Dear Family and Friends: Today was Greg's 6 month CT Scans and appointment with his oncologist. It was a very long day. We left the house at at 9:50 a.m. and didn't get home until 5:00 p.m.
Getting ready for appointment
Before leaving the house, Greg's foot wound is secured in fresh bandages and special diabetic socks are worn. He has to wear special foot-ware that has been molded for his feet. We apply a cream to his chest over his port area to numb it so he does not feel the needle going into his chest to access his port. We have to show up at the Pet/CT Scan office an hour before the scheduled scan appointments so Greg can drink the contrast. I sign him in and pay the co-pay $250.00. They access his Port and put in the contrast. When the contrast is applied, they flush the Port and put a band aid over the hole. Every time this port is accessed there is a risk of infection so everyone that accesses the port takes special care. Then the scans have to be read by the radiologist and that report is sent up to the Oncologist on the 3rd floor. All of this happens in the same building, the Seton Building. All Greg's Radiation and all his Chemo but one, (his first) took place in this building. All his subsequent scans and appointments with his oncologist have taken place in this building. This building is located right next to St, Thomas Rutherford in Murfreesboro.
Lifting Scooch
The night before all outside appointments we have to make sure the Scooters battery is fully charged. I back the SUV (Olivia) into the garage so I have less carrying to do getting the Scooter into the vehicle. I take him apart at the staircase leading into the garage. I have to carry 4 heavy pieces down 4 stairs and lift into the back of SUV. To save money and wear and tear on me, the car and the scooter, I pack a picnic lunch. We always plan to eat at the Seton Building So I don't have to take the scooter apart and put it together more than once in the day (it involves a lot of lifting). Sometimes we eat on a bench outside the Seton building (when it is sunny) but today we ate in the SUV as it was cloudy. We park Scooch (the scooter) outside the car where we can see him, Greg removes the key to the scooter so he can't be stolen and we eat.
Nothing to eat after midnight - Picnic Lunch
Because you can 't eat anything after midnight the night before a CT Scan, I don't eat either until Greg can. Greg was done with his scans at noon and we were both hungry so the picnic lunch tasted good. We had just finished eating and It started to drizzle about 12:30. We locked up the car and went back inside the Seton Building. Scooch has been a God Send. We bought that Scooter even before Cancer because Greg's herniated disc's and Diabetic neuropathy made it hard for him to walk long distances. We would use it during grocery shopping and going to park. Now, he is used for inside the house and doctors visits. Since Covid, Greg doesn't go anywhere but where he has to and that is doctors appointments. He is fully vaccinated with Moderna and will get the Moderna booster when it gets full approval by the FDA and the booster is recommended. Moderna is the strongest Covid vaccine available and that this time, the effectiveness hasn't been proven to wane enough to require a booster. When it does, we will do as Greg's oncologist advises.
The Third Floor
We took the elevator up to the 3rd floor and I sat on the couch right under the Tennessee Oncology sign you see in the picture above. Every time you get off the elevator at the 3rd Floor that is what you see. I can remember when we first started this Cancer Journey, that sign scared the shit out of me. The word Oncology had the same effect. It is funny how time can change things. Now that sign almost seems like an old friend to me, ALMOST.
6 Month Check up fears
The 6 month check ups are always nerve wracking. We stress for a good week before the appointment. WE could do these appointments a week apart but that would just drag out the stress and drag out the time and the mileage on the car. The Seton Building is located 1 hour by car doing the speed limit from our house if we don't catch the lights or hit traffic. On a good day that means the total travel time round trip is 2 hours. The ride however is scenic and pleasant.
Doctors office
We opted to use the bathrooms on the 3rd floor outside the doctors office as we had plenty of time to pass. We entered his office at 1:00 p.m. with his appointment being at 2:00 p.m. I signed him in, paid the co-pay and we waited for the nurse to call him in to draw blood for his labs. This happens before every Oncology visit. It also happens before Chemo appointments to make sure you have enough white blood cells so your body can handle the treatment. It also happens before 6 month check ups as blood work tells the doctor a lot.
Dr. Jeremy McDuffie
He was running late today so we waited a long time to see him. longer than usual. Jeremy is a very attentive doctor and always spends a lot of time with his patients. Ultimately, today's news was good and the visit was a good one. Greg's scans were not just clean, they were better than 6 months ago. Jeremy informed us that 6 months ago and 6 months before that, there was an area he was watching in or around Greg's lungs. He thought it was part of Greg's Pleural Effusion which had landed him the hospital June/July 2020 so he didn't tell us about it. He thought it would resolve itself and it did. Greg is STILL CANCER FREE!
His next scan will not include his chest area as that is how sure Jeremy is that things are good in that area now. His next scan will also be belly/pelvis area focusing on the bladder and kidneys.
We talked with Jeremy for a good 1/2 hour. We talked about Covid, Flu Shots, Covid Booster Shots and the Covid cases in the hospital right next door. He filled us in on just how bad it has been and it has been bad. He said they are finally seeing some easing up on Covid admittance's. He assured us that the majority of Covid Hospitalizations are people who are not vaccinated like 50 to 1. and the ones admitted who are vaccinated have co-morbidity.
It was concerning to hear that the hospital had to turn the OUT PATIENT SURGERY FLOOR into a COVID ICU with elective and out patient surgeries being cancelled and put off. This is the hospital Greg goes to when he has something more serious going on and our local hospital can't handle. He has stayed in that hospital quite a few times and they have always done a great job there. We said our goodbyes to Jeremy and stopped and scheduled his next 6 month at the check out desk in his office.
Next month Greg has his 6 month with his cardiologist. His heart doctor has been talking pace maker but with Covid complicating things, we will see what he has to say.
Anyhow, it is late but I didn't want to go to bed without posting the update. Listen to BLUE SKIES, a song Greg wrote to remind himself and other people facing life and death issues that "BLUE SKIES ALWAYS FOLLOW THE RAIN.'
Love to you all,
Donna
Getting ready for appointment
Before leaving the house, Greg's foot wound is secured in fresh bandages and special diabetic socks are worn. He has to wear special foot-ware that has been molded for his feet. We apply a cream to his chest over his port area to numb it so he does not feel the needle going into his chest to access his port. We have to show up at the Pet/CT Scan office an hour before the scheduled scan appointments so Greg can drink the contrast. I sign him in and pay the co-pay $250.00. They access his Port and put in the contrast. When the contrast is applied, they flush the Port and put a band aid over the hole. Every time this port is accessed there is a risk of infection so everyone that accesses the port takes special care. Then the scans have to be read by the radiologist and that report is sent up to the Oncologist on the 3rd floor. All of this happens in the same building, the Seton Building. All Greg's Radiation and all his Chemo but one, (his first) took place in this building. All his subsequent scans and appointments with his oncologist have taken place in this building. This building is located right next to St, Thomas Rutherford in Murfreesboro.
Lifting Scooch
The night before all outside appointments we have to make sure the Scooters battery is fully charged. I back the SUV (Olivia) into the garage so I have less carrying to do getting the Scooter into the vehicle. I take him apart at the staircase leading into the garage. I have to carry 4 heavy pieces down 4 stairs and lift into the back of SUV. To save money and wear and tear on me, the car and the scooter, I pack a picnic lunch. We always plan to eat at the Seton Building So I don't have to take the scooter apart and put it together more than once in the day (it involves a lot of lifting). Sometimes we eat on a bench outside the Seton building (when it is sunny) but today we ate in the SUV as it was cloudy. We park Scooch (the scooter) outside the car where we can see him, Greg removes the key to the scooter so he can't be stolen and we eat.
Nothing to eat after midnight - Picnic Lunch
Because you can 't eat anything after midnight the night before a CT Scan, I don't eat either until Greg can. Greg was done with his scans at noon and we were both hungry so the picnic lunch tasted good. We had just finished eating and It started to drizzle about 12:30. We locked up the car and went back inside the Seton Building. Scooch has been a God Send. We bought that Scooter even before Cancer because Greg's herniated disc's and Diabetic neuropathy made it hard for him to walk long distances. We would use it during grocery shopping and going to park. Now, he is used for inside the house and doctors visits. Since Covid, Greg doesn't go anywhere but where he has to and that is doctors appointments. He is fully vaccinated with Moderna and will get the Moderna booster when it gets full approval by the FDA and the booster is recommended. Moderna is the strongest Covid vaccine available and that this time, the effectiveness hasn't been proven to wane enough to require a booster. When it does, we will do as Greg's oncologist advises.
The Third Floor
We took the elevator up to the 3rd floor and I sat on the couch right under the Tennessee Oncology sign you see in the picture above. Every time you get off the elevator at the 3rd Floor that is what you see. I can remember when we first started this Cancer Journey, that sign scared the shit out of me. The word Oncology had the same effect. It is funny how time can change things. Now that sign almost seems like an old friend to me, ALMOST.
6 Month Check up fears
The 6 month check ups are always nerve wracking. We stress for a good week before the appointment. WE could do these appointments a week apart but that would just drag out the stress and drag out the time and the mileage on the car. The Seton Building is located 1 hour by car doing the speed limit from our house if we don't catch the lights or hit traffic. On a good day that means the total travel time round trip is 2 hours. The ride however is scenic and pleasant.
Doctors office
We opted to use the bathrooms on the 3rd floor outside the doctors office as we had plenty of time to pass. We entered his office at 1:00 p.m. with his appointment being at 2:00 p.m. I signed him in, paid the co-pay and we waited for the nurse to call him in to draw blood for his labs. This happens before every Oncology visit. It also happens before Chemo appointments to make sure you have enough white blood cells so your body can handle the treatment. It also happens before 6 month check ups as blood work tells the doctor a lot.
Dr. Jeremy McDuffie
He was running late today so we waited a long time to see him. longer than usual. Jeremy is a very attentive doctor and always spends a lot of time with his patients. Ultimately, today's news was good and the visit was a good one. Greg's scans were not just clean, they were better than 6 months ago. Jeremy informed us that 6 months ago and 6 months before that, there was an area he was watching in or around Greg's lungs. He thought it was part of Greg's Pleural Effusion which had landed him the hospital June/July 2020 so he didn't tell us about it. He thought it would resolve itself and it did. Greg is STILL CANCER FREE!
His next scan will not include his chest area as that is how sure Jeremy is that things are good in that area now. His next scan will also be belly/pelvis area focusing on the bladder and kidneys.
We talked with Jeremy for a good 1/2 hour. We talked about Covid, Flu Shots, Covid Booster Shots and the Covid cases in the hospital right next door. He filled us in on just how bad it has been and it has been bad. He said they are finally seeing some easing up on Covid admittance's. He assured us that the majority of Covid Hospitalizations are people who are not vaccinated like 50 to 1. and the ones admitted who are vaccinated have co-morbidity.
It was concerning to hear that the hospital had to turn the OUT PATIENT SURGERY FLOOR into a COVID ICU with elective and out patient surgeries being cancelled and put off. This is the hospital Greg goes to when he has something more serious going on and our local hospital can't handle. He has stayed in that hospital quite a few times and they have always done a great job there. We said our goodbyes to Jeremy and stopped and scheduled his next 6 month at the check out desk in his office.
Next month Greg has his 6 month with his cardiologist. His heart doctor has been talking pace maker but with Covid complicating things, we will see what he has to say.
Anyhow, it is late but I didn't want to go to bed without posting the update. Listen to BLUE SKIES, a song Greg wrote to remind himself and other people facing life and death issues that "BLUE SKIES ALWAYS FOLLOW THE RAIN.'
Love to you all,
Donna
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