Post Stem Cell (Menopause) Side Effects --
Yesssss... You read right. Although, I won't go into the gory details of the Real Post Side Effects, I will tell you about the personal and professional side.
I would NOT want to be a RN, nurses' assistant, lab tech, gopher or anything else related to these in the Infusion center. Oh My! You should "hear no evil, see no evil, and speak no evil". It's all evil some days. Some days you just have to sit back and grin, because you've been there. Patient, caregivers or all of the above previously listed.
Ex: Older couple about 70s. He's the patient... They are talking about Christmas music back home and about rehersal dates. Then, all of a sudden they were arguing about new steps in the house. He built them and he knew there was nothing wrong with them. She wanted new ones. She couldn't justify why, except she wanted new ones. He began to almost shout (really loud talking) and told her he wasn't talking to her anymore about the subject. If she couldn't agree with him, he had nothing else to say... (Silence is golden)
Our eyes met and starting rolling... Under that mask I could see a smirk on Poppy's face. I just kinda dropped my eyes. I kinda think the both of us was thinking about K.T. Olson's song, "Hold Me"... It's about a man coming home from work and telling his wife to sit down. Tells her when he left for work that morning he just almost kept driving. Had to get away from it all. Even her. Then she shares her story. It was the same. Then they look at each other and kiss.... She tells him to "don't kiss me like we're married.... kiss me like we're lovers!"... Y'all really need to listen to it.
I knew then our peak was over. We went in all gloomy... Fog on the way end... That kinda set the stage for our morning. Our family in the clinic -- patients and nurses and all of the above.... know the signs... They just roll with the flow... They hug on you and whisper... "If you need to talk ---".
Soooooo, that's the most part of "Post Stem Cell Transplant Side Effects". It ain't a pretty picture. We knew it was coming. We just forgot how bad it can get. We are going on the upside. WBC is coming up. Platelets needed today. Blood needed today. More Cepfepime infuser tonight. Crap crept up 10 points. We see a light at the end of the tunnel.
In our pit fall this morning, one of our nurses looked at Poppy and said, "The sun is gonna shine when you leave today." When she asked him how he felt, he said a "Rag"! "A dirty rag", a "limp rag"... Just a "Rag".... I looked at her and said, "Actually he's trying to tell you he has been on the Rag all week"!!!! We all stopped!!! Looked at Poppy and then all fell out laughing!!!
Then there was Steve (our singing nurse). He sees the salt water rolling down my cheeks and says, "That's okay... I got him on Friday... I'll work him over for ya!"
It's been a good week. I took off today... We both got a lot of work done...
When we walked out of Infusion -- the same nurse, Nichole, said as she looked at the window -- "see, I told ya.. the sun is shining!" And, it was...
We ARE on Track!!
Good Night and Love - Pepper
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