I was expecting worse...

On Thursday of this last week I had to go to the city to receive my first treatment of radiation and Radioactive Iodine. The last couple of weeks leading up to the treatments were rough. I had to be off all my medications and live on a iodine-free diet. Just in case you are thinking that this sounds easy...let me tell you it wasn't. It is hard to figure out what to heat when you can't have any thing with salt, dairy products, or soy products. I had to mainly stick with the basics of fresh fruit and vegitables. And lots, and lots of oatmeal.

Between the diet and no Estrogen or Thyroid medicine I was exhausted, weak, and ready to fight with anyone willing to say something or do something that was gonna make me flip out. It happened more than once, and at work it ended a couple of times with me walking away from customers and my boss, John. It was easier than yelling and screaming. I think that I really need to give everybody that came to my defense something. At least most people understood!

The treatment was all that could be expected, except for a few things. The radiation didn't even last ten minutes and I didn't feel any part of it. I have to continue getting the beams of light into my neck once every 4 to 6 weeks. I CAN HANDLE THAT!! The Radioactive Iodine was different. They brought me back into a secluded part of the hospital where these two ladies were dressed to walk on the moon. White suits and black rubber gloves that went past the elbows. They told me to take off my shirt cause they needed to inject my arms with a solution along with me drinking some of it through a straw. So they stood on either side of me, thinking they were hiding the needles behind their back, but I saw them. I reached into this metal cabinet and grabbed a test tube with a straw sticking out of it. They said drink this while we inject you...does anyone have any idea how hard it is to drink something through a straw while you have not just one but two needles attacking you from each side in your upper arms??

Not very fun. Then they said that was it. Get dressed and go home. Oh yeah...you are in confinement for the following 3 days. Can't be around your daughter at all. No visitors. Husband can be around, but don't sleep in the same room and don't cook for him or others. So much for using days off to make cookies for the family!! At least he could be around me a little! The treatment has left my neck sore, me even more tired and a little sick, but not as bad as I expected. It is done and I am glad that I can finally breathe for a while that the worst is over! I can't wait to be able to hug Janelle tonight. I haven't seen her since Thursday morning when we dropped her off with my grandparents at 6 am. We have had lots of phone conversations, but she keeps thinking that I am mad at her cause I won't come get her. It is rough explaining to a three year old that the doctors say I have to do this but I will be better when it is all done.

Feel free to post a comment, I would like to hear what you think about my experience...