May the 4th Be With Me

TLDR: I’m being admitted for pain and bowel management at the University of Chicago CCD: Center for Care & Discovery. Chemo tomorrow is at risk of being postponed until this is under control. I hope I get Marriott points for this luxurious stay. (The Morphine they gave me keeps things light:). 💩💩💩💩😩😩😩😩💉💉💉💉

Original Post:
I really need the force today.

I was scheduled to get my liver MRI at University of Chicago this morning. As I shared in last night's post, yesterday was rough. I could not manage my pain and spent most of the day completely horizontal, even with amazing company, food, and love coming through the door. By the time I went to bed, my pain level was about an 8. Severe abdominal cramping, swelling, and that shoulder pain I keep trying to describe. There is no better word for it than excruciating, and it just makes no sense to me.

Around 3 a.m., I seriously thought about asking Bobby to take me to the ER. But knowing we already had to be up early to head to U of C, we decided to just get ready and leave. Going to an ER would have been so stressful, and there is no continuity of care in that setting. With my caregivers all lined up here, this was the right place to be.

We got to the radiology department and I was one of the first people taken back. Even then, I was struggling to walk, struggling to sit, struggling to do anything. Honestly, the MRI itself was the absolute worst thing I can remember doing. I had forgotten how loud it is, and you have to hold your breath for long stretches. With all the pressure in my abdomen I already feel breathless, so I physically could not follow the instructions. That created some really scary thoughts while I was inside that machine with the pounding drum noises.

I really empathized with the tech doing my scan. She could not get clear pictures, and I may be the first person ever to fail a liver MRI. We still do not have the results, so I am really hoping they got something to work with.

After the scan, I messaged Dr. Shergill through MyChart, knowing Cindy (the angel who got me this appointment) would be the one checking. I explained what was happening. We were already about 10 minutes out of the hospital driving home when she said it was very important that I turn around and come back. They have an oncology rapid assessment clinic and she wanted me in immediately. So we turned around on the Dan Ryan and headed back to Hyde Park.

I have been here all day. They are running a marathon of tests: blood cultures, a CT scan from shoulder to pelvis, and so many blood draws I have lost count. My arms look like somebody beat the crap out of me. But they did access my port today, and the nurse was so sweet and used a numbing spray because I had not planned to use the port until tomorrow. Every single person I have met here is just so kind and caring. I cannot say it enough.

It is almost 3 p.m. now and I am still waiting to find out what they want to do with me for the rest of the day. Dr. Shergill said she wants to make sure every stone is turned so I have no risk going into tomorrow.

(More to come, this story is still unfolding.)