Easy Week

Jeff was still feeling a little foggy when we left the doctor last Tuesday. By Wednesday he was feeling better.  By the weekend he told me he felt pretty much normal. That was more than we could hope for because the doctor told him to expect about a 5% decrease from feeling his best between each treatment. He said he would probably only get to feeling about 95% before he started his next treatment. Then following that one, probably only about 90% of his normal until he started the next set.  I am pleasantly suprised that Jeff is feeling normal.

 

I'm not sure if I've ever said here or not. Jeff's treatment schedule is every 28 days. He will have 3 days of chemo then 25 days "off" before he starts the cycle again. He will do this for a total of 6 treatments.

 

His next set of treatments will start on March 7. He will get treatment the 7, 8, and 9 then start the days of no treatment.  As long as his blood counts stay high enough and nothing goes wrong, his last treatment will fall the last week in June.

 

I think the best thing right now is no trips to any doctors for 2.5 weeks. We haven't gone that long since his first surgery on Dec 2 without seeing a doctor of some kind. I could get used to this! Of course, I'm sure one of the kids will get sick so that I have to eat those words, but for now, there is nothing on my calander and I like that!

 

 

Post chemo doctor visit

Jeff had a post chemo doctor visit on Tuesday (I know, I'm being horrible at keeping everyone up to date. I'm sorry.)

 

For this visit, we have to arrive an hour early, he has blood drawn and then we wait while they do the  blood work. Doctor's apt is scheduled for 1 hour after blood draw is scheduled. The blood work all came back ok.

 

When the doctor looked at Jeff he was really suprised. He said he could tell just by looking at him that the chemo was working already. The nodes in his neck are not as visible as they were before! When he felt them, he was even more impressed by what he did and did not feel. He was very impressed by the progress already and said that while he expected good results, he honestly did not expect them this early.  He was pleased Jeff only had minor stomach discomfort and was glad he was taking the one med for that.

 

Saturday and Sunday were probably the roughest days for Jeff. He said he just didn't feel right and felt crappy. Once he had a few of the compazine in his system, he started feeling better. He didn't take any after 1pm on Monday and has been fine since. At least as far as that.

 

Jeff was somewhat disappointed there is nothing to help his main complaint. He said he felt "fuzzy" and "cloudy in the head. The doctor reassured him during the apt at noon that it was very normal to feel that way and that he was sure the feeling would soon go away. By Tuesday night it was gone! Jeff has said he feels pretty much normal since that time.

 

Because his blood work is fine and all else seems okay at this point, we don't have to do anything else until he goes back for his next round of chemo on March 7.  This will be the longest time frame without a trip to Titusville or Meadville (mostly Meadville) since we got the diagnosis.  We plan to enjoy it!

Love the Center

Okay, that title probably sounds way off. And if I'm honest with myself and the rest of you, I hate that we have to be there.

But the center is set up so nice. Everyone is so friendly.

And our nurse just called again to make sure the shot went okay yesterday and that Jeff is feeling okay. Also to reassure that if we have any problems over the weekend, there is a doctor on call- and lucky for us this weekend it is Jeff's doctor.

It is amazing what one phone call saying 'just checking he's okay today' from the staff can do.

Finally an update

I guess I should have written last week. I just didn't get it done. Of course, there really wasn't much to share anyway!

 

Jeff and I drove to Meadville last Tuesday morning in the horrible snow- using his car to plow a path- to get to the hospital. They put a Power Port in his chest. Surgery went well with no complications. So far, everything is looking good there. Our main gripe was having to be there at 545am (yes, you read that right! I don't do that time of the day very well!) To make matters worse, he didn't go to surgery until almost 930! He was back in his curtian, awake and drinking coffee by 1015.

 

Later after we got home, his nurse from the oncology center called and told me that she had talked to his doctor and her nurse manager. She was about to call our pharmacy and check on the one drug. It was probably about 20 minutes later (if that long) until she called back and told me that the doctor has agreed, the pharmacy can get, insurance will pay for, and I can give his Neulasta! One less trip to Meadville! I'm not sure Jeff is thrilled that I'll be giving him his shot, but it will save him 2 hours! (we figure the cost for our copay is approximately what we would pay in gas to drive over there.) I honestly was not expecting that!  How nice of M to remember I mentioned during her teaching that it was a shame I couldn't give it to him since I was an RN. Then to go to the trouble of finding out and calling us to tell us. It just struck me as kind of above and beyond what needed to be done.

 

There, now you are caught up. HA HA HA!

 

WEDNESDAY--

 

Okay, thought I'd do a better job  but I didn't follow through.

 

Monday we arrived for chemo at 900 and didn't leave until 430. That was a LLLOOOOONNNGGG day.  The drug needs to be started slowly and if you tolerate it, it is increased each half an hour. Jeff did good until the end of the first hour and a half. Then he started feeling cool. By the time he went to the bathroom and came back (they pump A LOT of fluid in with his drugs!) he was starting to shiver. So, the meds needed stopped, he got some demerol and after 30 minutes they restarted the drip. That time he was able to keep going and finish the drug.

 

Tuesday we went over at 900 and left around 230. We had the nurse that is to be his normal nurse that day (she had to help in another area on Monday.) Before he can even start that drug, they have to give him a full liter of fluid over 2 hours. Then there is about 5 pre-chemo drgus he has to get including benadryl, zantac and a steriod plus two to prevent nausea. Fianlly he can start the chemo drug itself. It takes an hour (another 570 ml.) He had no problems with anything on Tuesday.

 

Today was the same as yesterday. the only difference is that he doesn't have to get the two drugs for the nausea since they are supposed to last for 3 and 5 days. That means that on Wednesday we get out around 130!  Still a long day. But we stopped at Cracker Barrel on the way home- I'm still stuffed.

 

Everyone is SO nice. Each patient is assigned a nurse but the others are right there. There are about 6 of them I think. They all jump in and do what needs done when a pump goes off. And man, there are pumps going off all the time because someone  is finishing some part of treatment all the time. 

 

There are 12 chemo chairs and 2 private treatment rooms. Today there was some trouble with the labs not coming back very fast which put some patients treatments later. So, new patients were coming in before the first ones were done. There is an extra sitting area in the back that had a patient in it and one in one of the private areas.  Lots and lots of different patients in and of course, as soon as one left, a new one was in that chair.

 

There is a small kitchen type area with snack foods for the patients - coffee, tea, juices, chips, pretzles, cookies, danishes. When volunteers are in, they walk through with snacks every so often. The nurses also do it when they have time. Or, I am free to go back and get something for Jeff and I whenever we want/need something.

 

So, Jeff gets to sit in his little recliner and make me serve him. Hope he didn't get used to it, because it won't happen at home! LOL!

 

Other than that reaction to the first med (which is very common and the reason it takes so long to give), Jeff has felt fine. He did have some heartburn last night and they wrote for another perscription. He's already throwing a fit about the increase in pills, but at least most of them are temporary.  Poor guy was taking nothing then 6 months ago starts taking something for his blood pressure and now he's up to 4 he will take regularly throughout this chemo cycle with 2-4 more a day on Tuesday - Thursday of treatment days. Plus the two he can take for nausea if he needs. So far so good on that on.

 

There is an "art director" that comes in with activities to do. yesterday he had stuff there for people to paint. Today he had a table set up for people to get things to make bracelets or necklaces.  I have taken my crocheting along. I have a couple of projects started that I'll get to finish during all this I guess. G (the art director) sets up artwork done by the patients and families. There are some quilts hanging above the nurses station. Someone just took a bunch of bears in that they made and he has them sitting in an area in the lobby. He asked for the afaghan I'm doing now. Not sure if I'll let them show it or not. 

 

There is a nurse that walks through periodically (not sure what or who she is-not a chemo nurse) that saw me crocheting and mentioned that she has asked people to crochet prayer shawls for the center. I want to finish this afaghan I'm doing and would really like to finish one I started for myself a few years ago. After that I plan to use the time to do prayer shawls while I sit there. Or maybe I'll do the prayer shawls and try to work on the valentine one at home. Or mix it up a little. Not sure.  I had looked at a book online one time for hats. Thought about sitting and doing some of them, but I saw a bunch of chemo hats in a box a the center. Prayer shawls would probably be easier anyway!  I'm just hoping all the crocheting doesn't cause my carpal tunnel to flare. I really need to get a brace for while I'm crocheting. So far I feel good though.

 

I guess that is all for now.

 

Jeff is feeling good tonight so I asked him to take the boys into scouts. I have run Clinton into town for pepband and baseball the past two nights after being with him all day. I needed to stay home. Of course, I should be using the time to do the dishes and everything else that has not gotten done the past 3 days.  Other than homework with the kids and making supper, I have literally done nothing here at home. Then again, after doing valentines with Faith and Matthew tonight, I feel like I've done TONS!

 

Thanks all for the continued prayers.