[11-06-08] Day Three (Day +3)

[6:13pm]
     Day 3 has come and gone for me, and despite my previous assertions, I believe that I was incorrect when I said that "Day 3" will be the most severe. From what nurses and doctors say alike, the worst days are those just before the time of "white blood cell recovery" - when your white blood cells begin to reproduce themselves normally.
     Still, with all my personal hype built up, I have somewhat come to believe that day +3 is a milestone of sorts. So, in the name of journalistic integrity and whatnot, I am here to complain, yet again, about a new set of "experiences."

     This morning started out like any other: with a shower. However, in order to shower-protect my newfound PIC catheter, I needed to figure out how to use their associated shower contraption. Not too tough -- imagine waterproof sleeves with belt strength cuffs at both ends. My arm was nice and warm.

     In addition, I had to unplug myself from new and (EXTREMELY LOUD) health monitor. This is because they have me doped up on self-administered Fentanyl -- it makes sense, really, you don't want to give autreally bored individual an essentially limitless supply of Heroin without any precautions, do you?
     So, that health monitor is yet one more thing that I have to worry about... plus the fact that the sensor is placed on my middle finger makes typing quite difficult.

     After the shower is typically lunchtime: where someone walks into the room with some food. I like to see their expressions when I say, "Nah, I'm not eating food anymore. No thanks." They realy want to leave you the food -- as if their jobs depended on it. Oh well.
     Not having to eat at all is quite liberating, in fact. Keeping certain foods down is a tremendous chore. Plus, often the food you can keep down tastes horrible or something. Then you puke it all up anyways, so all that effort was moot.
     So, just skip the middleman and avoid eating entirely... say, until when your white counts start to recover.
     As for the pills... yes, having some food in the stomach is necessary for digestion of certain pills.
   I'd say: 1> Consider not taking said pill -- is it really important? or...
   I'd say: 2> Ask from some Ativan before you take your pills -- it helps!


     The other things I sped my time doing (religiously) is mouth care and skin care. I do my following skincare/mouthcare regimens every time I get up for the bathroom.
*** MOUTHCARE ***
1> Rince with saline solution and spit out. Sounds simple enough.
*** SKINCARE ***
1> Apply general moisturizer to dry areas on chest and back
2> Apply special anti-itch moisturizer to itchy areas on chest and back, armpits, and groin area.
3> Apply super-special cream to areas of skin with a rash due to repetitive motion of areas (arm pits, thighs, groins, etc...)
4> Apply ultra-special powder.


     As much as I would hate to do so, #4 requires further elaboration if I am to be called a reporter of the facts. You could also label is as TMI;DR (Too much information; Don't Read).
     Anyhow, VP-16 is VERY toxic for the skin. I mean, right now, my chest looks like it's been put through a blender. Huge purple streaks are visible, rashes, and spots of red dots (folliculitis) show up everywhere.
     In addition, in areas with high friction, such as groin, or armpit, skin tissue has been known to slough off in chunks.
     Let's just say that I'm fighting to prevent that from happening, it can be quite difficult, and that is where powder #4 comes into play.
     I can see many making the following joke, so I'll just beat ya to it: For the sake....of...my skin...I must...powder my balls.


     Lastly, I'd just like to say a few words about patient-controlled analgesic. They switched me from Dilaudid to Fentanyl which effective halt the pain related nausea! Awesome! No more choosing between having pain or being sick. That is all. Take care outside world.