*** Start a blog and let all of your friends know about it. That way you can keep everyone updated easily. It is much easier to communicate the latest updates on your health this way than to phone or email everyone separately. Your friends will understand and if they don't, too bad. You do not have to make everyone else happy right now. You have to take care of you.***Think about getting a portocath (same thing as medi-port) implanted. It has made a huge difference for me. I am a very difficult needle stick. Now I don't dread procedures as much and the chemo experience was much easier for me.
***Things to bring with you if you have to go the hospital:
* Your medical cards, id card, list of medicines you're taking
* A picture of you with your friends and/or family (It's a comfort for you and Ithink it's a helpful reminder to the medical staff that you are a real person and have a lot to live for!)
* Your own pillow. It was reassuring to me to have a bit of my home with me like that.
* Books, magazines, ipod stocked with music and podcasts (don't forget TheUnrealOC!), Gameboy, puzzle book, etc. (Take one of these to each appointment or procedure too. There is so much "hurry up and wait" with this process. If you have something you enjoy to distract you it will make a big difference, and you certainly don't want to rely on the magazine selection in the Doctor's office:)
* Your personal hygiene stuff
* Slippers. The floors at a hospital are not fun for bare feet.
* An eye mask to block out the light if you want to sleep during the day.
* A small bowl filled with little candy bars. Put a sign on it saying "For everyone who is taking such good care of me! Thank you and help yourself!" Everyone likes to be appreciated and again you are reminding them that you are a real person, not just another patient.
More coming next week -
Keep holding on....
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