Here's what you're in for...


This is a chronicle of my experiences, observations, and feelings as I experience treatment for Merkel Cell Carcinoma (MCC). The goal is to give anyone going through chemotherapy and radiation for MCC (or any other cancer for that matter) an idea of what to expect. Of course I'm a unique individual just like everyone else, so what happens to me may or may not happen to you. Your mileage may vary.

I'm a pretty reserved guy, so most of these posts will be straightforward, just-the-facts-ma'am entries. I may occasionally get maudlin, but cut me some slack -- I could die from this.

Tuesday, March 29, 2011

He's Back.

In addition to life and work getting in the way of posting, I had the complication of a blood infection with high fever that put me in the hospital for five days.  I'm back at home now, cooler and weaker.

In spite of feeling miserable for the couple of days, it was a pretty pleasant stay.  The nursing staff at LRMC is phenomenal - professional, friendly, polite, knowledgeable and patient.  All the attention made me feel like I was staying a special hospital themed resort.

Here are some things I learned:
  • In addition to the phone, your IV pump has a higher chance of going off when you're in the shower.
  • Don't stop breathing when a doctor or nurse places a stethoscope on your back.  In spite of what we learned with our toy stethoscopes in kindergarten, they can be used to listen to anything inside your body, not just your heart.  Learned this when a nurse mentioned how much it irritated her when people stopped breathing when she put a stethoscope on their back
  • Hospital gowns can be comfortable and if tied properly, discreet.

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