The process of cancer treatment – PART CVIII

We had to go into the city for JB's quarterly treatment. The other 3 treatments are done here in Perth, a happy effect of COVID protocols. 

It poured all morning, then the clouds moved away. Happily.

 We left the house at 12:45

, arriving at the kid's house in an hour. I'd bought a tap, which had the handle on the wrong side. JL took it home to undo the nut for me. They'd left it for us, and the deed was done! It added to the trip, but was worth it. Both of us got out of the car and stretched a bit. 

From there we motored on to the Ottawa General Hospital. Man, I've not forgotten city driving, I did fairly well. I learned to drive in downtown Toronto, where I lived. You have to be so assertive in the city.  (I did vent about a driver doing exactly 6 km and hour UNDER the speed limit.) People were frantically passing them. 

I dropped JB off at the hospital at 2:15, he grabbed his mask, and needle. I returned to the park where I waited. There are several people who do this, I've noticed. Why go in the hospital, when I can sit in the fresh air? 

The first thing I tried was a selfie, to let Caitlin know we'd arrived. You can see the puddles that remained. It was cold and windy, but lovely in the car in the sun. I began fooling around with the phone. I accidentally began sending an SOS. Whoopsie!

There were dog walkers to watch. That was fun.

I tried a panoramic image, which failed. I did manage a video of the doggies. You can see my thumb. It is a learning curve. Old dog new tricks! 🦮

         

dog walkers from Jennifer Jilks on Vimeo.

I amused myself listening to the radio. Then decided to play with my phone some more. I managed to capture an eagle and a plane. The blue skies were wonderful. Archive photo for fun! I should have brought the zoom lens. I've often found birds here.

Time passed. By 3:30 p.m. I was getting worried. They've been faster (and slower) in the past, these appointments.

Eventually he returned. They didn't realize that he'd brought his needle for the injection, as has been the case, and after reports being taken by the intern, they found a nurse to jab him. The doctor said that he could continue to have his needles with our GP in Perth, and then do a Zoom interview once a year. He has, they estimated, another 5 years when the Lupron will continue to work. 

I set Gillian GPS for our stop, the restaurant, and then for home.

We stopped at Swan on the Rideau for an early dinner, 4:00. Only 6 men at the bar. We were tired and hungry. We couldn't sit in our usual sun room off the bar, as they were expecting poets at 6 p.m. We were anxious to eat and get home. 

The woman who sat us ignored us for 5 minutes. I could see her chatting to the new staff as the shift was changing. She happily served the men at the bar, but she didn't even come over for our drink order. JB checked his watch, and said to give her 5 minutes. She came in the nick of time. I would have been happy to toodle on to Smiths Falls for fast food.

We ordered hamburgers, a safe bet. JB said no cheese for him. I asserted no dairy. She returned, and had forgotten our order. She was reminded and, she said, no cheese. Our water and wine arrived, placed on the table a new server. Our order came, delivered by said server. His hamburger had brie on the hamburger. She took it back. He ate his salad, I dug in. It came back shortly.

Service was less than stellar. We won't go back. It's not as if they didn't expect people. There were reservations at 5 of the tables, for large groups. There were 4 servers behind the bar area.

This is the bridge which took us towards home. By now it was 4:51. I was having stomach cramps. Not good. They lasted 24 hours.

The marina:

I'd had a glass of wine with dinner. JB was able to drive us home from here, a good halfway point. Long, straight roads, where speedy people can pass. Driving through North Gower, you could see sprouts growing in the fields.

Our world is changing for the better. JB noticed a board at the hospital explaining pronoun protocols. I checked the hospital website, and staff wear badges that state theirs. You need not guess, and you can have your pronouns respected. It's a good read: A few words make a big difference: A guide to personal pronouns. 

I had some great conversations with our gr. 8 and 10 granddaughters on the weekend. People are more likely to be accepted for who they are. Some students are identifying as they/them, with the self-esteem to correct staff.  'Gay' is no longer a slur at their school, as it was when my kids were in school, when I was a teacher. That takes self-advocacy, and I am really impressed with their generation. Yes, there are pockets of anti-LGBTQ+ sentiment, but there have been improvements.

Happy doggie in Smiths Falls:

We arrived home at 6:45, and rested. I was watching the temperature, and it kept falling. By 5˚ C. I brought in my baskets. They are doing really well, all things considered. I popped them out in the morning warmth.

We were so happy to be home. The next meeting will be online. The next injection in 3 months in Perth.

Thursday morning I was awake at 6:15, for no reason at all. JB slept in until 8:30, but went back for a nap at 10:30. It really is draining, these marathons. 

I was glad I'd brought the planters in! 

Another trip for healthcare (#65)

April 18th

The weather was about to get frightful! The storm was moving northeast, headed for our Ottawa destination. This is trip #65. We had time, but we brought rain gear, too!


The day began with a gift. Hooper had been online, using JB's Amazon account.  The gift was a large mug with "Fire Chief" on it! My job is to keep the fire going, as hubby's back limits his abilities to do so. Hooper and Annie love the fire, they wrote a long story about their searching for it.

Hubby's PSA test was good, last week. It was 0.0008, which is virtually nil. (It should be zero, but surgery didn't get it all.) The ability of the patient to check test results online really alleviates concerns and stress. You just hate not knowing. The drive into the city is much more relaxing this way.

10:34

We left at 10:34, passing through Smiths Falls, I like driving on highway #43, the osprey are back on their nests.  File photos, but you get the picture. It's so good seeing them back, now that the rivers and lakes are open. Soon they will have babies!

At Smiths Falls we were behind a beer truck doing just the right speed. (80 km/hr: the speed limit!) Unfortunately, the two vehicles behind us didn't appreciate this.)

 I pulled over and let them pass.

Funnily enough, we caught up to them in The Gower, where they were stuck behind the beer truck, and both turned off.

North Gower and Manotick, the latter two places where I'd lived in –in a previous lifetime. The nurseries, at least, have vehicles. Some are actually open!

11:47

We passed someone working on the side of the road, beside the airport. Not my kind of job.

There is much construction in Riverside South.

Last time we were through (9 months ago) they were tearing down this forest on River Road. It is gone. These will be part of the high-priced homes in Riverside South. Prices for the featured lots range from $615,000 to almost $900,000.

Ottawa River, still some snow and ice. The rain has been falling for two days. They are worried about flooding, again, in our region.


I used to scoff at people parking on Lynda Road, it's free for two hours, and just across the street from the hospital. I scoff no more. It means we are more likely to find a spot in the lot.


 Can you read the sign below? By the time I could read it, it was too late. It should have been put in front of the barrier. There were several cars, I think, looking for spots. Parking has been an increasing problem. Perhaps they tolerate the short-term parking on the back street to ease space.

Luckily, I found a spot.

12:15 p.m. for our 12:30 appointment

In we went. It's a bit of a walk from the parking lot to the other end of the complex. My foot has been sore. I wore my sturdy runners. I carried my iPad in the beautiful quilted bag Jean made for me for my 60th birthday. She is an amazing and kind woman, in the midst of The Mess of Alterations!

Here is a tip for people in the waiting room, don't sit on your cell phone discussing your biopsy results with a friend. He was sitting three seats away, and we could hear every word. TMI...

 They have extra large wheelchairs at Ottawa Hospital.

 Our traditional selfie while waiting.

12:30

We are participating in a study of the drug hubby is being given, Lupron. The researcher took us right in to a room where he filled in the questionnaire. 

Next, in popped our doctor's intern, to review our past few months. None of his arthritis symptoms are a result of the treatments. This is a good sign, as the side effect could be bone issues.

Third was the nurse to administer the needle JB purchased at our local pharmacy a week ago (just in case).

Our physician popped back in the debrief. Basically, no big symptoms from the treatments. He could anticipate some bone disease once the PSA rises to about 10. The calcium supplements are good, 650 mg per day they recommended. The next needle is in July (in Perth, yay), the following one will be in October, back in Ottawa.

1:16 p.m.

By the time we left, there was a parking crew, and cars were parked in the other IN lane of the parking lot. (There are two.)


There is lots of construction in Ottawa. There are several infill buildings, with sleek, modern styles. Also, lots of condos.


By the time we make it to Manotick, we see the massive mansions.

2:49 "lunch" done

We had a few options for lunch, but I wanted to get out of the city. We ended up having a decent meal at the Swan. We couldn't see the river, due to the boats in their coats in the parking lot of the marina. Oh, well. We like to eat in the lovely sunroom on the end. It is quieter.


Back on the road, crossing the bridge.


Really wet fields and swollen creeks.


Back through North Gower.


This is the house, that was an antique store: Otter Creek Antiques: Store Deconstruction in Lombardy. They removed the extension part of the house, all those bricks. The left half has been torn down.

3:38 p.m.

Its renovations are coming along. They had an open house, for it to be resold. I don't know what happened. The signage is gone.

April 18, 2019

Otter Creek is a river! On the left is a field. More rains to come, too.


It was getting darker, we'd expected rain. It wasn't until Lombardy that the rain started, then stopped.
Home just up ahead. 

Over the past 24 hours, as I write this, we've had 33 mm (1.3").