Ed had chemo treatment number 14 on December 2, 2009. Some highlights of this visit with the Physician's Assistant, Meredith, and chemo treatment are as follows:
*Ed weighed in at 187 lbs. He lost 3 pounds since his last visit two weeks ago.
*His blood pressure was a little lower than the last visit, still in the 'excellent' range.
*His blood work was all normal and good, except for the levels controlled by the
medication coumidin. Meredith said his blood was a little thick, so she increased his
coumidin from 1 and half caplets alternated every other day with 1 caplet, to 1 and
half caplets each day. Meredith said that increasing the coumidin dosage would reduce some of the swelling in his legs.
*We told Meredith that Ed had a 'tender spot' on his right side, that could be a
bruised rib from a fall he took a couple of weeks ago. She checked it out and said
the spot was too low for a bruised rib, but felt he had bruised the area. She said
she didn't feel any abnormalities in the area.
*Meredith noted once again that exercise might help Ed gain strength and mobility.
*Meredith informed us that Dr. Splichal had made notes in his chart that he wants Ed to receive
four more chemo treatments, after the one he would get this date, and have another MRI,
and then perhaps take a break from chemo. She said Ed needs a break in order to let his body
build up some strength. She did not say how long the break was. I have to remember to ask this
next visit.
The chemo treatment itself was uneventful. The nurse was able to get the IV started with the first stick, though she did put it in the crook of his wrist (on top) and he had to hold his wrist just right to keep the drip going at a nice steady flow. The biggest obstacle Ed and I run into during the day at chemo is not getting him into/out of the car, not the long waits to see doctors or get chemo started, but the trips to the bathroom. It involves getting out of the chemo chair into a wheelchair, remembering to unplug the IV pump, and Ed holding onto the IV pole and pulling it along while I am pulling/pushing him in the wheelchair, and trying to hold the restroom doors open while pushing him and the IV pole into the restroom without pulling his IV needle out, or tipping over the pole, or running into anyone, and without the door slamming on him or me, and then making his wheelchair and the IV pole all fit into the bathroom in such a way he can get to the toilet. You would think the cancer center would design the bathroom doors to stay open by themselves, or at least provide door stops. If you are lucky, a mobile patient or an extra kind nurse or aid will notice your struggle and will come to your aid by holding the door while you wrestle with the wheelchair and IV pole.
But if the worst that happens is one of us gets a door closed on us, I guess we are doing okay. And, I can certainly use the workout it gives me.
On this visit, we met a lady who had had colon cancer. Her doctor discovered a mass on her colon after several unsuccessful attempts to clear up a kidney infection. She said they removed a foot of her colon and she was taking chemo as a precaution. She said the chemo treatment had made her so sick, that she had thrown up the first time in over twenty years and that she'd had diarrhea for a week or more. She actually wasn't in for chemo this day, but to get a bag of fluids because of dehydration.
Ed is very blessed that he has had very little nausea and/or diarrhea.
We had a nice visit from Sarah, Ed's former patient rep (she has a new job there now...something to do with insurance claims, I think). It is always nice when any of the employees at the cancer treatment center takes time out of their busy days to just sit and talk about 'normal' life and stuff. She is a very sweet girl and we enjoyed our time with her.
We will be going back for Chemo Treatment No. 15 on December 16. Counting down to that next MRI. He really needs extra special prayers during this time, for the slowing or stopping of the growth of the tumor. If he is going to take a break from Chemo, we need for that tumor to stop growing and even reduce some. Please say an extra one for him today!
*Ed weighed in at 187 lbs. He lost 3 pounds since his last visit two weeks ago.
*His blood pressure was a little lower than the last visit, still in the 'excellent' range.
*His blood work was all normal and good, except for the levels controlled by the
medication coumidin. Meredith said his blood was a little thick, so she increased his
coumidin from 1 and half caplets alternated every other day with 1 caplet, to 1 and
half caplets each day. Meredith said that increasing the coumidin dosage would reduce some of the swelling in his legs.
*We told Meredith that Ed had a 'tender spot' on his right side, that could be a
bruised rib from a fall he took a couple of weeks ago. She checked it out and said
the spot was too low for a bruised rib, but felt he had bruised the area. She said
she didn't feel any abnormalities in the area.
*Meredith noted once again that exercise might help Ed gain strength and mobility.
*Meredith informed us that Dr. Splichal had made notes in his chart that he wants Ed to receive
four more chemo treatments, after the one he would get this date, and have another MRI,
and then perhaps take a break from chemo. She said Ed needs a break in order to let his body
build up some strength. She did not say how long the break was. I have to remember to ask this
next visit.
The chemo treatment itself was uneventful. The nurse was able to get the IV started with the first stick, though she did put it in the crook of his wrist (on top) and he had to hold his wrist just right to keep the drip going at a nice steady flow. The biggest obstacle Ed and I run into during the day at chemo is not getting him into/out of the car, not the long waits to see doctors or get chemo started, but the trips to the bathroom. It involves getting out of the chemo chair into a wheelchair, remembering to unplug the IV pump, and Ed holding onto the IV pole and pulling it along while I am pulling/pushing him in the wheelchair, and trying to hold the restroom doors open while pushing him and the IV pole into the restroom without pulling his IV needle out, or tipping over the pole, or running into anyone, and without the door slamming on him or me, and then making his wheelchair and the IV pole all fit into the bathroom in such a way he can get to the toilet. You would think the cancer center would design the bathroom doors to stay open by themselves, or at least provide door stops. If you are lucky, a mobile patient or an extra kind nurse or aid will notice your struggle and will come to your aid by holding the door while you wrestle with the wheelchair and IV pole.
But if the worst that happens is one of us gets a door closed on us, I guess we are doing okay. And, I can certainly use the workout it gives me.
On this visit, we met a lady who had had colon cancer. Her doctor discovered a mass on her colon after several unsuccessful attempts to clear up a kidney infection. She said they removed a foot of her colon and she was taking chemo as a precaution. She said the chemo treatment had made her so sick, that she had thrown up the first time in over twenty years and that she'd had diarrhea for a week or more. She actually wasn't in for chemo this day, but to get a bag of fluids because of dehydration.
Ed is very blessed that he has had very little nausea and/or diarrhea.
We had a nice visit from Sarah, Ed's former patient rep (she has a new job there now...something to do with insurance claims, I think). It is always nice when any of the employees at the cancer treatment center takes time out of their busy days to just sit and talk about 'normal' life and stuff. She is a very sweet girl and we enjoyed our time with her.
We will be going back for Chemo Treatment No. 15 on December 16. Counting down to that next MRI. He really needs extra special prayers during this time, for the slowing or stopping of the growth of the tumor. If he is going to take a break from Chemo, we need for that tumor to stop growing and even reduce some. Please say an extra one for him today!
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