Ok, so we’ve gone over the chemo. I think I forgot to mention that the thiotepa regime that I got has also wildly discolored my skin, and given me all kinds of weird marks everywhere. So that’s fun.

My doctor said it should go away, but it’ll likely take several months for the dead skin to slough off to have my normal pastey white / olive skin. Good thing we’re headed into winter, I guess. But if the stuff on my hips doesn’t go away…I may never wear swim trunks again. Oh, cool guys, we’re going waterskiing? <Shows up in Wetsuit already>. Hey, I do already own one for the planned NYC triathlon.

Anyway, after the chemo was the radiation, which we talked about, both the total body irradiation, and the BALLTACULAR radiation. You’ll be happy to note that for doses 3 and 4, they were kind enough to provide me with essentially a loin cloth to cover the jumblies while people stood and chatted.

But so yeah. We’ve made it through the “negative” days of my transplant calender. They are literally negative days. As in, they don’t count when saying what day I’ll be getting out of here. So.

Day 0.

The big day.

Was…pretty much a blur. They pumped me so full of ativan, benedryll, and zofran that I’m pretty sure I slept the entire day. Kind of disappointing, to be honest, but then again, I knew it was essentially a blood transfusion.

Day 1, they came to my room with like 30 people. They have the tiniest syringe, filled with my dad’s haplo boost. That injection also took two seconds. Whaaaat?

Now, I apologize. I really meant to blog this all earlier, but after those days, everything is a blur of vomit, diarrhea, and nausea.

Seriously, I lost track of the days. I would be feeling fine, and then all of a sudden, BOOM, I’d be vomiting and shaking.

The first time Dr. Barker came to visit me (which I’m not sure if it was before or after the transplant, to be honest), we were talking, and I was feeling fine, and then I had to vomit into a bucket in front of her. She was great about it. She handed the bucket to me, ran and grabbed another bucket, got a cloth, all before my family even had time to register what happened. And believe me – my family is FAST. It’s just one of those times you see someone who knows her shit just take charge, even in something as simple as a patient vomiting.

A day or two later, Dr. Barker and Dr Roboz(!) both showed up in my room. I honestly thought that was the nicest thing any doctor has ever done for me. I love Dr. Roboz.

Roboz and Barker discussed what was going on, Roboz told me I was doing great, to hang in there, and that she’d be seeing me soon.

They seriously are the best. It’s more than just knowledge. It’s more than just knowledge. It’s just genuine care for another human. They both care for their patients, and it makes me feel so lucky that I got to have these 2 amazing doctors on my side.

Anyway, the rest of week 1 is pretty much a blur to me. As mentioned on facebook, I found out that it is indeed possible to simultaneously shit, piss, and vomit. Let me tell you that it is not pleasant. Not even a little bit.

But the days crawled by. Next up: Fevertown. Expect another post tomorrow or Wednesday. Thanks for reading.