Chemo #2 Day 16
Ma seems a lot better. Her appetite is good, and she's not sleeping all the time. She even watered her orchids today. However, she has lost more weight and is down to 111 lbs. Every time I try to have her eat or drink something with protein powder, she always has an excuse. She's the same way when I ask her to walk more often around the house even though it only takes her a couple of minutes.
Thursday, July 31, 2008
Tuesday, July 29, 2008
Should I Get a Wheelchair?
Chemo #2 Day 14
Didn't visit Ma today, but she says she ate a lot of small meals, including a whole corn-on-a-cob. Her appetite is good. Her doctor prescribed Megace to help with her appetite, but she's taken it only once. That was two days ago. It helped, but she said it made her food taste mediciney (is that a word?).
I want to get Ma a comfortable chair for use at home -- either a recliner or a rocking chair. She wants to try it out first before purchasing, but we don't think she can manage the walk from the Costco entrance to the cashier area. So now I'm thinking of getting her a wheelchair. Medicare will provide a chair, but I understand it's heavy (40 lbs.). I want to get a lightweight chair. This one has good reviews and is only 15 lbs.
I've added a poll to the right. Please vote. Can you recommend a wheelchair? Should I even get one?
Didn't visit Ma today, but she says she ate a lot of small meals, including a whole corn-on-a-cob. Her appetite is good. Her doctor prescribed Megace to help with her appetite, but she's taken it only once. That was two days ago. It helped, but she said it made her food taste mediciney (is that a word?).
I want to get Ma a comfortable chair for use at home -- either a recliner or a rocking chair. She wants to try it out first before purchasing, but we don't think she can manage the walk from the Costco entrance to the cashier area. So now I'm thinking of getting her a wheelchair. Medicare will provide a chair, but I understand it's heavy (40 lbs.). I want to get a lightweight chair. This one has good reviews and is only 15 lbs.
I've added a poll to the right. Please vote. Can you recommend a wheelchair? Should I even get one?
Monday, July 28, 2008
More Alert
Chemo #2 Day 13
Ma seemed so much better today. I think it's simply because she didn't take Darvocet and therefore wasn't sleeping all the time. The catheter in her chest still gives her occasional pain. I told her to try Tylenol next time it hurts so that she's not so drowsy during the day. That'll also take away her excuse for not walking around the house more often.
Ma seemed so much better today. I think it's simply because she didn't take Darvocet and therefore wasn't sleeping all the time. The catheter in her chest still gives her occasional pain. I told her to try Tylenol next time it hurts so that she's not so drowsy during the day. That'll also take away her excuse for not walking around the house more often.
Sunday, July 27, 2008
Massage
Chemo #2 Day 12
Yeah, I know. I skipped a day.
We've switched Ma to eating several small meals a day. Her stomach seems to be handling it better. Her diarrhea is still bad though. I'm not sure if Ensure makes it worse. At the hospital, drinking Ensure guaranteed an immediate trip to the bathroom.
Ma's friend and hairdresser Auring came over. She did Ma's nails and massaged her legs and feet. Then she massaged her head. Ma really liked that part. Auring said she'll come over every other day to give Ma a massage. They also spent a lot of time chatting. Ma seemed to enjoy her visit. Auring is so nice. She's the one who brought lots of home-cooked food to the hospital including some fried bangus for me because I said I liked it.
Yeah, I know. I skipped a day.
We've switched Ma to eating several small meals a day. Her stomach seems to be handling it better. Her diarrhea is still bad though. I'm not sure if Ensure makes it worse. At the hospital, drinking Ensure guaranteed an immediate trip to the bathroom.
Ma's friend and hairdresser Auring came over. She did Ma's nails and massaged her legs and feet. Then she massaged her head. Ma really liked that part. Auring said she'll come over every other day to give Ma a massage. They also spent a lot of time chatting. Ma seemed to enjoy her visit. Auring is so nice. She's the one who brought lots of home-cooked food to the hospital including some fried bangus for me because I said I liked it.
Friday, July 25, 2008
More Drugs
Chemo #2 Day 10
Ma had a follow-up appointment today with her oncologist Dr. Irwin. I told him about the side effects she was having, and we went home with three prescriptions:
Dr. Irwin will be on vacation when Ma has her next chemo, so he wants to see her again next Friday instead of waiting till he gets back. She'll have a blood test done before her next appointment.
On the way home, we got some food -- fried quail, pusit, lechon kawali and ginatan. Ma went straight to bed though.
When she got up after 6pm, she complained about not feeling well. Pa listened to her lung and decided to drain her through her catheter again. Only 250 ml came out though. She usually gets drained just once a day, and typically 500-700 ml of fluid comes out.
Soon after getting drained, Ma threw up. I'm not sure if the vomiting was due to her chemo or indigestion. She went back to bed afterwards. When I left the house after 9:30pm, she was still asleep and hadn't had dinner yet.
Ma had a follow-up appointment today with her oncologist Dr. Irwin. I told him about the side effects she was having, and we went home with three prescriptions:
- A mouthwash cocktail of Lidocaine, Nystatin, Benadryl and Maalox for mouth sores
- Lomotil for diarrhea (stronger than Imodium)
- Megace to enhance appetite
Dr. Irwin will be on vacation when Ma has her next chemo, so he wants to see her again next Friday instead of waiting till he gets back. She'll have a blood test done before her next appointment.
On the way home, we got some food -- fried quail, pusit, lechon kawali and ginatan. Ma went straight to bed though.
When she got up after 6pm, she complained about not feeling well. Pa listened to her lung and decided to drain her through her catheter again. Only 250 ml came out though. She usually gets drained just once a day, and typically 500-700 ml of fluid comes out.
Soon after getting drained, Ma threw up. I'm not sure if the vomiting was due to her chemo or indigestion. She went back to bed afterwards. When I left the house after 9:30pm, she was still asleep and hadn't had dinner yet.
Thursday, July 24, 2008
More Weight Loss
Chemo #2 Day 9
Ma's weight is down to 113. It was 120 when she left the hospital three weeks ago. Even though she's eating, it's just not enough. We keep telling her to eat more protein, but she prefers carbs. She can barely finish a small bottle of Ensure per day.
She still has pain but not due to the chemo. The catheter in her chest is what's giving her pain.
No more nausea. Diarrhea's still there. So are the mouth sores -- three of them, one under the tongue. No fever.
Ma's weight is down to 113. It was 120 when she left the hospital three weeks ago. Even though she's eating, it's just not enough. We keep telling her to eat more protein, but she prefers carbs. She can barely finish a small bottle of Ensure per day.
She still has pain but not due to the chemo. The catheter in her chest is what's giving her pain.
No more nausea. Diarrhea's still there. So are the mouth sores -- three of them, one under the tongue. No fever.
Wednesday, July 23, 2008
Body Pain
Chemo #2 Day 8
I didn't see Ma again today. But according to her,
I didn't see Ma again today. But according to her,
- Her whole body was very painful. Tito Lum couldn't find her Darvocet, and they had to call Pa to come home and find it. The bottle is now well-marked.
- Pa relented and got her lidocaine gel for her mouth. I don't know if this is over-the-counter. The kind I wanted him to get is prescription-strength liquid xylocaine that you can mix equal parts with Maalox or Mylanta and swish around your mouth.
- She no longer gets nausea.
- Her appetite still isn't good, but she can manage small amounts of food.
Tuesday, July 22, 2008
Mouth Sores
Chemo #2 Day 7
I didn't see her today, but Ma said she doesnt have any appetite. Her mouth sores are also bothering her. Pa refuses to get her liquid lidocaine to swish around her mouth and relieve the pain.
I didn't see her today, but Ma said she doesnt have any appetite. Her mouth sores are also bothering her. Pa refuses to get her liquid lidocaine to swish around her mouth and relieve the pain.
Monday, July 21, 2008
Drowsy
Chemo #2 Day 6
Drowsiness is a side effect of Compazine (for nausea) and Darvocet (for pain). Ma took both today, so she spent most of the day sleeping. Her mouth sores are bothering her, but she was able to eat.
Drowsiness is a side effect of Compazine (for nausea) and Darvocet (for pain). Ma took both today, so she spent most of the day sleeping. Her mouth sores are bothering her, but she was able to eat.
Sunday, July 20, 2008
Lots of Side Effects
Chemo #2 Day 5
Ma slept most of the day today. But she experienced a lot of side effects.
The nausea and vomiting happened this evening after dinner and didn't last long. She went to bed after taking Compazine, and it looks like she's feeling better now. She had been taking Zofran to control the nausea, but she's supposed to take it for only 3 days, and it's now the 4th day.
Ma slept most of the day today. But she experienced a lot of side effects.
The nausea and vomiting happened this evening after dinner and didn't last long. She went to bed after taking Compazine, and it looks like she's feeling better now. She had been taking Zofran to control the nausea, but she's supposed to take it for only 3 days, and it's now the 4th day.
Saturday, July 19, 2008
Leg Pain
Chemo #2 Day 4
The only new development today is some pain in Ma's lower thigh. She had similar pain after her first chemo. She took Darvocet this time, and it's enough to keep the pain under control.
Ma has been coughing occasionally. I'm guessing it's due to the pleural effusion.
The only new development today is some pain in Ma's lower thigh. She had similar pain after her first chemo. She took Darvocet this time, and it's enough to keep the pain under control.
Ma has been coughing occasionally. I'm guessing it's due to the pleural effusion.
Friday, July 18, 2008
Losing Appetite
Chemo #2 Day 3
Ma is starting to lose her appetite. She'll eat a few bites of food, then stop. She won't even force herself to drink a small bottle of Ensure.
One thing she has to do is drink 2-3 quarts of water a day for several days after each chemo treatment to flush the drugs out. I have to keep reminding her to drink. She drank less than 2 quarts of water today, but she did have some soup and some Ensure. I suppose those can be included in her fluid intake.
Another thing she needs to keep doing is light exercise. The extent of her exercise is to walk a loop from the kitchen to the living room to the front entry and back to the kitchen. Yes, it's a very short walk, but at least she's moving.
Ma is starting to lose her appetite. She'll eat a few bites of food, then stop. She won't even force herself to drink a small bottle of Ensure.
One thing she has to do is drink 2-3 quarts of water a day for several days after each chemo treatment to flush the drugs out. I have to keep reminding her to drink. She drank less than 2 quarts of water today, but she did have some soup and some Ensure. I suppose those can be included in her fluid intake.
Another thing she needs to keep doing is light exercise. The extent of her exercise is to walk a loop from the kitchen to the living room to the front entry and back to the kitchen. Yes, it's a very short walk, but at least she's moving.
Add Another $273K
The hospital bill from Doctors Medical (DMC) is $273K. Add that to the $222K from Summit, and the total so far is $495K. Neither amount includes doctors' fees.
Of the $273K charged by DMC, $224K was disallowed. Only $49K was paid by insurance, and Pa has to pay about $800.
Of the $273K charged by DMC, $224K was disallowed. Only $49K was paid by insurance, and Pa has to pay about $800.
Thursday, July 17, 2008
Neulasta Shot
Chemo #2 Day 2
Ma went back to the cancer center today to get a shot of Neulasta. While she was there, Pa and a nurse removed some of her old stitches. Apparently, most of them are not absorbable. Also, some of the incisions are infected.
Ma went back to the cancer center today to get a shot of Neulasta. While she was there, Pa and a nurse removed some of her old stitches. Apparently, most of them are not absorbable. Also, some of the incisions are infected.
Wednesday, July 16, 2008
Chemo Resumes
Chemo #2 Day 1
Ma resumed her chemo today. She had the usual stuff. Everything was given through her IV except for the Benadryl pill:
I forgot to remind Ma to put some Lidocaine cream over her port. It hurt when the nurse inserted the needle.
The infusion center is rather small. It has two private rooms and 6 recliners. Only first-timers get a private room. Ma had to settle for a recliner. The recliners are very close together, maybe 2-2.5' apart. It's a bit cramped.
Ma has a little pus where her catheter enters her buddy. I don't know if I should be worried. Pa says it's starting to clear up.
Ma resumed her chemo today. She had the usual stuff. Everything was given through her IV except for the Benadryl pill:
- Saline IV
- Benadryl for allergy to the chemo drugs
- Pepcid for heartburn (side effect of chemo)
- Decadron for nausea and allergy
- Taxotere (chemo)
- Cytoxan (chemo)
I forgot to remind Ma to put some Lidocaine cream over her port. It hurt when the nurse inserted the needle.
The infusion center is rather small. It has two private rooms and 6 recliners. Only first-timers get a private room. Ma had to settle for a recliner. The recliners are very close together, maybe 2-2.5' apart. It's a bit cramped.
Ma has a little pus where her catheter enters her buddy. I don't know if I should be worried. Pa says it's starting to clear up.
Tuesday, July 15, 2008
Summary of Hospital Stay
For those of you who missed it and don't want to read a month's worth of posts, this is what happened during Ma's hospital stay.
- Ma went to the emergency room with shortness of breath on June 1st. Her pleural effusion (fluid in the lung) had returned. She was admitted to the hospital for treatment.
- The pulmonologist inserted a chest tube to drain her lung and did a pleurodesis to keep the pleural effusion from coming back.
- Ma's lung collapsed. It was reinflated, but she was sedated and kept on a ventilator in the ICU for several days.
- The pleurodesis did not work. Her lung kept producting fluid.
- She was transferred to another hospital for surgery. The surgery was for a video-assisted pleurodesis. It didn't work. She had two large chest tubes draining her lung, and they kept draining a liter a day.
- The surgeon did the same surgery a second time hoping it would work. It didn't.
- The large chest tubes were removed and a smaller catheter inserted so that Ma can go home.
- Ma went home on July 4th after 33 days in the hospital. Pa has to drain her chest through the catheter every day.
- The consensus is that the fluid build-up is caused by the breast cancer, and the doctors hope that chemotherapy will make the pleural effusion stop.
- Ma resumes her chemo tomorrow.
Saturday, July 12, 2008
$222,228.60
That's what Summit says it cost for Ma's hospital stay. The figure doesn't include doctors' fees. It also doesn't include the stay at Doctors Medical Center. My guess is the final tally will be over $500K. Thank goodness for Medicare and supplemental insurance. Pa said he doesn't have to pay a deductible or even a co-pay.
Friday, July 11, 2008
Cancer vs. Cirrhosis
Ma has visited her oncologist (Dr. Irwin) and pulmonologist (Dr. Majid) back at Doctors Medical Center. In addition, Pa has consulted with a GI doctor at the same hospital. They all think the pleural effusion is due to the cancer, not the cirrhosis. The only treatment they can suggest is to continue with the chemo. Ma resumes her chemo on Wednesday, July 16.
Saturday, July 5, 2008
Home on the 4th of July
Ma went home yesterday. Her catheter had to be drained twice. Although I believe she produces 2L of fluid a day, only 650 ml came out the first time she was drained and 500 ml the second time. Draining is a painful process for her despite the Darvocet. The pain is supposed to subside in a few days.
Kuya Richard and Ryan stopped by with pancit malabon. Ma couldn't resist eating some right away. She really should eat more protein though. Ensure & Boost & Glucerna drinks give her diarrhea. I got her some Glucerna bars, and those she can tolerate.
Some stats:
33 days in the hospital
2 hospital admissions
8 hospital rooms occupied
3 pleurodeses (none of them worked)
2 surgeries
7 chest incisions
11 days in ICU
5 days on ventilator
1 bed sore
12 lbs. lost
This will be my last post for a while. Thanks for reading.
Kuya Richard and Ryan stopped by with pancit malabon. Ma couldn't resist eating some right away. She really should eat more protein though. Ensure & Boost & Glucerna drinks give her diarrhea. I got her some Glucerna bars, and those she can tolerate.
Some stats:
33 days in the hospital
2 hospital admissions
8 hospital rooms occupied
3 pleurodeses (none of them worked)
2 surgeries
7 chest incisions
11 days in ICU
5 days on ventilator
1 bed sore
12 lbs. lost
This will be my last post for a while. Thanks for reading.
Friday, July 4, 2008
Second Chest Tube Out
The Pleurx was installed yesterday. We asked the nurse to make sure Ma doesn't feel any pain from the procedure, and she didn't. Afterwards, the PA removed Ma's second chest tube. She felt some pain despite the morphine, but Darvocet took care of it.
This morning the nurses showed Pa how to drain Ma's catheter. They did it too early, before I arrived at the hospital, but I have a DVD and instruction manual on how to do it.
Ma is going home today. We've started packing and are just waiting for the discharge papers.
This morning the nurses showed Pa how to drain Ma's catheter. They did it too early, before I arrived at the hospital, but I have a DVD and instruction manual on how to do it.
Ma is going home today. We've started packing and are just waiting for the discharge papers.
Thursday, July 3, 2008
Pleurx Pleural Catheter
As I mentioned the previous night, Ma's fluid output wasn't as bad as last week's. However, that changed overnight. In the 12-hour period from 8pm-8am, 1100 ml of fluid was drained from her. She must have put out 2L yesterday.
Today she will have a Pleurx catheter installed in her so that she can go home. A nurse or PA (physician's assistant) will teach us how to drain the catheter. At the rate she's going, we may have to drain it twice a day. No official word yet on when she can go home, but maybe in a day or two.
Today she will have a Pleurx catheter installed in her so that she can go home. A nurse or PA (physician's assistant) will teach us how to drain the catheter. At the rate she's going, we may have to drain it twice a day. No official word yet on when she can go home, but maybe in a day or two.
Tuesday, July 1, 2008
One Month Anniversary
Ma was first admitted to the hospital on June 1st. Today is her one month anniversary. It's not a happy milestone, but the end is in sight. One of her chest tubes was taken out today. Good thing, too, because I had accidentally knocked over the canister that the tube drains into. Oops! The nurses reassured me they had all done the same thing at one time or another.
I had misgivings about the PA (physician's assistant) removing the tube instead of the surgeon, but she did it quickly and painlessly. I had asked her to give Ma morphine before the procedure, and she agreed to it. With just one tube left in her, Ma's pain should lessen.
With the other tube gone, the remaining tube has started draining more than usual. It's nothing compared to last week though. If the second tube is removed tomorrow, Ma could be discharged by Thursday. But don't listen to me. I had also predicted that Ma would be home before Kit arrived.
Ma's friend and hairdresser Auring and her husband visited two days in a row. Yesterday they brought lots of fresh fruits -- plums and apricots from their trees and two mangoes. Today they brought more plums plus some food they promised Ma - sinigang bangus, rice and eggplant. I told Auring I prefer my bangus fried, and she cooked that, too. :) Tonight Ma asked Pa to get her some fried quail from the Thai restaurant. All this food is interfering with my weight loss plans. And the nurses are probably wondering why Ma's blood sugar is so high.
I had misgivings about the PA (physician's assistant) removing the tube instead of the surgeon, but she did it quickly and painlessly. I had asked her to give Ma morphine before the procedure, and she agreed to it. With just one tube left in her, Ma's pain should lessen.
With the other tube gone, the remaining tube has started draining more than usual. It's nothing compared to last week though. If the second tube is removed tomorrow, Ma could be discharged by Thursday. But don't listen to me. I had also predicted that Ma would be home before Kit arrived.
Ma's friend and hairdresser Auring and her husband visited two days in a row. Yesterday they brought lots of fresh fruits -- plums and apricots from their trees and two mangoes. Today they brought more plums plus some food they promised Ma - sinigang bangus, rice and eggplant. I told Auring I prefer my bangus fried, and she cooked that, too. :) Tonight Ma asked Pa to get her some fried quail from the Thai restaurant. All this food is interfering with my weight loss plans. And the nurses are probably wondering why Ma's blood sugar is so high.
Slowing Down
Not much happened yesterday. Ma had nausea in the morning, but Zofran and a nap took care of it. She managed to walk just once around the unit. In the afternoon she had more pain and took a long nap.
No surgeon stopped by to check on her. But the fluids draining out of her chest are definitely diminishing. After her first surgery, the fluids coming out of one chest tube slowed down, but the other just kept going and going. This time it looks like both chest tubes are slowing down.
The pulmonologist stopped by. He didn't really have much to say. I thought we'd be seeing a liver specialist while in the hospital, but it looks like that can wait till Ma is discharged.
In the meantime, a hospital bed for Ma has been delivered to the house. We just need to find some extra long bed sheets for it. Isa's cat has been checking out the bed and has approved it.
No surgeon stopped by to check on her. But the fluids draining out of her chest are definitely diminishing. After her first surgery, the fluids coming out of one chest tube slowed down, but the other just kept going and going. This time it looks like both chest tubes are slowing down.
The pulmonologist stopped by. He didn't really have much to say. I thought we'd be seeing a liver specialist while in the hospital, but it looks like that can wait till Ma is discharged.
In the meantime, a hospital bed for Ma has been delivered to the house. We just need to find some extra long bed sheets for it. Isa's cat has been checking out the bed and has approved it.
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