Port Surgery, first day of chemo went well

I'm okay! It was a long scary day, but still got a few one-liners in with the docs - I made Dr. Beatty show me his hands, to be sure they weren't shaking before we went into the OR! I crack myself up! Anyway, lots of waiting around, putting on a lovely hospital ensemble and all of that before I got anywhere near the OR. Brad was with me the whole time until I shuffled into super sterile land. I didn't get emotional until I laid on the table in there. It's so cold and so bright, lots of nurses bustling around. Then the anesthesiologist started to do his magic, and the last thing I remember is asking them if they watch "Grey's Anatomy," and I never got an answer.
It was about a 45 minute procedure. When I came around they transferred me to a different gurney, (just like Grey's - they counted one, two three) and wheeled me into another area where I got ice chips which were a God send since I hadn't had anything to eat or drink since Thursday night. By now it was 2 p.m. Then I went to the official post-op, and finally up to the C-Pod where Brad could join me. I had crackers, jello and coffee and it seemed like the best thing on earth. Eventually they got all the IV crap out of me, and I could see the dressing over the port with the tubing hanging out (which isn't there always, but they kept it on since I was going over to the cancer center for chemo.)
Once out of the lovely hospital attire, we went immediately to the cancer center for my chemo. So, it turns out that the study randomizes you to decide if you're getting the new drugs or not, and I'm not! I'm getting the standard treatment, which is Taxil and Herceptin every week for 12 weeks,then they switch me to A/C for the next 12 weeks, every third week. I'm not upset, but they have to compare the existing system to folks on the new drug to see if there's any difference. I'm still in the study, and they will be watching me like a hawk. They'll do an MRI in three weeks to see if anything is happening, i.e. if the tumor has shrunk, as well as another biopsy, which I hate. But these are not normally done, so I'm still getting rock star treatment.
Once in the chemo chair - in a nice private room with TV, etc. they brought me a complimentary sack lunch with a nice veggie sandwich, an apple and a cookie. I wolfed it. This first chemo took forever. First they spend a half hour putting in pre-treatment drugs - anti nausea, benadryl in case of an allergic reaction, (that made me really woozy - it's not like just taking the pill when it goes right in you) and two others I forgot, with frequent saline flushes. Then came the Taxil, which went in very slowly (over an hour). I got a slight wave of nausea, but it passed quickly. When Dr. Kaplan came I told him about that, so he prescribed an anti-nausea medicine but I haven't filled it yet, and I feel fine this morning, just a little sore at the incision spot, but I have pain killers for that.
But Kaplan and Barry (my study group/nurse oncologist guy, who I adore) said I was doing really well. If I were going to react to the Taxil, it would have happened in the first 15 minutes. Oh! Dr. Kaplan said not to go and shave my head, because often times you don't lose your hair until I get to the A/C! But I'm still going to get the wig and some head covers to have on standby. Meantime Brad went out a while to go home and let Abbey out to pee and feed her, and get himself some food as it was now 7-ish. He brought me back a cup of chicken noodle soup, which was great.
The Herceptin infusion was a piece of cake. About an hour. There are very few, if any, side effects with Herceptin. After a final saline flush, and a change on my dressing, we were out of there at 9 p.m. Long, long, day. I was in bed an hour later and slept pretty good. I took a pain killer when I got up, but I really feel pretty darn good this morning. A little shaky.
So, it has begun. Cancer killing is underway! Thank you all for your thoughts and prayers. I love you all.