So here is the short version of what this all means. For the next 6 months, I will be immunocompromised. While chemo is killing the bad guys, unfortunately it will also be killing the good guys. So if you have a cold, and visit, I will end up in hospital with pneumonia. I can't make it plainer than that. I will also be completely reliant on my superhero caring team of family and friends. So that means, if you are sick, and visit them without telling them first about your cold, your vomiting and diarrhoea or your flu, and they get sick, they can't come near me. And I'm stuck.
With flu season on the way, here's what I want you all to do. If you spend anytime closely with any of my close family and friends, stop and think. If you've been sick in the past 48 hours, if someone you work with has had something highly contagious in the last 48 hours and you've been around them, STOP. If they get sick, they cannot support me.
For the first 7 days of my chemo treatment I will be keeping to myself. So please don't visit unless I let you all know that I'm doing okay. If I am sick and vomit, the chemo drugs in me can be present in my vomit. You don't want to be cleaning that up. (We actually have to use gloves and double bag bodily fluids during this period). This will be a crap week because I will be keeping away from my grandbabies. And for the rest of the time, I have to be very careful of my gorgeous drooling cesspool of germs and bugs, grandbabies. No more sloppy kisses.
After that, the fatigue kicks in big time. I will be tired, my white cell count will be very low and I will be at even greater risk of picking up any and every germ.
But as I don't plan on living in a bubble and complete isolation, I do plan to be out and about when I'm well (except for large crowded groups of people, indoor situations, shops, restaurants anywhere there is no fresh air) Fresh air will be my friend so if you visit, prepare to do it outside.
So here's my list of rules of visiting me as of now, and helping me through this next 6 months of chemo and then 5 weeks of radiation. (thanks to the lovely advice of those who have gone before me)
1. Please check first, preferably text me, or ring Rick's mobile or facebook message me. I haven't worked out how to turn down the volume of the phone in our bedroom so please don't phone. If I'm sick or tired, I probably won't be up to visitors.
2. If you are sick, stay away from me, my family and my support network of friends. No way of being nice about that.
3. Please don't wear perfume or bring flowers. My sense of smell may be off and what used to smell nice, may not smell the same. Same goes with the flowers plus they can harbour bugs and set off allergies that weren't as bad prior to the chemo.
4. WASH YOUR HANDS - when you get here, wash your hands thoroughly. If we all washed our hands more often, half the damned viruses going round would be gone. Shower and put on clean clothes before coming (particularly if you've been shopping. That snotty kid in the queue at the checkout probably left a healthy petri dish of germs on the back of your shirt when they sneezed. And don't get me started on shopping trolley handles. Use sanitiser people!!!). I know, I'm sounding like a complete germaphobic but guess what, I'm going to be turning into a complete germaphobic.
5. Be prepared for short visits unless I'm having a good day.
6. Ask before hugs.... If I'm having a germaphobe moment, please don't be insulted if I don't return a hug. But if I'm having a bad day, I might just need one.
7. If you wanted to bring food, please check first. I love lasagne and those little fruit flans from Pastry Paradise, BUT because of food becoming bland, or a metallic taste from the chemo, things I loved may send me running for the puke bag. So check first. I also may develop mouth sores/ulcers so some things just won't be pleasant.
All this can sound very depressing and clinical. I may not get some of these things, I may get all of these things. My medical oncologist told me that three things are guaranteed. Day 14 my hair will start to thin and by day 21 I will lose most of it. I will be VERY tired, I will experience some level of nausea.
But you know what, I will be doing everything in my power to make sure that my treatments are not delayed due to illness. I will be making sure I eat well, and look after myself. Because while this chemical cocktail is killing my immune system, it will be also killing the very thing trying to kill me, and that's the battle we will win!
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