karenulijohn

As a result of Harvey’s bout with melanoma, he formed a group of melanoma survivors and called the group “The Merry Melanomsters.”  There are now five members who meet about once a month at their new clubhouse, the Infusion Taproom in Lincoln which is fully stocked with local selections of craft beer on 20 rotating taps, ciders, bottled beers, and wines along with dining selections from neighboring restaurant Siino’s.  On Monday evening, this happy band met for a prolonged “hopfest.”  They are all Rotarians and enjoy the fellowship, affection, and laughs associated with common interests and experiences.

On Tuesday, Harvey traded the “hopfest” for a “chemofest.”  We arrived at the hospital at 10:30 AM for an appointment to have a PICC line installed.  PICC is a short name for “Peripherally Inserted Central Catheter” and is inserted into a large vein in the arm, usually the basilic or cephalic vein, that leads to the heart.  Suman, the nurse who installed the PICC was a very cheerful, chatty woman who said she had been performing this procedure for 20 years.  She asked Harvey if he wanted her to tell him everything she was doing and he said “not really” but she did anyway.  The entire process took about an hour and a quarter.

We had about an hour or so before his chemo appointment, so we decided to try the hospital cafeteria.  He enjoyed the navy bean soup and I had a very nice salad from the salad bar.  We then found our way to the Infusion Center which is located on the third floor of the hospital.  One wing has been allocated in such a way that each hospital room has two lounge chairs and a small couch to provide seating for the caregivers.  Harvey’s nurse, named Barbara, who had been an ICU and Cardiac nurse, was also very interested in holistic treatments.  She gave Harvey his premeds which included Benadryl, Pepcid, Zofran (for nausea) and a steroid.  As she began to dispense the Taxol, she recited a poetic couplet calling on a higher power for comfort and healing.  The Taxol infusion takes 60 minutes and the Carboplatin is 30 minutes.  The Benadryl made Harvey sleepy, so once the infusions began, I left to go shopping at The Fountains, and he had a nap.  When I returned at 4:00 PM, the infusion was just about finished, and I had spent all of his money!

On our way home, we stopped at Raleys to pick up a few things, and he decided he wanted some macaroni and cheese.  Once home, he finished the entire portion and then made himself a smoothie with Ensure, yogurt, banana and milk.  Since Sunday, he has gained two pounds.  I am glad he is taking it seriously that he needs to keep his weight up and to eat as nutritiously as possible.

He has experienced no side effects at all except this morning when I noticed that his face is flushed.  We are meeting this afternoon with Dr. Suhag’s nurse for our “orientation” outlining what to expect with chemotherapy and radiation.  Next Tuesday, he has an appointment with his Melanoma surgeon, Dr. Owen, then he has an appointment with Dr. Jones, the radiation oncologist, to map out the area to be radiated.  At 2:00 PM, he will have his second chemotherapy treatment, after which he will see Dr. Suhag.  Sutter Hospital is likely to be our new “home away from home.”