Here I am again to relate how my lady is coming along with this battle. And it is that for sure. She did not have the best of nights being unable to swallow very well, but it was handled. I was only scheduled to work 4 hours today and I did not have to go in until the afternoon. Then the phone rang this morning and the nurse from the oncologist had some news. The blood test results were in and not good. The white cell count was down to almost non-existant. Darilyn has effectively been grounded. She is not to go out because her immunce system is severely comprimised. She is to stay home all weekend. They prescribed amoxcillin antibiotic to help to fight any potential infection. And if her temp gets to 100.5, I am to contact them immediately. She is also set for another blood test early monday morning.
Tonight, she is doing better. She has been in bed all day resting. She has very little appetite but she is getting her liquids. The yeast infection seems to be coming under control. She is resting now for the night. I am doing the best I can to keep the house in order and meals made. And I find I am not too bad at the routine. The things I learned as a teen have come back to me so they tasks are not foreign. I can do a decent job when I set myself to doing it.
Darilyn's daughter Barbara has been a great help as well. She lives here in the city and is quite close to us. She does all she can to take care of her mother. They are very close. she has been a comfort to me as well. The closest thing to family that I have around here. Not blood, but family. Actually closer than some blood relatives by their choices. Not my girls by the way. Or my siblings. I love you all.
There are times when I am away from the keyboard that I think of a lot of things that I would like to spend time exploring in this blog. But then I sit down at the keyboard and I can not seem to remember them. I am going to have to find a way of reminding myself about them.
Enough for now. Good evening.
Friday, November 14, 2008
Thursday, November 13, 2008
Updates, next day
Today was not a really good day either. My lady did not go to work as she was feeling poorly. Very poorly. She can hardly speak from a sore throat. And a fever of 100.3. So it was time to visit the doctor again. I stayed home as I knew she needed assistance. I took her this afternoon and the diagnosis was a yeast infection in the mouth and throat. Not an uncommon occurrence it seems for chemotherapy patients. She had such a bad throat that she could not swallow so henceforth, low on liquids in her body. It was also causing a very elevated blood pressure. 166/112. She could not take her meds to day and that had added to the problem. She was also unable to take antibiotics orally because of difficulty swallowing. Solution: IV to replenish liquids and possibly a source for antibiotics. Did not ask. Prescriptions provided to fight the yeast and something they call miracle mouth wash. It is a formulation that allows for healing of the pain and provides pain relieve and is used multiple times a day. Now she is resting and I hope it lets her get better. I had to crush the yeast med and suspend it in a glass of water, at the doctors suggestion.
Thanks TT for your message. It truly helps to know that you all are there. And to Maureen, I thank you as well. I was not aware of your looking in.
Santini, pass on something to your dear spouse from this old man. Thank you. He is a vet as well. I have sent my thank you to our little brother so I must acknowledge another of the family who has been there to give us the freedom we have.
Later
Thanks TT for your message. It truly helps to know that you all are there. And to Maureen, I thank you as well. I was not aware of your looking in.
Santini, pass on something to your dear spouse from this old man. Thank you. He is a vet as well. I have sent my thank you to our little brother so I must acknowledge another of the family who has been there to give us the freedom we have.
Later
Wednesday, November 12, 2008
Updates
I guess it is time to bring us all up to date.
Darilyn had treatment number 5 last thursday, 11/6. She is sick this week. She is the worst I have seen so far. A week after the last treatment, back in October, it kind of hit the fan. The mail order pharmacy that is contracted by the insurance company had fallen down on the job. Because of the anemia, she was to receive Procrit to self inject to cause her body to create more red blood cells. Well, they did not do it. They did not even acknowledge that she was trying to contact them about the need to fill the prescription from her oncologist. They had not supplied the other injectable medication that she requires to cause her system to begin making white cells again. I came home on thursday night from work and found her in bed looking bad with a fever. This was the 3rd day with the fever. She had to go in on friday to have a blood test so I called in sick to work and stayed home to care for her. The nurse said that she would take the blood to the lab herself and we went home. About an hour later, the nurse called and told me that Darilyn was severely anemic and needed an immediate blood transfusion. Well that kind of let it all hit the fan. I took her down the cancer center at the hospital and we got it all set up and then spent the afternood receiving 2 units of blood. I took her home and put her to bed.
The next day, she was feeling better and she got in touch with the pharmacy via email. They got back to her by phone when she informed them in the email she was tired of them messing around with her life. They were supposed to call monday morning bright and early. They did not. She sent another email and later that morning stopped in at work and let the insurance coordinator in on what was happening. Blue Cross called her that afternoon. The pharmacy called her that afternoon, after Blue Cross got in touch with them. The meds showed up the next day. She was tired and week for a few days but got stronger.
This time, it has been a week since the treatment and she is very tired and weak. She is not running a fever but she is not well. She gets up and goes to work because that is the way she is, but she comes home half way through the day. She is in bed again tonight and I am getting so tired of seeing her this way and not having anything I can do. I hope she will start feeling better. There is only one treatment left and then this is over. But damn it this is not right.
Well, there it is. The update for such as it is.
Darilyn had treatment number 5 last thursday, 11/6. She is sick this week. She is the worst I have seen so far. A week after the last treatment, back in October, it kind of hit the fan. The mail order pharmacy that is contracted by the insurance company had fallen down on the job. Because of the anemia, she was to receive Procrit to self inject to cause her body to create more red blood cells. Well, they did not do it. They did not even acknowledge that she was trying to contact them about the need to fill the prescription from her oncologist. They had not supplied the other injectable medication that she requires to cause her system to begin making white cells again. I came home on thursday night from work and found her in bed looking bad with a fever. This was the 3rd day with the fever. She had to go in on friday to have a blood test so I called in sick to work and stayed home to care for her. The nurse said that she would take the blood to the lab herself and we went home. About an hour later, the nurse called and told me that Darilyn was severely anemic and needed an immediate blood transfusion. Well that kind of let it all hit the fan. I took her down the cancer center at the hospital and we got it all set up and then spent the afternood receiving 2 units of blood. I took her home and put her to bed.
The next day, she was feeling better and she got in touch with the pharmacy via email. They got back to her by phone when she informed them in the email she was tired of them messing around with her life. They were supposed to call monday morning bright and early. They did not. She sent another email and later that morning stopped in at work and let the insurance coordinator in on what was happening. Blue Cross called her that afternoon. The pharmacy called her that afternoon, after Blue Cross got in touch with them. The meds showed up the next day. She was tired and week for a few days but got stronger.
This time, it has been a week since the treatment and she is very tired and weak. She is not running a fever but she is not well. She gets up and goes to work because that is the way she is, but she comes home half way through the day. She is in bed again tonight and I am getting so tired of seeing her this way and not having anything I can do. I hope she will start feeling better. There is only one treatment left and then this is over. But damn it this is not right.
Well, there it is. The update for such as it is.
Tuesday, October 21, 2008
Another October day
It is tuesday, October 21. It has been 5 days since the 4th chemo treatment and all is going as usual. Yesterday was the roughest for Darilyn as it always is on the 3rd day after the "nuelasta" shot that she gets to stimulate white blood cell production. It always kicks her butt but we now know what to expect. When she talked to the oncologist on thursday before the treatment, he said that she is doing very well. She is really only going through the lesser extents of the reactions that can happen from the medicines. All indications are that she is doing very well. She is a little anemic but who wouldn't be when you have all that poison put into your body to defeat the cancer cells. They are doing a blood test to determine if there is the presence of any antigens that can be released from different types of cancer cells. This is supposed to tell them something about the status of the cancer in her body. She will be getting a weekly shot of Procrit to help build up the red blood cells and fight the anemia.
She has lost most of her hair but with 7 wigs of different colors and styles, she is having a great time. There is an auburn one that is just her. The color is so great with her complexion and her eyes that it should be the color she gets from her hairdresser from now on. I vote for it.
I spent a few hours with Wade, his wife Kim, and his daughter Beatrice a short time ago. We went to the Gulfarium here in Fort Walton Beach. It is an interesting place to view some dolphins, sea lions, giant turtles and a few other forms of aquatic life. It was good to spend some time with my youngest grand daughter. I would also wish to spend a little time with my oldest granddaughter if I can ever get her to come visit. It has been too many years Erin. Bumpa would like to see you again as a young lady. I love you girl.
Nik, maybe you can send her a link to my blog so she can check in on the old man once in a while.
I am doing ok. I hope that things will break for me so that I may be able to unretire. I could use the money.
Well, it is going on 10:30 and I have to be at Wally World in the morning so I will bid you all adieu and go to bed.
Adieu
She has lost most of her hair but with 7 wigs of different colors and styles, she is having a great time. There is an auburn one that is just her. The color is so great with her complexion and her eyes that it should be the color she gets from her hairdresser from now on. I vote for it.
I spent a few hours with Wade, his wife Kim, and his daughter Beatrice a short time ago. We went to the Gulfarium here in Fort Walton Beach. It is an interesting place to view some dolphins, sea lions, giant turtles and a few other forms of aquatic life. It was good to spend some time with my youngest grand daughter. I would also wish to spend a little time with my oldest granddaughter if I can ever get her to come visit. It has been too many years Erin. Bumpa would like to see you again as a young lady. I love you girl.
Nik, maybe you can send her a link to my blog so she can check in on the old man once in a while.
I am doing ok. I hope that things will break for me so that I may be able to unretire. I could use the money.
Well, it is going on 10:30 and I have to be at Wally World in the morning so I will bid you all adieu and go to bed.
Adieu
Saturday, October 4, 2008
October 4
I know. The title is not really imaginative.
Here I sit on a saturday evening. My sweet wife is visiting with her brother and her daughter right now and I am here watching. I see she is happy and I am glad. She has had a tough week. She has had her third treatment and it is different this time. Each time is different. Her white cell count is down again this time. That is another bad thing about this time. She is going to make it. I know that. But she has days that are not good. She has had difficulty eating this week. Her system will not process food. It goes straight through. But today, it seems that maybe we have gotten past that. I sure hope so. She also had a session where she was very despondent and needed to be reassured that all will be ok. IT will be OK. And I held her and told her. I sure hope she felt better.
On top of everything else, my meds needed to be changed as well. Two weeks ago, I woke up with a pain in my left chest unlike anything else I had experienced. I went to the ER and they checked me out. I did not have a heart attack and there was no indication of any heart damage so I got to go home. I saw my cardiologist 2 days later and that is where my meds got changed. But something has changed. I now have more prevelant angina. Mostly mild, but still I have it now where I did not have it very often before. I keep my nitroglycerin prescription handy as I may need it now. I am tired more often than before also. But I am still working my usual schedule. There is the need for the money and that never ceases. There is a chance of a contract job opening up in Atlanta soon. I hope it comes about because it would provide a great deal of help.
I guess I am running on a bit. There is a lot that I have not been able to admit that was on my mind and sometimes I get it out here. Then I can deal with it. So, dear blog, thank you for allowing me to use you as a release.
Enough for now.
Here I sit on a saturday evening. My sweet wife is visiting with her brother and her daughter right now and I am here watching. I see she is happy and I am glad. She has had a tough week. She has had her third treatment and it is different this time. Each time is different. Her white cell count is down again this time. That is another bad thing about this time. She is going to make it. I know that. But she has days that are not good. She has had difficulty eating this week. Her system will not process food. It goes straight through. But today, it seems that maybe we have gotten past that. I sure hope so. She also had a session where she was very despondent and needed to be reassured that all will be ok. IT will be OK. And I held her and told her. I sure hope she felt better.
On top of everything else, my meds needed to be changed as well. Two weeks ago, I woke up with a pain in my left chest unlike anything else I had experienced. I went to the ER and they checked me out. I did not have a heart attack and there was no indication of any heart damage so I got to go home. I saw my cardiologist 2 days later and that is where my meds got changed. But something has changed. I now have more prevelant angina. Mostly mild, but still I have it now where I did not have it very often before. I keep my nitroglycerin prescription handy as I may need it now. I am tired more often than before also. But I am still working my usual schedule. There is the need for the money and that never ceases. There is a chance of a contract job opening up in Atlanta soon. I hope it comes about because it would provide a great deal of help.
I guess I am running on a bit. There is a lot that I have not been able to admit that was on my mind and sometimes I get it out here. Then I can deal with it. So, dear blog, thank you for allowing me to use you as a release.
Enough for now.
Friday, September 5, 2008
To Santini Le Fratelli, a challenge
Darilyn had her second chemo treatment yesterday. It is better this time as we have some idea what is coming. She is tired tonight, after working 10 hours, but that is a good thing. She is fighting. She has lost most of her hair now and does not want anyone to see it as she is very self concious about it. But she has 4 very beautiful wigs that are perfect. So where is the challenge? Well here it is dear family.
I watched a program on the network TV called Standup2cancer. It touched me deeply. My challenge dear sibs is to get involved and donate to them. As they said, there are 10,000 people who die every week from cancer and it is up to us, individual americans, to beat it. Many have survived, but many have not. My love may be one of those but I doubt it. But the statistical possibility is always there. So lets do our part to try to put an end to this war. We lose 500,000 americans every year in this war. WHY???? Go to standup2cancer.org and find out what you can do.
I watched a program on the network TV called Standup2cancer. It touched me deeply. My challenge dear sibs is to get involved and donate to them. As they said, there are 10,000 people who die every week from cancer and it is up to us, individual americans, to beat it. Many have survived, but many have not. My love may be one of those but I doubt it. But the statistical possibility is always there. So lets do our part to try to put an end to this war. We lose 500,000 americans every year in this war. WHY???? Go to standup2cancer.org and find out what you can do.
Thursday, August 14, 2008
After Chemo
Darilyn had her first chemo therapy on tuesday morning. She is taking 3 different drugs as well as 3 others to make her feel better while going through hell. She is taking something to help her white blood cells regenerate while fighting the chemo.
That is the chemical regimen. She is tired. She is sick. She feels like crap. And I hate it. I REALLY HATE IT. But this is what we have to do to defeat the cancer, if it can be defeated. There I said it. There are no garauntees and I could still lose this wonderful lady. And it scares the hell out of me but I won't tell her that. Not ever. I will be here for her as best I can and I just hope it is good enough. I am getting to be an old man and I can feel my body not being as strong as it once was. I have problems that could take me any time but it is not in my plan to leave her alone. But what if something happens? Who will be there for her? She needs to get thru this and I will give everything I am and have to see that she gets the chance.
Enough said.
That is the chemical regimen. She is tired. She is sick. She feels like crap. And I hate it. I REALLY HATE IT. But this is what we have to do to defeat the cancer, if it can be defeated. There I said it. There are no garauntees and I could still lose this wonderful lady. And it scares the hell out of me but I won't tell her that. Not ever. I will be here for her as best I can and I just hope it is good enough. I am getting to be an old man and I can feel my body not being as strong as it once was. I have problems that could take me any time but it is not in my plan to leave her alone. But what if something happens? Who will be there for her? She needs to get thru this and I will give everything I am and have to see that she gets the chance.
Enough said.
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