Hospital Stay, Take 2: Day 1, Part 1

Hi Everyone!

Yep. Its that time of the month again. I was admitted to Providence Portland Medical Center this morning to begin the 2nd 1-week cycle of Interleukin-2. Oh Boy. Well, I'm not excited about being in the hospital but I'm certainly hopeful for a positive result from the regimen I will under go for the rest of the week!

Dave, unfortunately, could not make the trip this week, but I am ably assisted by my able assistants: my parents, Bill and Rose Mary. Take a bow, folks! They will read/sleep through the week here, spending their days with me, and the nights at their motorhome. I'll likely be able to entertain them for today, maybe tomorrow, then it gets a little tricky. If I am unable to put in a blog entry, they will pass info on to Dave at home, and he will get you all the news here from Portland.

Last time in the hospital, we determined 2 things:
1. Compazine decreases my ability to pee
2. I am allergice to many adhesives
The nurses have #1 down, and already made sure that it is noted in my chart not to give me compazine. But do you know how many people I had to tell to make sure they did not use any adhesives directly on my skin for a dressing on my triple lumen catheter (central line)? 3 nurses and 2 doctors. I had to describe hives, itching, taking benedryl, red marks, swelling, etc., to 5 different people! All they needed to do was just put a skin protectant on my skin prior to placing the dressing over my catheter, but they kinda playfully ignored me a bit. but I ended up getting my way in the end, with help from one of the nurses. Hopefully that allergy is now in my chart!!

I've already had one visitor today (thanks for the chocolates, Blair!!!!!! They were/are yummy), and mom and dad went to Burgerville USA for lunch. So now we wait until 3 pm for my first IL-2 treatment. The nurses and doctors here say the side effects should show up quicker than last time. I guess I should eat more chocolates before my appetite disappears again!

Cheryl