CoCo's Journey - Up Your Nose with a Rubber Hose

Sun wasn't even up when I headed to
the hospital

Today, I had my first albumin infusion.  I have it at the Cancer Center.  It lasts about four hours.  They get an IV started and slowly infuse the albumin.  Today, I learned a lot:

• Don't take your own snacks.  They have great snacks and beverages.  And you don't have to haul all that stuff.
• Four hours, sitting in a little curtained room, is really not bad.  I snoozed, I snacked, I watched TV, I played on my phone.
• Make sure you take your power pack.
• If they ask you if you want a heated blanket, the answer is always YES.  I had three by the time I left.  I told the adorable CNA fella that I planned to just look like a pile of blankets by the time I was ready to leave.

• 

  In October, we wear Halloween fare

  The side effects are headaches and achy muscles.  I'm the lucky one that gets both.  I'm doing ok tonight.  I don't get headaches, I'm used to achy muscles.  I limit my intake of Tylenol, not out of fear of autism while pregnant, but because it's not great for the liver.  I took some today.  I'll live.
• If you try to relieve your gas, it has nowhere to go but into the public domain.  And the nurse walking by may wave a hand in front of her face and may say, "what is that smell".  Sorry?  Not sorry?  
  

  

  Outfit of the day

  
  

Definition - NG Tube - noun:  NG (nasogastric) tube is a thin, flexible tube inserted through the nose, down the esophagus, and into the stomach.  It is used for various medical purposes, including delivering food or medications.  The term nasogastric means "nose to stomach".  It is commonly used in medical settings for patients who cannot eat or drink by mouth.

After that, I went to see my gastric bypass surgeon.  Honestly, I have no clue how he talked me into it.  I threw the same fit and whiney tantrum that I threw when it was brought up by other medical professionals.  I absolutely have a terrifying fear of this.  I cannot stand the idea.  But I agreed to it!!!

Creepy shot of my IV

So, IVY and I will not be getting back together.  She and I apparently done for good.  I will be getting an NG tube.  I will only be fed at night, so it won't be attached during the day.  But I will still have a tube protruding from my face and be an even more ugly skeleton.  He is allowing this because I still eat.  I eat a lot, actually.  Maybe not as much as normal humans, but this skeleton can eat a pound of crab, rolled in butter, and still wish she had a bit more.  Just depends on the food.  

I will need to keep an intricate and detailed food diary for the next four weeks to show that I am eating enough food and such to show my surgeon when I return to him in November.  

After all my whining and fit throwing, I finally agreed.  Here is why:  

• TPN is very hard on the liver.  
• The fact that I have had to do it twice already, with a damaged liver, is not a good thing
• A G-tube or a PEG-tube is not safe for me at this time, due to my extremely weakened state, as it requires surgery, anesthesia and I have a higher risk of leaking.
• It would actually take longer to get healthy enough to proceed with other procedures I need

So, probably early next week, I will look like a coconut drink with a straw coming out of it. I'll let you know how that goes.

Heated blankets are always a perk

So what happens after all this.  And I'm a bit stronger???

• Once my albumin levels are up and I'm stronger, I'll be scheduled to have my gastric bypass reversed.  
• I will hopefully be able to absorb calories again, on my own.
• Fingers crossed that it helps the diarrhea, so I can get some weight on my bones.

I'm excited to finally be moving.  This has been a long few months.  I feel like my entire summer has been completely decimated and ruined.  I have not been able to be out and doing much of anything.  I have no strength.  I have no energy.  I am currently 88 pounds.  It's been a second summer of not being able to have the time with people I adore, as often as I want, because I've been unwell.  So - keep your fingers crossed, keep those words going into the universe with love for me, keep me in your thoughts.  If you don't like me, just don't wish me dead.  I still have things to do.  KISSES!!!!! 💋

Now another selfie of me.  At my infusion: