Still No Sign of Land

Phlebitis caused by extravasation. Hah! 3 weeks later, and still inflamed and ropey.

And the swelling is lymphedema. That one pisses me off because I specifically asked how to avoid it, and the oncologist said to go ask the physical therapy people, but I couldn't get an appointment before ending up with lymphedema! The treatment for which is to be massaged for an hour, then wrapped from fingertips to shoulder in a layer of padding, gauze, foam, and elastic. Four times a week, and constant from four weeks. Right now it's stage 2. My right arm is starting to get those bulges. I'm swollen up to my neck, and my feet are little balloons.

I'm not happy. I look like someone shoved a bike pump up my butt and kept blowing.

Is this my last awful?

Today is awful. I am weak and I feel sick. My arm is infected at the injection site from chemo. Dr. Gabriel thinks phlebitis, but chemo sites list something called extravasation that sounds like what I have: redness, blisters, itchiness.

Pain in my bones isn't as bad today, but my legs are weak. My right arm is also swollen and hard as a rock.

I'm sick of being sick.

Official

It's official: I'm a member of the survivors club.

I finished my last chemo Monday, so today I'm all a-jitter and can't sit still or stand or walk.

But the treatments are done.

Surgery for the exchange is somewhere around beginning of September or end of August.

I'm so tired of this.