Friday, February 20, 2009
Wow what a response I’ve gotten to my blog attempts.
Sorry I got a little carried away with the kitty and knitting stuff….but that’s what happened. …I was tired and waiting for the doc and playing with the computer.
We are both experiencing “chemo brain.”
Back to the real important stuff “DOUG”
Doug did really great yesterday…chemo was started up again……Revlimid/Dex/Velcade accompanied by anti nausea med that is supposed to last several days ??? it doesn’t
Doug is still doing OK today, but he has the hiccups.
Overall yesterday was a little better.
Doug feels good enough to complain about wanting to go home.
He walked a lot yesterday and this morning the physical therapist let him walk without the walker and he did fine so physical therapy is done with him. (for now) ( for good I hope )
He is not connected to any continual IV fluids.
He has a dual port in his arm called a “pic line” so when he does need IV meds they just connect him to the pump or inject the meds into the port.
The dexamethasone steroid doses as part of his chemo treatment always give him hiccups, but when you are in the hospital I guess you are more focused on your symptoms and they are more painful and annoying.
Talked to Dr. Costa last night after midnight.
Since Doug is feeling better he wants to make sure it lasts….and try adjusting/ tweaking a few things this weekend before any talk of going home….plus we have to see how he reacts to the chemo….& hope it doesn’t reverse the improvement.
There are several things that could have contributed to Doug’s improvement.
Antibiotics were stopped…the doc commented that it is amazing how sick antibiotics can make one.
Marinol, was switched for a different appetite stimulant, Megase…it seems to work :)
Doug got two units of blood.
Plus Doug’s sodium is still low so he is on fluid restrictions, only 1000 mls per day…so I try to make those fluids count….gatorade, whole milk, V-8….since he won’t drink the nutritional supplements L
His platelets are low so he has lots of bruises even though he has not fallen lately….I accidentally nicked his big toe nail while trimming his nails and I thought he would bleed to death….it took forever and many stacks of gauze pads before it finally stopped…..I thought the nurses were going to kick me out for injuring his toe…..plus I felt really bad :(
His white blood cells are low so he has to be careful of infection etc….he has to wear a mask if he walks out of the room…and we’re supposed to wear masks while in the room……but not everyone follows that rule…..I don’t…..I just make sure I wash my hands before I touch him and don’t cough or sneeze in his direction….the nurses take care of us….they really did send me home for a day because I “looked like I had fever”
He had a CAT scan of his sinuses this morning to see if that is the source of a constant nagging headache….no results yet…..but if it is like all the other tests and retests they have done the result will be nothing of significance :) so he will continue to get Morphine when he complains about his head.
I think he requests the morphine as a sleep aid since they took the Ambian off the list when he was in ICU.
The explanation was that it is a depressant and would interfere with everything else they were trying to accomplish…..getting him back “on his feet”
I wish they would take the morphine off the meds list !
He is on so many pills and injections even I can’t keep track of them all: sodium tablets, magnesium, Midodrine, Megase, protonics…..
The hiccups &/or the chemo are making him nauseated….so I guess he won’t be sending me out to get a Chili’s supper to go today…..I thought we might try Olive Garden to go this evening….oh well.
Plus he begged for the hiccup medicine and the nurses gave in and gave him phenergan the stuff that makes him hallucinate and makes him so weak he can’t stand….I negotiated a smaller dose by mouth instead of by IV…..but it has him knocked out now….. He also started complaining about the nausea & pain…an “8” and so he is back on IV Zofran, phenergan and morphine.……what a step backwards :( what a way to end what started out looking to be a good day :(
We’ve had company today: Judy, Tommie & Sharon, Ray & Wanda so far.
They were all amazed at what an improvement Doug has made. And Doug was really “Up” while they were here.
So keep on visiting, we both love seeing everyone.
Later,
NMG
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
No comments:
Post a Comment