3weeks of a clinical trial & a night as an inpatient

Dear Friends & Family-
As most of you know, I've been participating with Duke Oncology department in one of their many clinical trials. October 15 was my first dose of this "trial" drug, and Wednesday November 5, was my last dose of it.

The short version of the story is that I developed a Pleural Effusion while on the clinical trial. Walking around normal, even demonstrating my lung capacity by doing laps around the Oncology department, my oxygen saturation level was in the 70's. (71 to be exact) Why my only symptom was a little shortness of breath, probably can be blamed on my many years of jogging. There's no explanation while I didn't fall over from lack of oxygen!

Anyway,I'll skip the part where I complain about the 5-6hours I had to wait to get diagnosed, sitting in the hallway because they were to busy to put me in a room, eventually admitted, and my favorite part-- never seeing my Oncologist again while I was admitted to her hospital.... oh wait, I complained. Sorry ya'll! Shoot, there was no way to avoid that....

I was admitted by some General Practice MD, who's two residents did a nice job with me. They even let me argue my case for no IV's, since I had already been stuck during my various appointments throughout the day. Just when I thought I had'em worn down, my sensible husband chimed in to tell me to "let the take care of you". I wont put into writing what I thought at that moment, but I'll tell you folks, that I listened! With that IV, I got three doses of steroids, and Lasix which are normal medications to rid the lungs of fluid. I sat & even slept with my oxygen on the entire time I was there; although I tried spending as much time in the bathroom where the tubing couldn't reach! Steve monitored every minute that I was off oxygen, giving me a little bit of free time off from it, but had me right back to doing what I was supposed to, in no time! Durn him, for taking such great care of me!

I was released (the staff probably cheered) on Thursday late in the afternoon. Which wouldn't necessarily matter, except now we had our usual 220mile, 3+ hour trip back to Virginia Beach. I've never said anything more honest than this: Sleeping in my own bed last night, was the best sleep I've ever gotten! Man, do I feel like a new person today! I'm still a little SOB, but I just take breaks. Wouldn't ya'll do the same? I don't know what the big deal is; can you tell me?

That is all I have for now. Thankfully, its not all bad news, like I normally share! I'm now in between chemotherapy treatments, and am not sure what comes next. I have to think, I have to decide what I want to do? As you know already, I'll let ya'll know when I do. Until then, please write me and let me know how things are with you and yours.

Oh yeah, thanks for letting me complain earlier!