Round Two of Three

I Can See The Light At The End Of The Tunnel

...I hope it's not a train.

Well in true New England form, we broke from the grips of the polar vortex in time for me to get my second round of BCG.  

The office at Northeast Urologic Surgery was hopping.  However, my check in was quick and I didn't even get a chance to have seat after providing my specimen.  I had the same medical professional call me in and follow her to a familiar examination room.  She went through her spiel and before leaving, she said, "You know the drill.  Torri will be with you shortly".

Not long afterward, Torri arrived and did her 'thing'.  She was quick and it was relatively painless (mostly just uncomfortable).  I was in and out in no time.  I made it home by 11:15 AM.  I had everything set up to do my two hour marination and did the full two hours.

I voided and immediately took pyridium and drank lots of fluids.  I thought it might be too late for coffee, so I decided on the hot cocoa to warm the bones and take the chill off.

I've been doing basically nothing.  I watch some videos then joined a zoom session, but I did not play. The music medicine was enjoyable and calming.

Having been through this, I was prepared to feel blah with no desire to anything but sit and watch the hours slip by. Mission accomplished.

Hoping tomorrow will show improvement as I await my last round on Christmas Eve day.

More to come! 

First Round Of Three

Well it is December and this is New England.   But, the weather cooperated this morning for my commute to Northeast Urological in N. Andover. Traffic was also cooperative.  I made it to the office parking lot a half hour early.

Check in was uneventful.  I provided a urine specimen and returned to the waiting room expecting to wait for my appointment, seeing I was more than a half hour early. I had just sat down when I heard my name called. After my grilling to verify my identity, I was walked down to yet another examination room I haven't been in.  After three years worth of appointments, I thought I had seen all the real estate.  This place is cavernous.

After doing the regular check to see if anything had changed and signing off on the consent form, I was directed to prepare myself for my BCG instillation.

Not too long transpired and Nurse Practitioner, Torri arrived.  She went through her spiel and made some small talk while she performed an effective instillation with minimal discomfort.  I've had her before.  She is really good at this. Upon completion, she gave me the follow up spiel and bid me a good day.  "I'll see you next week", I exclaimed as she left the room.

Returning to my car, I noticed it wasn't even 11 AM, yet.  The drive home was uneventful and I made it home by 11:15 AM.  I had prepared for my marination and listened to some locally grown music for two hours. At the sound of the last timer bell, I voided and immediately took some generic pyridium and made some hot cocoa.  

At this writing, I just feel blah (expected).  I'm trying to drink plenty of fluids to flush my body.  So it's going to be a do nothing-type day.

More to come! 

And It Starts Again

I was waiting for some correspondence regarding my next round of BCG.  I have a  cystoscopy already scheduled for the end of February.  In the past, I needed time to 'heal' between treatments and the cystoscopy. So, I contacted the office today.

Well, now it's on the books.  My first round of three will be December 10th.  Subsequent rounds will follow for the next two weeks.  The last one will be Christmas Eve Day,  Well I know now to prepare.

As in the past, I have to drop off a urine sample today.  They close for lunch between 12 and 1, so I'll be visiting right after 1PM. 

So the fun begins again.  

More to come!