Maybe it's fate and maybe it's karma -- either way, I, apparently spoke too soon when I stated all is going well. This morning about 5:15am I woke up with a very sore left elbow. As I focused in on joint, I could see my vein was popped up -- the vein where my chemo IV drip had been placed. My joint, too, was swollen and sore to the touch. So without hesitation, I got out of bed and began my "checklist" of possibilities as to what was going on with my body. I had been warned that if this ever happened, I would need to contact the doc ASAP. Being the good little soldier, I did as I was told after I deduced this was not a good thing.
My oncologist contacted me back and we agreed I would be coming into his office just as soon as I could get there -- in La Jolla. I was instructed to take 2 aspirin, which I did.
I get to the office and Dr. B took a good look at my arm and told me he knows this is pretty superficial and that I have phlebitis. I will need to keep heat on it for the next 24 hrs and that it could possibly stay in this situation for at least 2 weeks. Hey, what's another 2 weeks, right? GEEEEEEE!!!! For Heaven's Sake! Yumpin-Yiminy!
My doc does believe that I may be susceptible to blood clots and will have to have a special test taken at my 5th chemo appointment to determine this. And this is very, very important to know since I will be having major surgery in August. Hey, I would have never known this had I not gone through chemo, right? I will be checking in with my mom to find out family history as to blood clots or not.
I ask for prayers. I must say, even though this is not life-threatening and it could be so much worse, I felt like I was kicked in my gut today. I did experience some major emotion inside and just wanted to unleash from a mountain ridge one big heartfelt scream of frustration. I know, I know, I'm very lucky and have been pretty lucky so far, but these little issues that keep cropping up are frustrating. I think that is the "perfectionist" in me that comes out periodically. I want things to go "right." I want it to be mundane. But I guess, there is nothing mundane about we Johnsons! I am one special little entity.
This is teaching me and I must learn something from it -- understanding, patience, humility?
Ok. Once again, I am open for the learning aspect of this journey. It's keeping me in check, that is for sure!
So here I sit, yet again, keeping the heat on my popped up vein and being good. I'm trying to do what I need to do to get over this hiccup in life. I ask for prayers and good thoughts and all that can keep me safe from further little complications. I will get through this and try to maintain my half-cup status as much as possible!
I will keep rolling on forward and defy this situation! Tomorrow, I'm taking a long walk for me in order to get this frustration out of my system! So there! Cancer: you've met your match! I will rise above this YOU and I will Smile back at you and know I have conquered and squashed your evil!
Ciao!Ciao!
