Well..the port is in!
Had the surgery at Westside hospital and can I tell you! I prefer the outpatient centre! The nurse that I got at Westside is literally the face of an incompetent old Betty.
First, she was unpleasant. No good morning, no smile, no asking who I was just plopped herself in front of me. Then, when I got up..she was like oh..you're the patient? Yes my little leather skinned, beach blond lady...yes
She also didn't check if the hospital gown was prepped (reader: it was not) AND could not find a vein..in my veins ass hands! I saw her go ask some other guy to find a vein..which he found but it was scraping on my bone! When I said ow..she was like "oh it'll get better", thank god the other guy advocated before I could speak up and said NO if she's crying in pain I'll put another one.
So THREEEE THREEEE jooks later, I had an IV..an IV!!! The anaesthesia team was the bomb tho..can't fault them. Lol.
Anyways...yesterday was FULL of activity, while I was waiting to be checked in, the nurse navigator assigned to me at Westside called to introduce herself. I told her I was downstairs and she came to meet me. Stephanie! Lovely gal. Her husband is Jamaican and chat chat chat. She's promised (and did!) to put me on to resources for financial aid and support as well. THEN!! The new oncologists office wanted to see me that same afternoon!
I told em hey..I am getting my port put in, I won't be done here till about 1pm, do you still want to see me at 3.00pm?? Them...YES!!!
SOOOO...herculean effort, not really by me (I just had to sit and be woozy) but Dwayne. This man will be forever celebrated and immortalised through this blog. He may be an asshole at times..but he is MY 'AT TIMES' ASSHOLE lolol.
As an aside: I really hope we can weather any storm...sigh..that's my homie dude!
Anyways, he came through, helped to get me sorted and dressed and wheeled my ass out. Stopped by the condo to warm his food which he split with me (sweetheart), bring me fruit which he bought for me and give me water. Thank God. By the time he napped for 15 minutes, it was 2.45pm and time to head to the hospital.
The irony eh. Me choosing a condo location with 2 great hospitals because of my elderly parents. Not realising I'd need the damn things lol.
So to Baptist to go to meet the new oncologist
And can I tell you. Night and day. Blown away impressed by this woman. I felt like I was her ONLY patient. I felt LISTENED to. And I got information in such a comprehensive and shareable manner. Even Dwayne was like, I'm glad you got this lady..and trust..I am too!
So second nurse navigator assigned (Sade), scheduling started and a whirlwind of other things and the day finally came to an end at 6pm!!
The chemo port HURTS..it HURTS. Nnyeka when you read this in how many ever years in the future. TAKE THE DAMN TYLENOL...NO NEED TO MAN UP ABOUT SHIT!!! TAKE THE PAIN MEDS!! Stop being stubborn girl!!
Anyways...today I went to go see my old oncologist. Dr Amin. Man...it felt like going to sangre grande health centre after the experience with Dr Carcas. Appt at 10.30am. Got there at 10.27am. Waited till 12.05pm to see him. WTH AN APPOINTMENT AND A WAITING ROOM OF 30 PPL!! We chatted, he told me I'm BRCA-, I.E. I HAVE NO GENETIC HISTORY..so I either have a unique genetic marker not yet tested, or its from environment (i think it may be the latter...black disinfectant im looking at you)
Then, I broke up with him lolol. Promised to keep in touch after the four blood of Jesus infusions and hopefully I'll get a scan between blood of Jesus and taxol and kept it pushing.
For reminiscing, Nnyeka girl you're gonna get 4 blood of jesus (AC-T) and UP TO 12 rounds of taxol. But because every single cell inside body is happy and well, I'll get to do 8 😀
Now I'm in bed rubbing my feet together, fielding a whopping amount of calls as I have literally SIX tests to do. I am happy I'm 300 shy of my out of pocket. CIGNA gone ahead and pay the rest!!
Tomorrow its another breast ultrasound, Monday is ECHO and PET and Angela arrives!!!
