I was all anxious and preparing to explain stuff and none of that anticipated hassle happened.
The weather is oddly overcast. Temps are 'cooler' sort of but the overcast is that high flat whiteout cloud layer that kind of acts like a blanket keeping the heat in but the sun out, sort of. Radiant heat don'tcha know.
I didn't sleep very well, woke up almost every hour after not actually turning the light off around 1 am. We both woke up rather late yesterday morning, I didn't roll over and sit up until 8:30 or so which is unusual since it's been 7 am for whatever reasons (mostly to pee and feed Rocky).
So, despite not having good solid sleep I'm okay for now. We got moving and ready to go way early for the appointment but I wanted to allow extra time for any issues and getting lost and such. On the way there, my phone rings and luckily I had pulled it out of my back pocket already, and it was the infusion center. Okay better answer that, while driving one handed and put on speaker phone. They were just checking to make sure I was coming in for my appointment in a half hour and I said yes, didn't check in online due to 'paywall' (didn't use that term but that's what came to mind). She said it's all good, don't have to pay up front just come on in and check in with the receptionist. Will do! I was expecting an hour for the infusion itself so packed two bottles of water, my knitting and ipad for entertainment.
It was so much better than my previous experience with chemo. Turns out this center used to be where the outpatient building is where I had chemo 16 years ago. Because this is a combination facility for infusions, there are chemo patients for cancer or auto immune situations similar or worse than mine so masks are required when you go through the door. Totally get that and not a problem. Wore one every day for three years for the pandemic at work, necessary and needed.
The nurse who was assigned to me was very good, got the IV set up in the back of my hand, hardly any issues with that and a small bore needle thankfully. The chair was very comfy and padded, could recline, had 'massage' and heat available .... which turned out to be hilarious. It's more a vibro massage, how do I know? I reached over the little two button pad for my cup of ginger ale and hit the button accidentally. Suddenly the chair starts vibrating and I was looking at Jon who saw this perplexed, almost panic/confused look on my face until I realized what had happened. He was trying so hard not to laugh when I explained. It really was hilarious and it happened twice! Oh and by the way, Schwepps is the ginger ale they had and I haven't had it in decades. There was no ginger in it at all. Seriously, I thought it used to have more but then I'm also used to Vernor's and C&B ginger beer. But no, this tasted more like someone forgot to add in the flavoring so it was just C02 water.
Meanwhile... it was a nice corner cubicle so I had a window view on the third floor of the building, it'll be a different chair for each session most likely not a problem. Did some knitting, played on my ipad and scrolled on my phone and was done in about 40 minutes after they hooked me up. Another funny thing is Jon was so engrossed on his phone and trying not to be intrusive he didn't even notice when the nurse started my IV. About fifteen minutes after start I mentioned something to him and he said, 'so when do they start your thing?' Shake my head mentally, 'they already did' I pointed above and behind my head to the small drip bag that was about halfway finished and after finding it he said 'oh'. We then went into the 'supernatural observation' riff that we do when he misses something obvious.
So my next appointment for infusion is in two weeks, same bat time, same bat channel. Just have to call about an hour ahead of time to let them know I'm on the way so they can call it up from supply and have it set and ready to go when I get there. She said a lot of what they use for other infusions is based on weight but not mine so they don't have to wait until I get there and do my vitals to put the request in. Crossing fingers this treatment works for what's ailing me.
Oh and they validate parking as well, which turns out wasn't needed either. Got to the exit gate and started to put my ticket in and Jon said, 'the gates opened' oh... okay and off we went. And that was it. Decided to use the little bit of extra money that was left over for some In N Out and came home to eat. I honestly do not know why people are so loyal to that burger place. I think our burgers had been sitting on the sidelines for a while, I only had three small onion rings (could fit on my fingers as rings) on my burger because I asked for light onion. Burger patties were disappointingly small, fries were almost cold... and it was after 2 pm. Left overs from lunch rush maybe?
That's it for today. Easier than I thought and hope the financial side of things works out in my favor. That's how most people want it right?
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