Start yer Engines!

Cause I started treatment today!

I was supposed to come in to Dr. Khanna's office and to get an EKG on Thursday at 10, so I prepare to leave at 8, because, well, this is LA and well, you know... Anyway, Tina the nurse calls me as I'm about to leave saying she's horribly ill and isn't going to make it to the office. Since she's doing the last minute blood draws and such, she asks to reschedule for tomorrow.

(Disclaimer: Yes, I feel bad when someone's sick. She's a nurse for Pete's sake and shouldn't be working when she is ill!) So I'm slightly irritated. Is there no one else who can draw blood in all of UCLA? I want to start! Friday rolls around and I don't get a call before I leave, so I head out for the 1-2 hour commute to UCLA. Around 9, I'm halfway there when Tina calls. She is still sick and Dr. Khanna said she should be there for this so can we reschedule for Monday? An hour's notice for a cancellation? Funny, but I don't know too many doctors who would be ok with that if one of their patients canceled on such short notice.

At first, I say ok, but then I put my foot down. I call Dr. Khanna about the situation and he's fine with me coming on in. They really are great here, I just think that communication could have been better. I go on in, fill out a questionnaire, jump through a few more hoops and am given my Gleevec. Dr K. informs me that I've just been given $10,000 worth of medication! I briefly toy with the idea of turning the medication into cash, but decide against it and head down the hall for some final tests.

The tests aren't much, just a couple of blood tubes and a urine test. My urine shows a trace amount of protein, so I'm told I have to do what's called a "24 hour urine." I'm relieved to find out that I don't actually have to pee for 24 hours straight, but what I am asked to do is fun nonetheless. I'm given what looks like a plastic gas can - I'm to to collect my urine in it over a 24 hour period. I'm also given some kind of toddler potty seat to be placed over the toilet so I don't forget - let's hope Matt doesn't forget to move it when it's his turn! I'm also supposed to get some kind of "pee cooler" since the, ah, specimen must be kept chilled. Do they sell those at Costco? "Pee coolers? Yeah, over on aisle 6..."

Loaded down with urine-related apparatuses, I head over to the lab for the EKG. I check in and - get this - take a number. I'm given a ticket that I could probably take over to the local deli and receive a ham on rye. My confidence is not exactly soaring at this prospect - where are we anyway? McLab? The test itself is pretty easy, though, and I'm done for the day.

So, back to the medication. Took the first dose this morning, and am happy to report that thus far, everything seems fine. Not sure what I expected - maybe that I would swallow the pill and instantly projectile vomit - but so far so good.