Chemo Treatment No. 7

I have been bad! I have not written about Ed's Journey in two weeks! Yesterday I went with Ed for check-up and chemo treatment. Here are some high lights of his appointment with Meredith, the Physician's Assistant:

* Ed lost two pounds since his last visit two weeks ago.

* His blood pressure was 120/70.

* All his blood counts came back good.

* His coumidin level is good. No adjustments needed on that medication.

* Dr. Splichal noted for Meredith to cut Ed's steroids in half once again. Now he is taking 2 mg
per day.

* Meredith said there is no problem with Ed taking coumidin and eating all the green vegetables he wants. His blood is checked every other week, so they will know if something has gone awry and will adjust his coumidin if needed.

I explained to Meredith that Ed has begun to experience some nausea and loss of appetite since his last visit. Also, he has weakness and shortness of breath. Meredith explained that as Ed gets more and more of the chemo drugs in his body, his weakness will increase and his appetite will continue to lessen. He has got to try very hard to continue eating well and drinking fluids. This has become a struggle, especially the taking in fluids part. My mama is getting quite frustrated with this, as she always tries to coax him to eat and drink. In the past, that really hasn't been a very big problem, now each day she reports it is getting harder and harder to convince him to eat and drink enough.

Meredith said cutting back on the steroids is not what is making him weak, in fact, taking large doses of steroids over a long period of time is harmful and will make you weak. We are hoping as he weans off steroids that some of his strength will return. Steroids do increase the appetite. Therefore; she does feel like coming off the steroids do play some part in his loss of appetite, or at least diminishing of his appetite.

There were a couple of days near the end of last week that Ed was dragging his right leg and having trouble getting out of bed even with assistance, and had to go back to using his wheel chair a couple of days. But then his strength came back in a small surge and he is now using his walker again.

Dr. S and Meredith have stressed the importance of good nutrition, plenty of fluid intake, some exercise, and sufficient sleep to keep his strength up.

Ed seems to have headaches more frequently...the tumor has decreased in size, so what is causing the headaches??? According to drug info, his Lyrica and/or Dilantin may be causing the headaches...not to mention the chemicals he receives every other week in chemo. He does take Tylenol, Lortab or Morphine, depending on how severe the headache is at any given time.

This Sunday, me and my brother and step-brother are supposed to take Ed to his family reunion in Cumming...we are hoping and praying that he feels well enough to go. Ed's mama is in a nursing home there, and he has not seen her since he fell ill last year. We all feel like he needs to see her...and she him. He will have several sisters there, and their families. I am not sure his younger brother will be there, he lives in Florida and it is difficult, financially, for him and his wife to drive here sometimes.

Senator Ted Kennedy died from his glioma (brain cancer) this week. He had the same kind of cancer Ed has...but Mr. Kennedy was much older than Ed was when his tumor was detected and Mr. Kennedy's tumor was inoperable for whatever reason...perhaps his age and the location of his tumor.

Please pray for Ed to have strength and appetite in the upcoming days, weeks, months and that he is doing the right thing by choosing chemo. Ask God to be gentle with him and help him physically and emotionally. Pray that we, as his family and friends, will know how to help him. Pray for my Mama as she continues to be the main caregiver. Thanks everyone who follows Ed's Journey.