Timeline - first Chemo day

9:50
I dropped Judi and her mom off at the clinic, and headed over to the shuttle parking lot.
As it gets colder, I think this will be our routine. Judi sure doesn't need to take the shuttle with me.

10
We're all waiting to see what's going to happen. Where do we go first? I know a lot of it was explained last time we were here - but, until you actually do it .....

10:30
Judi's mom is in with her while she gets situated in the treatment room.

11
We've switched places, now I'm in the treatment room. It's a large room with comfortable chairs for everyone getting chemo. It's bright and airy.

Judi is all hooked up. There is an interesting gentleman in the next chair who's very good at keeping the conversation going. It's good to hear other people's stories.

12
Judi's hungry. Her mom is taking her a cookie. There's cookies everywhere here. And a lot of nice, friendly volunteers. I'm back in the waiting area. She was started with a saline solution, the chemo was just added a few minutes ago. The waiting is familiar. Too familiar.

12:30
I'm hungry. Thanks for the cookies (Canadian Cancer Society).

1:10
They're trying to get the TV working. No success. That's good. There's other TVs around :-)
Judi's mom is back. She told me Judi is getting a little woozy, a little pale. She's going to take a bit of a nap.

2
The nap story was a ruse. She's shivering and twitching. They stopped the chemo just a bit before the end. Judi had a bit of a reaction - red tongue, slurred speech. She's had some benadryl. They're waiting a bit to hook up her take-home bottle.

I asked Judi if she had anything more to add; no comment for now :-)

Dianne the nurse said they might have to have Judi "in the back" next time. Tucked away, hidden (actually, just on a bed rather than a chair) and with some Benadryl in advance.
Dianne is checking with Dr. Matthews to see when to start her bottle. He's coming over to check on her, and make the decision on today's treatment.

Judi's cat-napping while we wait.

If only this was an exact science.

3
Roy - a social worker - came by and explained their services. He seems to have a good bedside manner. It's good to have people around who can answer questions - even the ones we don't know to ask yet.

3:15
"I wonder when he's coming" (the doctor, that is). Dianne just came by again to check Judi's vitals - which were great, by the way. She said that the reaction may also have been from the anti-nausea medication. She's going to check her meds profile again, and check on the doctor's timing. I think I need some more cookies. Judi had soup, a sandwich, tea, crackers - she's worried about us (no lunch yet - ooh, I just felt it). Ok, I'm going for a cookie run.

3:50
Time to go. The doctor was swamped, but said Judi could take her bottle. Dianne hooked her up and we were on our way. I can take the shuttle and go back for the car.

A stop at the drug store for Benadryl, Imodium and Gravol.

4:45
We're home! We'll see what the side effects will bring.