Port Removed, Taste + Hair + Rad Burns, Work

Ooops, been awhile.

Port Removal:

I look quite a bit more cheery getting it out than having it put in.

I had my Medical Port removed 2 1/2 weeks ago, and recovery having it out vs having it put in is quite a bit easier.

I wasn't allowed to keep it because of biohazards, which is understandable.

When I had it put in I had a bone marrow biopsy just before it, so I was extra drugged up.  This time though I wasn't and I spent about 80% of the time having a conversation with my doctor while he was taking it out. I stopped talking because I figured he was busy and I shouldn't be bothering him.  I had pain meds, and couldn't feel anything, but I could still feel pressure- so I could feel the tugging, cutting and pulling during the surgery.  Weird.  He did ask me if I'd like to see it, once it was taken out- he then shoved it about 2 inches from my face.  It was dripping with blood and was covered with bits of me, I think I replied "huh, neat."

I won't have to get the stitches taken out, as they're internal and will dissolve soon.  I still have a little patch of glue over the incision which should break apart in the next couple of weeks.  Where the port bump was located, is a little lump of scar tissue- and if I look carefully I can see about a dozen or so needle marks from when my port was accessed over the last few months.  I won't put a picture of that- it's gross.

Taste + Hair + Rad Burns:

My sense of taste in the past week has returned about 85-90%.  Artificially flavored things no longer taste like phosphorus.  The only thing I'm missing taste-wise would be more complex tastes, I can still taste complex things, but I can't quite get all of the subtle flavors... you know  like that really expensive Scotch I bought.  Ah well, I still have about half of it, and the rest of my tastes should return in the next 2-6 months slowly.

Everything though has a weird super saturated taste to it.  Which is pretty good- savory things taste amazing,  and fruits taste like candy.

My 80's hair cut on the back of my head is still there though, no sign of starting to grow yet.  All of my other hair is growing nicely, and pretty-much-almost-the-right-color which is good enough for me.  Although I hope it starts growing in the next 5 weeks before I return to work.  

My facial hair though is just now starting to grow back... blonde again.  Which should get to the right color in about 3 weeks or so.

I'm still recovering from the radiation "burns" though.  My skin along my neck mostly and partially my chest are very dry, and a dull greyish patchy color.  The skin is just now starting to die, and peel off.  I'm supposed to avoid direct sunlight for the next few months to allow it to heal... thankfully in Seattle, sunny days are few.  I spent my first day outdoors for a large amount of time a few days ago:

Bald patch is in the back.

Return to Work:

I finally have my return to work date:  July 1st 2013 Monday.  I had thought about trying to return mid June, but that was a little too hopeful in thinking.  I have 2 "final" doctors appointments mid June, and a regular CT scan then as well. By "final," I mean last appointment for my  course of treatment, a follow up ot treatment ( I still have to have 4 1/2 years worth of routine check-ups).  I have my 1 month follow up with my Radiation Oncologist who will check my skin, etc to see how I've recovered, and my my regular Oncologist who will check my lymph nodes again as it's been 3 months (!) since I finished Chemotherapy,  to see how my recovery is doing at that point and if there are any complications lingering from treatment.

Hopefully my weird bald patch from radiation grows back by my return to the office.

For my day job, I'm the person at work who meets with new employees and sends them to dreadfully boring training classes- I think I need to attend new employee orientation, as I haven't been to work in 8 months come July, since my diagnosis and treatment.  I hope they go easy on me....

No cats allowed at the office