I had my second shot of EPO yesterday and I'm feeling zonked today. One of the side effects is flu like symptoms. What I'm feeling and felt last time is body fatigue. The nice part was I didn't have to go to a clinic to receive it. With a nurse in the neighbourhood who has a very gentle touch, it was administered without much pain, right here at home.
As Mom just reminded me it is six days until my surgery, on Wednesday of next week. I'm not as prepared as I was the last time because my approach as been different. I am not looking ahead until I absolutely have too. Today I plan to take an hour and make sure I have the essentials in a pile to be scooped up on Monday and packed with the rest of my things. By essentials I mean; a favourite hand cream, foot cream, medications and forms that are required, books, and meditations, essentials oils. The rest might me self explanatory, but essential oils have a multitude of uses. Most importantly I found that when you get the not so pleasant smells of a hospital it works wonders to dab a little under the nose.
It gave me a chuckle as I did it because it brought back a childhood memory. As a child I grew up in Newfoundland. Not on the beautiful coast but inland, a place called Gander. We were not exposed to the smells of seaweed, the ocean and fish. When we went to my Father's home in Harbour Grace the smell of the ocean combined with the fish plant was something we always complained about. My Mom would give us a little dab of perfume to put under our noses as we started to smell the fish to stop the complaining. I have since learned to love that smell. I can say with certainly I won't ever love the smell of hospital.
The comfort of a pillow and blanket from home is also something very worthwhile in the hospital setting. Especially important to those of us who sweat while using the hospital issue plastic covered pillows. That's as much thought as I have given it.
I will be ready. I may forget things this time, but my peace of mind will still be in place as I carry on with day to day living. The surgery will happen and what I forget we can find in Toronto.
As Mom just reminded me it is six days until my surgery, on Wednesday of next week. I'm not as prepared as I was the last time because my approach as been different. I am not looking ahead until I absolutely have too. Today I plan to take an hour and make sure I have the essentials in a pile to be scooped up on Monday and packed with the rest of my things. By essentials I mean; a favourite hand cream, foot cream, medications and forms that are required, books, and meditations, essentials oils. The rest might me self explanatory, but essential oils have a multitude of uses. Most importantly I found that when you get the not so pleasant smells of a hospital it works wonders to dab a little under the nose.
It gave me a chuckle as I did it because it brought back a childhood memory. As a child I grew up in Newfoundland. Not on the beautiful coast but inland, a place called Gander. We were not exposed to the smells of seaweed, the ocean and fish. When we went to my Father's home in Harbour Grace the smell of the ocean combined with the fish plant was something we always complained about. My Mom would give us a little dab of perfume to put under our noses as we started to smell the fish to stop the complaining. I have since learned to love that smell. I can say with certainly I won't ever love the smell of hospital.
The comfort of a pillow and blanket from home is also something very worthwhile in the hospital setting. Especially important to those of us who sweat while using the hospital issue plastic covered pillows. That's as much thought as I have given it.
I will be ready. I may forget things this time, but my peace of mind will still be in place as I carry on with day to day living. The surgery will happen and what I forget we can find in Toronto.
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