Chemo #3 Day 19
Pa usually drains about 500 ml of fluid from Ma's lung every morning. For the past week, he's been having to drain her twice a day for an average of 900 ml/day. Her oncologist had hoped that the chemo would help dry up her effusion, but it doesn't seem to have had any effect. I don't know if this is something to worry about.
Showing posts with label Chemo #3. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Chemo #3. Show all posts
Sunday, August 24, 2008
Friday, August 22, 2008
Chemo Postponed
Chemo #3 Day 17
Ma had a follow-up appointment today with her oncologist, Dr. Irwin. He suggested, and we agreed, that instead of Ma having her next chemo next Wednesday, that we postpone it for another week. That'll give her more time to recover from her recent hospital stay and to enjoy feeling better a little bit longer. She had actually gained several pounds since coming home from the hospital just three days ago. How much of that weight gain is due to fluid retention, I don't know. But Ma said her appetite is back. Food still doesn't have much flavor though.
Pa followed up on the physical therapy and found out that Ma is not eligible. The problem is due to the catheter in the chest. They don't want to be liable if anything happens during physical therapy. I told Ma to just keep walking and move her legs even while sitting down. She's out of breath walking just 100 feet, then doesn't want to try anymore. She almost fell again this afternoon.
I didn't know that the hospital left the needle in Ma's port. Not sure why they did that when her chemo wouldn't have been for at least another week. Now that it's been postponed, it made even less sense to leave the needle in. So we stopped at the infusion center to have it taken out.
We stopped at the mall on the way home just for a change of scene and to have Ma's glasses adjusted. I pushed Ma all around the mall in her new wheelchair. It was easy to push her around, and I love how lightweight it is.
Ma had a follow-up appointment today with her oncologist, Dr. Irwin. He suggested, and we agreed, that instead of Ma having her next chemo next Wednesday, that we postpone it for another week. That'll give her more time to recover from her recent hospital stay and to enjoy feeling better a little bit longer. She had actually gained several pounds since coming home from the hospital just three days ago. How much of that weight gain is due to fluid retention, I don't know. But Ma said her appetite is back. Food still doesn't have much flavor though.
Pa followed up on the physical therapy and found out that Ma is not eligible. The problem is due to the catheter in the chest. They don't want to be liable if anything happens during physical therapy. I told Ma to just keep walking and move her legs even while sitting down. She's out of breath walking just 100 feet, then doesn't want to try anymore. She almost fell again this afternoon.
I didn't know that the hospital left the needle in Ma's port. Not sure why they did that when her chemo wouldn't have been for at least another week. Now that it's been postponed, it made even less sense to leave the needle in. So we stopped at the infusion center to have it taken out.
We stopped at the mall on the way home just for a change of scene and to have Ma's glasses adjusted. I pushed Ma all around the mall in her new wheelchair. It was easy to push her around, and I love how lightweight it is.
Wednesday, August 20, 2008
A Fall
Chemo #3 Day 15
Ma fell tonight in the bathroom. She said her walker got a bit too far from her, and she fell slowly but didn't seem to have hurt herself. I heard the loud clatter as she was falling. She couldn't get up by herself though.
One improvements is that, unlike yesterday, she can now get up from her rocker by herself.
On a sad note, Isa had her cat Tiger put to sleep this afternoon. The poor kitty had been sick with liver cancer and was in pain. Isa had been injecting her with painkillers, but it was time to put her down.
Ma fell tonight in the bathroom. She said her walker got a bit too far from her, and she fell slowly but didn't seem to have hurt herself. I heard the loud clatter as she was falling. She couldn't get up by herself though.
One improvements is that, unlike yesterday, she can now get up from her rocker by herself.
On a sad note, Isa had her cat Tiger put to sleep this afternoon. The poor kitty had been sick with liver cancer and was in pain. Isa had been injecting her with painkillers, but it was time to put her down.
Tuesday, August 19, 2008
Back Home
Chemo #3 Day 14
Ma was released this morning. I was bad and didn't get to the hospital early enough. Pa had to leave the office to take Ma home. It took over two hours for her to get discharged.
Ma's leg muscles are too weak, and she can't get up by herself from her rocking chair. She can get up from the dining room chair though. And she can walk to the bathroom with her walker. I didn't make her walk through the living room for exercise. Ma said the hospital will arrange for in-home physical therapy for her.
Ma was released this morning. I was bad and didn't get to the hospital early enough. Pa had to leave the office to take Ma home. It took over two hours for her to get discharged.
Ma's leg muscles are too weak, and she can't get up by herself from her rocking chair. She can get up from the dining room chair though. And she can walk to the bathroom with her walker. I didn't make her walk through the living room for exercise. Ma said the hospital will arrange for in-home physical therapy for her.
Monday, August 18, 2008
Low Hemoglobin
Chemo #3 Day 13
Ma was dehydrated when she was admitted on Saturday so her blood test showed an inaccurate number. Once she was rehydrated, her hemoglobin count turned out to be low. She's receiving two units of blood. She may be discharged tomorrow if she feels better. Before she got the blood, she was complaining about feeling very weak. Sitting up made her feel bad. A couple of hours after she started getting blood, she felt much better.
The nurse gave Ma Megace this afternoon to stimulate her appetite. It seems to have helped. She ate very little at lunch but ate quite a bit more at dinner. She said the food also tasted better.
Her white blood cell count is down to 19, much better than the 33 on Saturday. Normal is closer to 10. Ma's oncologist said the high number is likely due to the Neulasta.
I hope the nurse doesn't forget to give her Lomotil. She needs it again.
Ma was dehydrated when she was admitted on Saturday so her blood test showed an inaccurate number. Once she was rehydrated, her hemoglobin count turned out to be low. She's receiving two units of blood. She may be discharged tomorrow if she feels better. Before she got the blood, she was complaining about feeling very weak. Sitting up made her feel bad. A couple of hours after she started getting blood, she felt much better.
The nurse gave Ma Megace this afternoon to stimulate her appetite. It seems to have helped. She ate very little at lunch but ate quite a bit more at dinner. She said the food also tasted better.
Her white blood cell count is down to 19, much better than the 33 on Saturday. Normal is closer to 10. Ma's oncologist said the high number is likely due to the Neulasta.
I hope the nurse doesn't forget to give her Lomotil. She needs it again.
Sunday, August 17, 2008
She Does Have an Infection
Chemo #3 Day 12
Ma's still in the hospital. No word on whether she can go home tomorrow. Pa said she has a urinary infection, but the nurse said it's not a UTI, so I'm not sure what she has. She's on Zosyn and Vancomycin.
Ma got annoyed with me because I keep telling her to go for a walk. She finally went, after many excuses, but the walk lasted less than 3 minutes. She decided she was tired after going barely halfway down the short hall.
Ma still has mouth sores, but they don't hurt anymore when she eats. She can't taste her food though and didn't eat much for dinner.
Ma's still in the hospital. No word on whether she can go home tomorrow. Pa said she has a urinary infection, but the nurse said it's not a UTI, so I'm not sure what she has. She's on Zosyn and Vancomycin.
Ma got annoyed with me because I keep telling her to go for a walk. She finally went, after many excuses, but the walk lasted less than 3 minutes. She decided she was tired after going barely halfway down the short hall.
Ma still has mouth sores, but they don't hurt anymore when she eats. She can't taste her food though and didn't eat much for dinner.
Saturday, August 16, 2008
Back in the Hospital
Chemo #3 Day 11
Ma has been feeling weak and had been asking Pa since yesterday to take her to the emergency room. She insisted again this morning, and Pa finally took her. Her white blood cell count (WBC) was 33.2. Normal range is 10.8 max. The doctor thinks Ma has a bad infection and decided to admit her.
It took several hours to get Ma to a room. She was still in the emergency room when I arrived even though I took my time getting to the hospital. She ended up in her old room on the telemetry floor. That's the floor where the patients are put on a wireless device that monitors their heart.
Dr. Reis, one of the pulmunologists, stopped by soon after Ma arrived in her room. He thinks there's nothing wrong with her. The weakness she feels is a side effect of the chemo. The high WBC could be due to the Neulasta shot she got on August 7, nine days ago. Also, she has no fever. She'll continue her antibiotic (Zosyn), and if she does well tomorrow, she can go home on Monday.
At the emergency room, Ma's nurse knew how to access her port, so he didn't have to use her arm to give her IV. They still used her arm to draw blood though. When I arrived in the emergency room, her antibiotic drip was done, but she was not given Heparin to ensure her port stays clear, nor was she on a saline drip to keep her line open (TKO). I insisted that Pa ask her nurse to put her on saline TKO, and the nurse had no problem doing so.
Kuya Jess, Helen, and their youngest son Jerel drove up from LA to visit Ma. That was really nice of them. Of course they expected to visit her at the house, not at the hospital. They arrived in the late afternoon with Kuya Richard and brought a box of mamons. Yum! I forgot to take photos, darn it. By the way, Monday is Kuya Jess' birthday. He turns 30 x 2. Happy birthday!
Ma had other visitors. One of the nurses upstairs was expecting Ma on her floor before they decided to change her room. She came down anyway to see how Ma's doing. The security guard downstairs, who's a patient of Pa's, also stopped by to say hello.
I left the hospital around 8:30pm after Pa came back from the house. He is staying overnight in Ma's room. There's a second bed in the room that he can use.
Ma has been feeling weak and had been asking Pa since yesterday to take her to the emergency room. She insisted again this morning, and Pa finally took her. Her white blood cell count (WBC) was 33.2. Normal range is 10.8 max. The doctor thinks Ma has a bad infection and decided to admit her.
It took several hours to get Ma to a room. She was still in the emergency room when I arrived even though I took my time getting to the hospital. She ended up in her old room on the telemetry floor. That's the floor where the patients are put on a wireless device that monitors their heart.
Dr. Reis, one of the pulmunologists, stopped by soon after Ma arrived in her room. He thinks there's nothing wrong with her. The weakness she feels is a side effect of the chemo. The high WBC could be due to the Neulasta shot she got on August 7, nine days ago. Also, she has no fever. She'll continue her antibiotic (Zosyn), and if she does well tomorrow, she can go home on Monday.
At the emergency room, Ma's nurse knew how to access her port, so he didn't have to use her arm to give her IV. They still used her arm to draw blood though. When I arrived in the emergency room, her antibiotic drip was done, but she was not given Heparin to ensure her port stays clear, nor was she on a saline drip to keep her line open (TKO). I insisted that Pa ask her nurse to put her on saline TKO, and the nurse had no problem doing so.
Kuya Jess, Helen, and their youngest son Jerel drove up from LA to visit Ma. That was really nice of them. Of course they expected to visit her at the house, not at the hospital. They arrived in the late afternoon with Kuya Richard and brought a box of mamons. Yum! I forgot to take photos, darn it. By the way, Monday is Kuya Jess' birthday. He turns 30 x 2. Happy birthday!
Ma had other visitors. One of the nurses upstairs was expecting Ma on her floor before they decided to change her room. She came down anyway to see how Ma's doing. The security guard downstairs, who's a patient of Pa's, also stopped by to say hello.
I left the hospital around 8:30pm after Pa came back from the house. He is staying overnight in Ma's room. There's a second bed in the room that he can use.
Thursday, August 14, 2008
Cold Sores Almost Healed
Chemo #3 Day 9
Ma put antibiotic ointment on the cold sores on her lips yesterday, and the sores are almost completely healed. Amazing. Her mouth sores are still there though.
She still has leg pain. She took Darvocet for it, but I told her to try Tylenol next time.
Ma says she's losing her appetite, but at least she's making an effort to eat. She says she can't taste the lasagna her friend brought over but insists she can taste the almost flavorless protein powder I added to her milk.
Ma put antibiotic ointment on the cold sores on her lips yesterday, and the sores are almost completely healed. Amazing. Her mouth sores are still there though.
She still has leg pain. She took Darvocet for it, but I told her to try Tylenol next time.
Ma says she's losing her appetite, but at least she's making an effort to eat. She says she can't taste the lasagna her friend brought over but insists she can taste the almost flavorless protein powder I added to her milk.
Wednesday, August 13, 2008
Cold Sore
Chemo #3 Day 8
I didn't see Ma today, but she said she has a sore on her lip. That's a new development and something she hasn't had before.
Ice chips help with the pain in her mouth, and she was able to eat solid food today.
Both her ankles hurt, and she needed Darvocet for the pain.
I didn't see Ma today, but she said she has a sore on her lip. That's a new development and something she hasn't had before.
Ice chips help with the pain in her mouth, and she was able to eat solid food today.
Both her ankles hurt, and she needed Darvocet for the pain.
Tuesday, August 12, 2008
Painful Mouth Sores
Chemo #3 Day 7
Ma's mouth sores are really bothering her. The lidocaine provides a little relief but not enough. She asked for soup tonight because she has difficulty chewing. The cocktail prescribed for her (Nystatin, lidocaine, Benadryl & Maalox) is not a miracle drug and doesn't make the sores heal.
A quick internet search said to try something called CankerMelts. It's a disc made from licorice extract that you put directly on the sore. I bought some tonight along with L-Lysine tablets. Ma wants to wait till tomorrow to try them.
At least she didn't get much pain in her leg today. Her ankle hurt for a while, but it went away on its own. No Darvocet required.
Ma's mouth sores are really bothering her. The lidocaine provides a little relief but not enough. She asked for soup tonight because she has difficulty chewing. The cocktail prescribed for her (Nystatin, lidocaine, Benadryl & Maalox) is not a miracle drug and doesn't make the sores heal.
A quick internet search said to try something called CankerMelts. It's a disc made from licorice extract that you put directly on the sore. I bought some tonight along with L-Lysine tablets. Ma wants to wait till tomorrow to try them.
At least she didn't get much pain in her leg today. Her ankle hurt for a while, but it went away on its own. No Darvocet required.
Sunday, August 10, 2008
Pain is Right on Schedule
Chemo #3 Day 5
Ma has muscle pain in her left leg. It started yesterday, as I expected. She's taking Darvocet for the pain.
Her mouth sores are back. She used lidocaine before eating to take away the pain. She also rinses with the cocktail of Nystatin, lidocaine, Benadryl, and Maalox that Dr. Irwin prescribed a couple of weeks ago.
I gave Ma a printout on cystitis. If she's not going to drink enough water, she should at least know what symptoms to expect when her bladder gets affected. Blood in the urine and painful urination just don't sound good to me.
I ordered the lightweight wheelchair. It's about 8 lbs. lighter than the one Tita Belen has. The main difference is that Tita Belen's chair has 12" wheels in the back, nice for rough terrain. But the one Ma has is fine for light use. I wanted something really light. It's about 19 lbs. with the footrests and 15 lbs. without. The back folds down in addition to the seat, so it doesn't take up that much room in the trunk. Ate Eva lent me Kuya Rey's wheelchair (probably from Kaiser), but it's about 43 lbs. with the footrests and 35 lbs. without. Plus it's too bulky.
Here's Ma in the wheelchair.
She also likes the rocking chair we got last week at Costco.
Ma has muscle pain in her left leg. It started yesterday, as I expected. She's taking Darvocet for the pain.
Her mouth sores are back. She used lidocaine before eating to take away the pain. She also rinses with the cocktail of Nystatin, lidocaine, Benadryl, and Maalox that Dr. Irwin prescribed a couple of weeks ago.
I gave Ma a printout on cystitis. If she's not going to drink enough water, she should at least know what symptoms to expect when her bladder gets affected. Blood in the urine and painful urination just don't sound good to me.
I ordered the lightweight wheelchair. It's about 8 lbs. lighter than the one Tita Belen has. The main difference is that Tita Belen's chair has 12" wheels in the back, nice for rough terrain. But the one Ma has is fine for light use. I wanted something really light. It's about 19 lbs. with the footrests and 15 lbs. without. The back folds down in addition to the seat, so it doesn't take up that much room in the trunk. Ate Eva lent me Kuya Rey's wheelchair (probably from Kaiser), but it's about 43 lbs. with the footrests and 35 lbs. without. Plus it's too bulky.
Here's Ma in the wheelchair.
She also likes the rocking chair we got last week at Costco.
Thursday, August 7, 2008
Wednesday, August 6, 2008
Chemo Almost Canceled
Chemo #3 Day 1
Ma's chemo almost got canceled today. She's supposed to have a blood test done two days before her chemo. Because she just had one done last Wednesday, we thought that was good enough. It's not. The cancer center wants more recent numbers for her white blood cell and platelet counts. So Ma had her blood drawn yesterday afternoon, but it could take 24 hours to get the results back. The cancer center had actually called this morning to cancel her chemo today, but they called back half an hour later to say the test results came in this morning after all.
It was almost noon when we arrived at the cancer center. First thing they did was give Ma a warm blanket fresh out of the oven. Then they gave her lunch. But Ma doesn't like their lunch, and she ate before leaving the house. She had their soup though.
The nurse gave Ma the usual pre-meds -- Benadryl, Pepcid, Decadron and Zofran. It usually takes a while for the pharmacy to have the meds ready. As a result, the Taxotere wasn't started till 1:30pm. They started it off slowly and checked her vitals every 5 minutes to make sure she doesn't have any bad reactions. After 20 minutes, they bumped up the drip to the normal rate. It took 1.5 hours to finish the Taxotere. The Cytoxan was started around 3:10pm and also took 1.5 hours. We were out of there by 5pm.
I tried an experiment today and had Ma chew on ice while getting her chemo. Some say it might keep her from getting mouth sores. We'll see.
Ma's red blood cell count is too low, so Pa has started her on iron pills. Those pills cause constipation. We're hoping it'll help counteract Ma's diarrhea.
Here's Ma getting her Taxotere.
This is the infusion room at the cancer center after almost all the patients had left. There are 6 recliners. You can see Ma's blanket in the lower left. There's another recliner behind the curtain at the end. As you can see, it's a bit cramped. Thank goodness there usually aren't many guests accompanying the patients. Today I seemed to be the only one, and I was seated beside Ma.
Ma's chemo almost got canceled today. She's supposed to have a blood test done two days before her chemo. Because she just had one done last Wednesday, we thought that was good enough. It's not. The cancer center wants more recent numbers for her white blood cell and platelet counts. So Ma had her blood drawn yesterday afternoon, but it could take 24 hours to get the results back. The cancer center had actually called this morning to cancel her chemo today, but they called back half an hour later to say the test results came in this morning after all.
It was almost noon when we arrived at the cancer center. First thing they did was give Ma a warm blanket fresh out of the oven. Then they gave her lunch. But Ma doesn't like their lunch, and she ate before leaving the house. She had their soup though.
The nurse gave Ma the usual pre-meds -- Benadryl, Pepcid, Decadron and Zofran. It usually takes a while for the pharmacy to have the meds ready. As a result, the Taxotere wasn't started till 1:30pm. They started it off slowly and checked her vitals every 5 minutes to make sure she doesn't have any bad reactions. After 20 minutes, they bumped up the drip to the normal rate. It took 1.5 hours to finish the Taxotere. The Cytoxan was started around 3:10pm and also took 1.5 hours. We were out of there by 5pm.
I tried an experiment today and had Ma chew on ice while getting her chemo. Some say it might keep her from getting mouth sores. We'll see.
Ma's red blood cell count is too low, so Pa has started her on iron pills. Those pills cause constipation. We're hoping it'll help counteract Ma's diarrhea.
Here's Ma getting her Taxotere.
This is the infusion room at the cancer center after almost all the patients had left. There are 6 recliners. You can see Ma's blanket in the lower left. There's another recliner behind the curtain at the end. As you can see, it's a bit cramped. Thank goodness there usually aren't many guests accompanying the patients. Today I seemed to be the only one, and I was seated beside Ma.
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