Word World & Jack Hammers

After Chemo Class today, we had an appointment with Dr. Panwalker. He went over the basics of my Chemotherapy plan with us and some side effects to be prepared for. It was like a really bad info-merical! LOL Panwalker was being very professional about it all but Brett and I were in a bit of a silly mood. We would gasp or make some comment about each side effect or the timing of them. (After all, his PLAN calls for my worst day to be my Birthday! How RUDE!;) By the end we had Dr. Panwalker rolling. It was really fun to see him laugh. I love to see people laugh. It makes me happy!
At one point Panwalker thought he may need to sit between me and Brett. I got out my boxing gloves when Brett shot down the idea of putting in a port for my chemo treatments. [It's a little device surgically implanted up by your collar bone that allows them to put in the chemo and draw blood from there rather than poke you every time] Brett brought up the point that since I haven't had surgery yet they could technically use both arms and was it really necessary for me to have the port put in. BUT let me tell you- the reason I don't donate blood is because I hate seeing needles in my arm. The port seemed the easiest route for me. Granted Brett's point was very valid but not very welcomed!! Let's just say if looks could kill... LOL But Panwalker agreed that I have really great veins so we'll just see how the first one goes and go from there. (He said he could see my veins from across the room. Is that supposed to be a compliment?)
Another funny part was when Panwalker explained the effects of Herceptin. He bluntly said that it can cause Heart Failure. We both gasped WHAT???? Then he actually said- "Dang! I shouldn't have said that. What I meant was..."  But by then we were quoting infomercial lines at him. "Serious side effects may include nerve damage, nausea, diarrhea, heart failure and possibly death... Call your oncologist to see if this Chemo is right for you!" LOL It it was pretty funny! I am a strong believer in that for the most part God places you in the right place at the right time with the right people. We're really glad we are a patient of Dr. Panwalker.
In all seriousness though- He did tell me to go get an Echo scan of my heart. You know just so they have a baseline to see what the drugs do to it. Sounds so exciting, right? After our appointment, he sent us down to the CV Diagnostics Unit for it. Well, it just happens that the hospital is under construction in that wing so it sounded like they were jack hammering in the next room. We actually had to yell at the receptionist to tell her why were there. And better yet she yelled back. We got a good chuckle out of it. Nothing like getting the blood pumping before you go in to check out your heart. Good thinking Sanford! LOL

Another hilarious thing to us was what was showing in the waiting room. Are you ready for this? Here you go...

LOL! Seriously? There was us, a nice 82 year old man, a mother with a brand new baby and some middle eastern lady. Who actually was their target audience here? Although you couldn't hear a word of it because of the jack hammer so maybe it was just to stimulate our retinas with it's bright colors? Who knows but there's always something to chuckle at in this Adventure of ours.
Deaf and visually stimulated, we finally made it back for the Echo of my heart. The Tech fit right in with us. He was making smart aleck remarks along with Brett the whole time. What a pair (except for when Brett fell asleep cuz the lights were turned down so low. Thanks for being there for me the whole time, Love! I really appreciate it! Wish I could sleep! Oh right.. I forgot- Cancer Insomnia is the gift that just keeps on giving.) At one point, the tech kept asking me to hold my breath while he got a few pics of my beating heart. But then a couple times he'd get sidetrack and leave me holding my breath. One time I finally gasped and he ended up apologizing for his really bad Yoga class! LOL
I think we'll get the results back in a couple days. Maybe they'll find something wrong and we'll just get a whole body overhaul all at once. How lucky would that be? (OK- a little bad attitude creeping in there so let's just pretend- I didn't think that) But in case anyone was wondering- there is documented proof that Shay does have a heart! LOL

Almost forgot: In honor of Katie and my day at CV diagnostics, here's the lovely PURPLE couch from the lobby! (Purple's her favorite color! I tried to stick it in my pocket for you but it wouldn't fit. Luv ya Katie! LOL)