suspect she makes more than most--and I am not sure I am the audience for that comment.

She made me angry and frustrated.

Chemo

Oh and she also started my chemo. Start the countdown--five days.

I get two types--one can cause neurological problems so I have to sign something that shows that I can sign still. 

A little scary but they say not to worry about it.

And eventually I went to sleep.