Queazy Stomach – food or chemo? - Thursday, February 1, 2007
Day 66/67 – Round 2, Cycle 2, Day 3/4 (Wed/Thu, 1/31/07 & 2/1/07)
Well, as I write this (Thursday morning) I’ve finished the Methotrexate portion of the treatment and have started the Ara-C. This happened about 11pm last night. I’m still retaining too much fluids, and took a diuretic last night about 8pm — I thought that was bad timing because that meant getting up more often during the night — and I didn’t need that.
Generally, I’m feeling okay. My stomach was a little queasy this morning, but it may have just been a reaction to the food yesterday, not the chemo!
Woke up to snow on the trees outside my window this morning. Supposed to snow, then turn to sleet and rain. Will be pretty from my room, but the city is pretty well closed down. Hopefully, the hospital will not close up too.
That’s it for this day. Thank you for your prayers, emails, cards, and phone calls. God bless you all, and may God bless me, and my family, and the medical team on my case.
Happy Ground Hog Day! - Friday, February 2, 2007
Day 68 – Round 2, Cycle 2, Day 5 (Fri, 2/2/07)
Someone commented that I sounded bored, and maybe I am; but that’s probably good! It’s hard to get excited sitting here in my room. My choices for entertainment are somewhat limited: walking, watching TV, web surfing, watching the IV drip — and I’ve done all of those things — several times each day! Wow! Let me do it again.
Okay, discharge seems to be scheduled for Saturday morning. It’s now about noon Friday, and I’m about to get my last chemo (Ara-C) started. After that I’m scheduled to get a dose of diuretics; then I’m scheduled to get a red blood transfusion (my hemoglobin is low); then some more diuretics. Sounds like an exciting afternoon.
I’m feeling okay, but food is not very appealing now. Speaking of food… Yesterday breakfast came about 8:30am; lunch 1pm; supper 4:30pm — 4:30pm is just a little too early for me to eat, by about 2 hours. Sleep last night was not very good either — up about every hour because of the fluid intake.
That’s it for this day. Thank you for your prayers, emails, cards, and phone calls. God bless you all, and may God bless me, and my family, and the medical team on my case.
Home Again! Thank you Lord - Saturday, February 3, 2007
Day 69 – Round 2, Cycle 2, Day 6 (Sat, 2/3/07)
Friday afternoon was pretty much routine, with blood transfusions and diuretics as indicated yesterday. The blood was finished by 10:30pm and at that point they disconnected my IV lines. That helped me to sleep a little better during the night, and it was nice to be able to get up, and not have to move the IV pole with me everywhere I went — almost like being a regular person. At 4:30am they came in and drew some final blood samples for testing (strange, huh.. they give me blood during the day, and then take it back in the middle of the night).
At 7am Dr M came in (actually woke me up) and said all looked good and that it was home for me. By 8am I was on my way home! Now that was exciting! Breakfast was at home with my dear wife — food is tasting better already – just the thought of it is better at home. Thank You Lord.
Oh, an update — remember the nurse I “fired” about 6 weeks ago? Well, they were reassigned to me last night! While they made a mistake 6 weeks ago, I thought they did a good job last night; very well organized. At the beginning of the shift I reviewed everything that needed to be done during the night, and realized there really wasn’t much they needed to do, so was willing to take a chance — and I have no regrets.
Don’t know what I’m going to do today, but I know it will be better than yesterday.
That’s it for this day. Thank you for your prayers, emails, cards, and phone calls. God bless you all, and may God bless me, and my family, and the medical team on my case.
- Monday, February 5, 2007
Day 69/70 – Round 2, Cycle 2, Day 6/7 (Sat/Sun, 2/3 & 4/07)
Well, Saturday was a relaxing day, except for doing my taxes! Sunday we went to church in the morning, and watched the Super Bowl in the evening.
Side effects:
I still thank the Lord that my side effects from all this chemo have been minimal. Still have numb fingers and toes — and likely will have for the next few months; only once did I have slight mouth sores; appetite has been pretty much normal (once I leave the hospital); fatigue is a problem during parts of my treatment; and my GI track is messed up more than I’d like. Not been nausea once (Thank You again Lord). I’d say for 10 weeks of treatment that’s pretty good.
Today, Monday, I go to the doctors office for a shot of Neulasta to help build white blood cells (and fight off infections), and I’ve already started taking my additional anti biotic / anti fungal drugs. Over the next 7 to 10 days I’ll be in isolation (of sorts), depending on blood chemistry.
I have two weeks off during this cycle without any more chemo. Towards the end of that period I’ll go in for another CT Scan to see who winning the second round, and will hopefully find out that it is “us”, and not the cancer.
That’s it for this day. Thank you for your prayers, emails, cards, and phone calls. God bless you all, and may God bless me, and my family, and the medical team on my case.
I can’t believe it’s Wednesday already - Wednesday, February 7, 2007
Day 71-73 – Round 2, Cycle 2, Day 8-10 (Mon-Wed, 2/5-7/07)
I can’t believe it’s Wednesday already. Went to Dr L’s office for blood work and office visit on Monday, and today I went in just for blood work. Also got a shot of Neulasta on Monday to help build WBC’s.
* WBC’s (White Blood Count) have come up from 3.8 to 23.1 (normal: 4.8 to 10.8)
* RBC’s (Red Blood Count) have stayed about the same: 3.78 to 3.61 (4.7 to 6.1)
* PLT’s (Platelets) have dropped even lower from 67 to 28 (130 to 400)
* HGB (Hemoglobin) are still low 11.3 to 11.0 (14.0 to 18.0)
So, the nurse told me that when I come in Friday I will probably have to have a Platelet infusion at the Blumenthal Cancer Center.
I’m not surprised my platelets are low. I’ve been experiencing minor nose bleeds the last couple of days. Also, this is at the same place in cycle 2 where I had a Platelet transfusion in Round 1. I just hope and pray that I won’t end up in the hospital again, as I did on New Years Eve.
Also, while at Dr L’s office this morning I weighed, and my guess is that I still have a couple pounds of retained fluids from last weeks IVs, or as is noted on my chart “from aggressive hydration”.
Generally, I’m feeling okay, except that my legs are sluggish. Each day is a new day, and strength increases accordingly. God did a good job of designing the body to heal itself, and then He gave us doctors to help a little more. Thank You Lord!
That’s it for this day. Thank you for your prayers, emails, cards, and phone calls. God bless you all, and may God bless me, and my family, and the medical team on my case.
Blood counts have gotten even lower - Friday, February 9, 2007
Day 74-75 – Round 2, Cycle 2, Day 11-12 (Thu-Fri, 2/8-9/07)
I went to Dr L’s office this morning for more blood tests — third time this week. They were even lower. WBC: 23.1 to 1.1; RBC: 3.61 to 3.47; PLT: 28 to 7. So, at 2pm I’m going to the Blumenthal Cancer Center for a platelet transfusion.
However, I’m feeling fine. This morning I did have a nose bleed that didn’t want to stop. This was before my appointment — haven’t had a recurrence since I got home.
When I weighed this morning at Dr L’s office, my water retention problem is apparently over, because my weight was what I consider normal — and yesterday I was able get my rings back on for the first time in about 10 days. My legs don’t feel as sluggish as they did on Wednesday.
That’s it for this day. Thank you for your prayers, emails, cards, and phone calls. God bless you all, and may God bless me, and my family, and the medical team on my case.
Another good day - Saturday, February 10, 2007
Day 76 – Round 2, Cycle 2, Day 13 (Sat, 2/10/07)
Yesterday @ 2pm I went to the Blumenthal Cancer Center for my platelet infusion. Including driving time it took about 2 1/2 hours, but the actual infusion took 45 minutes. I am to return there Sunday after church for blood tests, and depending on the results, another platelet infusion. Good news is that they are located diagonally across the intersection from our church — hard to get much closer than that.
Today I’m feeling fine. Got an email from a “cousin” that I didn’t know I had — actually a 1st cousin twice removed (and if you don’t know what that means, you can check it out on my website at http://tevern.us/genealogy/Cousins/). Turns out my cousin grew up in Sioux City, went to school at Iowa State, moved to St. Louis, and now lives in Hickory, NC — looks like we’ve been on a parallel course.
When things are going well, there is not much to write about, so.
That’s it for this day. Thank you for your prayers, emails, cards, and phone calls. God bless you all, and may God bless me, and my family, and the medical team on my case.
Today marks the end of 11 weeks of treatment - Sunday, February 11, 2007
Day 77 – Round 2, Cycle 2, Day 14 (Sun, 2/11/07)
Today marks the end of 11 weeks of treatment. After church I went to the BCC and they checked my blood, and while my platelets were higher than Friday (17 vs 7) they were below the doctors threshold of 20, so I got another bag of platelets. Meanwhile my WBC is down to 0.3, which means the only defense I have against infections is the medicines that I’m taking. So, I think I’m going to go into seclusion for a couple more days — except for appointments with Dr L and Dr H this week.
How do I feel? Well, I’m starting to feel a little winded again – probably because of low RBC (2.93) and Hemoglobin (9.0).
But, I try to keep a positive attitude and I do (really) look forward to taking another CT Scan (with that awful tasting contrast media) this week to see who is winning this battle, the cancer or me? Six weeks ago we got the good news that the cancer had lost half of its mass. I pray (and ask for your prayer) that this time it will be greatly reduced — or maybe even gone. The end of this coming week will mark the halfway point in my treatment, but I would not be disappointed if they decided they need only 3 rounds of treatment, instead of 4 — if you know what I mean.
That’s it for this day. Thank you for your prayers, emails, cards, and phone calls. God bless you all, and may God bless me, and my family, and the medical team on my case.
How would I spend my time if I didn’t have Doctor Appointments? - Monday, February 12, 2007
Day 78 – Round 2, Cycle 2, Day 15 (Mon, 2/12/07)
Went to see Dr L this morning to talk about futures. Got 4 appointments out of that — guess that is what is in my future. Been feeling a little winded again the last couple of days, so…
Tuesday I go back to BCC to get a Blood transfusion (the red blood cell type).
Wednesday I come back to get some more blood tests, and in the afternoon I already had an appointment with Dr H, my cardiologist.
Thursday I go, as an outpatient, to the hospital for a PET Scan. Dr L says that a PET is better than a CT Scan at this point. CT Scan would show the size of the lymph node, but not whether or not it is active, and there may be dead cancer cells around the lymph node that have not been flushed out of the body yet. The PET Scan will show activity of cancer cells, if there are any left.
Next Monday, back to Dr L’s office, to review the PET Scan, and if the blood work is okay, continue on with round 3. He indicated that he is a little concerned about my blood, and that if it wasn’t better by next Monday, we may have to delay treatment for a week. I have mixed feelings about that.
That’s it for this day. Thank you for your prayers, emails, cards, and phone calls. God bless you all, and may God bless me, and my family, and the medical team on my case.
Got my fix of Red Blood today - Tuesday, February 13, 2007
Day 79 – Round 2, Cycle 2, Day 16 (Tue, 2/13/07)
Got a surprise visit from a good friend of mine today. He brought me lunch from Chick-Fil-A. Unfortunately, I had to leave before lunch to go to the BCC to get some Red Blood, but I did take along the sandwich — it was good.
Got 2 bags of blood, each taking about 2 hours in infuse. Hopefully that will increase my RBC and my Hemoglobin. Will find out in the morning when I go back to Dr L’s office for a blood test.
Oh, yes, make a note — last night was first night that I slept through the entire night since I got home from the hospital — at my age that is unusual, and a night to remember.
Other than going to BCC, not much else to report on.
That’s it for this day. Thank you for your prayers, emails, cards, and phone calls. God bless you all, and may God bless me, and my family, and the medical team on my case.