Day 7: Continued Stem Cel Stimulation and Steroids and my last day of freedom!

Well here it is day three of stem cel stimulation and steroids.  We got our shots last night at 11 pm and 3 am.  Then the steroid jars came in at around 10 in the morning.  By 11 we were done and had the rest of the day to ourselves to do whatever we wanted.   After our steroid infusion today, they removed the pic line, since we will have our vas catheter inserted into our jugular vein tomorrow.  We will get our last dose of steroids through that.  They will also use it for stem cell collection.  This would be our last day of freedom so we wanted to make the most of it.

I was still having issues with shortness of breath and chest tightening from the steroids,  and I was not sure I would even be able to go out.  My sister suggested we go it alone and let our new found friends do their own thing.  This way, I could take it as slowly as I needed and I would be able to get out.  I had really only one or two goals for the day.  I wanted to go to Red Square and see St. Basils Cathedral and the Kremlin.  If I was still up to it, I wanted to go to the local flea market and look for the obligatory souvenirs for people back home.

We had been given instructions on how the metro worked and hopped on.  Some stations had escalators and some did not.  The ones with escalators made life much easier for me.  When we got somewhere that required stair climbing, I had to take it very slow and take breaks.  I looked like an old lady but It really was the only way I was going to make it to my goals for the day.

We made it Red Square and it really was quite simple, once you figure out the Metro.  The square itself is not as big as I had imagined.  My main objective was to se St. Basils Cathedral and take some photos.  Of course the place was mobbed with people but we still got a decent shot.  We also spent some time taking pictures of the various buildings and churches inside the square.  By the way, there is a shopping mall inside Red Square!  Imagine that!  We did go inside just to be able to say we went.  Very fancy shops and all well above my price range, but fun to see.  They even had some historical displays we had a chance to see.  Oh yes, we were able to get some ice cream.  Bonus!

After Red Square we hopped back on the Metro and headed back toward my sisters hotel.  She just happens to be staying very near the market place we wanted to go.  We made our way in slowly as I was starting to have more shortness of breath, but we made it.  It reminded me of Dukes Lane in Oahu.  Lots of carts loaded with touristy things but you know that you have to get something.  My goal was to look at everything and then decide.  This turned out to not be a great plan as one of the things I really wanted sold before I got back.  But it’s alright, there were plenty of other nice things I was able to get.  Plus  my sister is going back on a mission later in the week to see what she can find.

After the market, we stopped back by my sisters hotel and got a quick bite and then headed back to the tram so I could get back to the hospital early and get some rest.  The walk to the tram and from the tram to the hospital was difficult but I made it.  Had to take a couple of stops and rest, but I did make it.  Then back to my room got some meds and tried to sleep.  At least until the 11pm and 3am shots came.  Oh well.  Just one more day of that nonsense.

Tomorrow is the Vas Catheter and Head shave.  I really am ready to “Let it go!” when it comes to the head shave.  It’s going to fall out anyway after chemo, so why not just get on with it.  What worries me is that Damn Catheter.  I am simply scared to death about the entire process.  But I will fill you all in on that tomorrow.  Stay tuned.  Things are starting to get REAL!