It has been a quite day today. Breakfast early, lunch way late -1:30! Had a unit of platelets. Weekend Dr. so no new information. Pain still presist. Barb is tired and hasn't wanted to walk just resting. We are waiting for JJ to stop by as he is returning from AL heading home.
After JJ left (5:30) we walked around the whole wing and then again after supper about 7 we did it again. We saw nurse Grace she was so pleased to see Barb out and walking, said she loved her hair! Or lack of it! We showed her B's fingers ( the whole 1st knuckle has peeled off!) she said to eat more protein and fats (cheese) I told her she wasn't eating much of anything! With the fluid she is so full she just doesn't eat more than 3 bites of meat, 1/4 cup potatoes, jello or some ice cream. For breakfast she had 1/2 of her oatmeal!
My daughter was concerned that I had taken Barb off the medicine That is not what I meant! I just ask the Doctors questions that concerned me, they agreed and changed the meds. So I hope you didn't think I was making these changes myself!
They just came to do vitals and says she has 100.3 temp! How can that be when you take 2 antibiotics at all times!
John 14: 27. Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your Hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.
Saturday, February 23, 2013
Friday, February 22, 2013
Making some changes
I have been making notes to talk to the Dr. concerning the confusion and the bloating so here is what we determined.
1. If she are not fully emptying her bladder maybe we don't need Oxybutin. (one that will deter the bladder and control the spasms)
2. Since the growth factor shots, she has been in increasing pain! She has gained 14 lbs since last Wed. when I left. I pointed these 2 things out to Dr. and he immediately went to the Growth Factor type they are using, this is a side effect of that drug. Therefore they are going to talk to Dr. Barlogie to see about going back to Neupogen which she used during the Multiple Myloma and one they use at Highland Oncology at home. So I ask could they find out before noon so they would not give her the one she is having now. They stopped it immediately.
2. She was not so confused when I left a week ago so what is different that might cause that. The Ditrapan was started Wed. and can cause confusion, So lets stop that.
We will see hopefully by tomorrow if she is feeling less pressure.
We found a tech nurse yesterday who could shave her head. The shedding hair was also driving her nuts. No she is bald and beautiful! She does have a perfect shape head for this look!
So now you are up to speed with all we know.
Barb appreciates all the prayers, cards, emails and thoughts that are being sent her way!
Psalms 46:1 - 2 God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear though the earth gives way, though the mountains be moved into the heart of the sea
1. If she are not fully emptying her bladder maybe we don't need Oxybutin. (one that will deter the bladder and control the spasms)
2. Since the growth factor shots, she has been in increasing pain! She has gained 14 lbs since last Wed. when I left. I pointed these 2 things out to Dr. and he immediately went to the Growth Factor type they are using, this is a side effect of that drug. Therefore they are going to talk to Dr. Barlogie to see about going back to Neupogen which she used during the Multiple Myloma and one they use at Highland Oncology at home. So I ask could they find out before noon so they would not give her the one she is having now. They stopped it immediately.
2. She was not so confused when I left a week ago so what is different that might cause that. The Ditrapan was started Wed. and can cause confusion, So lets stop that.
We will see hopefully by tomorrow if she is feeling less pressure.
We found a tech nurse yesterday who could shave her head. The shedding hair was also driving her nuts. No she is bald and beautiful! She does have a perfect shape head for this look!
So now you are up to speed with all we know.
Barb appreciates all the prayers, cards, emails and thoughts that are being sent her way!
Psalms 46:1 - 2 God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear though the earth gives way, though the mountains be moved into the heart of the sea
Changing of the Care Taker!!!
I am back in Little Rock taking care of Sis. I made a run for it at 7:15 this morning between Ice Storm Warnings! Jim came with me as far as Russellville where he had a meeting. The drive on into LR was so tense! It was raining so hard I could hardly see! I stayed in the passing lane and kept my eyes on the white outside line and was watching for lights ahead of me, thank goodness there was lite traffic! I arrived about 10:45 so stopped at Chick FilA and got us all three some lunch. Barb ate 3 nuggets, the fruit cup, and 1/2 strawberry shake, that's probably one of the biggest meal she has had in a few days. The weather still looks gloomy outside.
Wow what a difference a week makes in the life of a patient! Everything has gone south! The CT Scan did not show any blockage, but it showed a lot of fluid in her mid section. They catheterized her and she is voiding again. The pain is still pretty bad, they think she has a UTI but since she has had so much antibiotic a culture won't grow. They put her on Ditrophan and then gave her Dialudid for the kidney spasms within 2 hours of each other this combination seem to cause anxiety! She is picking at any thing like a crack on her thumb now does not have 1 layer of skin! I put socks on her to keep her from picking at her chapped hand. Her lips are so raw from the chapping, licking, rubbing, and more lip protection. I hate to see her this way ! I know it is the drugs! She will be telling you something and just drop off to sleep, in about 2 minutes she opens her eyes and finishes the sentence. She is very bloated and legs are swelling she seems to be retaining so much fluid and yet her skin is dry, her eyes are dry and her lips are very dry. It seems like an oxymoron!
Please pray that they can find the source of pain in her abdomen and why she is not eliminating the fluids. Pray for no blood clots and no pneumonia !
Matthew 11:28 - 30 Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.
Wow what a difference a week makes in the life of a patient! Everything has gone south! The CT Scan did not show any blockage, but it showed a lot of fluid in her mid section. They catheterized her and she is voiding again. The pain is still pretty bad, they think she has a UTI but since she has had so much antibiotic a culture won't grow. They put her on Ditrophan and then gave her Dialudid for the kidney spasms within 2 hours of each other this combination seem to cause anxiety! She is picking at any thing like a crack on her thumb now does not have 1 layer of skin! I put socks on her to keep her from picking at her chapped hand. Her lips are so raw from the chapping, licking, rubbing, and more lip protection. I hate to see her this way ! I know it is the drugs! She will be telling you something and just drop off to sleep, in about 2 minutes she opens her eyes and finishes the sentence. She is very bloated and legs are swelling she seems to be retaining so much fluid and yet her skin is dry, her eyes are dry and her lips are very dry. It seems like an oxymoron!
Please pray that they can find the source of pain in her abdomen and why she is not eliminating the fluids. Pray for no blood clots and no pneumonia !
Matthew 11:28 - 30 Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.
Tuesday, February 19, 2013
catch up time
I have been home for a few days and have not kept up the day to day activity in LR. Barb is hanging in there! I admire her for all she has been through! Her counts (WBC RBC Platelets) have all bottom out, unfortunately her CRP (infection level) is back up. When she went into the hospital it was at 80 with the heavy antibiotics it went down to 5 (does not register below 5) but today it was back up to 60. They do not know why or where the infection is, so she is on heavy antibiotics again. She has been taking Growth factor shots to hopefully increase the productivity of her bone marrow therefore boosting the WBC and other counts. But in the mean time she is getting platelets every other day and had a unit of blood yesterday.
Sheroll is with her right now and I will go back down Thursday. She plans to take Barb down to the wig shop today (inside hospital) to have her head shaved and get another wig. She is weak and wasn't sure she would be able to go, but her hair is coming out and that is nerve racking, hair everywhere!
Sheroll reported that she has been having some stomach pain so they plan to do a CT Scanlooking for what that might be. They have waited all day and finally has had it (7pm) So no wig today!
She is not eating well, mainly only eating breakfast, but I have seen the food she has to eat and that would help anyone go on a diet. I have lost a couple of pounds while I am down there!
Psalms 29: 11 The Lord gives strength to his people; the Lord blesses his people with peace.
Wednesday, February 13, 2013
Day one of Recovery
We are waiting for change over in caregiving. KK is on her way down, she is leaving Fayetteville at 9 am and then I will head home again. Barb is not feeling good today, a little nausea, maybe other issues. They gave her some Zofran for the nausea. Pray that the meds will work and keep the nausea at bay. She got her platelets yesterday around 4 and today she is getting blood, they just started it.
The nurses are very good on this floor. The nurses from Ireland are so fun! We love listening to their dialect! The one we have had for the last 2 nights has reservations 2 weeks from Monday to take a cruise on the cripple ship floating in the gulf! It is fun to tease her about her ship! She has called but does not get anyone to tell her the plan! The thing is, when you schedule a vacation at work it doesn't change because your plans don't work out! So we hope they replace the ship with an upgrade!
Barb has been able to FaceTime with the grand-babies back home and that is precious to her!
Prayer request today would be that the nausea does not get worse and that the meds will keep it in check! That she feels good while KK is here and they have a great time together. Also for safe travel time for all of us as we go back and forth.
Genesis 28: 15 MSG " Yes, I'll stay with you, I'll protect you wherever you go, and I'll bring you back to this very ground. (to a healthy state) I'll stick with you until I've done everything I promised you."
The nurses are very good on this floor. The nurses from Ireland are so fun! We love listening to their dialect! The one we have had for the last 2 nights has reservations 2 weeks from Monday to take a cruise on the cripple ship floating in the gulf! It is fun to tease her about her ship! She has called but does not get anyone to tell her the plan! The thing is, when you schedule a vacation at work it doesn't change because your plans don't work out! So we hope they replace the ship with an upgrade!
Barb has been able to FaceTime with the grand-babies back home and that is precious to her!
Prayer request today would be that the nausea does not get worse and that the meds will keep it in check! That she feels good while KK is here and they have a great time together. Also for safe travel time for all of us as we go back and forth.
Genesis 28: 15 MSG " Yes, I'll stay with you, I'll protect you wherever you go, and I'll bring you back to this very ground. (to a healthy state) I'll stick with you until I've done everything I promised you."
Tuesday, February 12, 2013
Last Day of Chemo!
Wow God is so good! Sis has done real well with the treatment so far! My prayer is that God will wrap His Love around her like a snug cocoon of protection during the next week! Her WBC are at 0.12 and Platelets 18 and others falling as expected. She will get platelets today since they are to be above 20. She is getting more and more tired. The walks continue but less times around and some stops on the way.
Today we had some good Pizza and home made salad with great salad dressings made fresh by Pizza D'Action. It was donated by the owners for F7 Bone Marrow Patients & Family. The Cruise Director (activity director) has been planning, decorating, and encourageing us to celebrate " Mardi Gras"! complete with beads and games.
It is a good thing that we had the pizza because lunch is still not here! The Food here is in transition and not very good as of late! Barb had enjoyed some of the meals, but since they reworked the kitchen it is rarely on time and very rarely tasty.
1Chronicles 16: 34-35 NIV84 Give thanks to the Lord for he is good; his loves endures forever. Cry out, "Save us, O God our Savior; gather us and deliver us(me) from the (cancer) nations, that we may give thanks to your holy name, that we may glory in your praise." MSG verse 36 Then everybody said, "Yes! Amen!" and "Praise God!"
Today we had some good Pizza and home made salad with great salad dressings made fresh by Pizza D'Action. It was donated by the owners for F7 Bone Marrow Patients & Family. The Cruise Director (activity director) has been planning, decorating, and encourageing us to celebrate " Mardi Gras"! complete with beads and games.
It is a good thing that we had the pizza because lunch is still not here! The Food here is in transition and not very good as of late! Barb had enjoyed some of the meals, but since they reworked the kitchen it is rarely on time and very rarely tasty.
1Chronicles 16: 34-35 NIV84 Give thanks to the Lord for he is good; his loves endures forever. Cry out, "Save us, O God our Savior; gather us and deliver us(me) from the (cancer) nations, that we may give thanks to your holy name, that we may glory in your praise." MSG verse 36 Then everybody said, "Yes! Amen!" and "Praise God!"
Sunday, February 10, 2013
Back in Little Rock
Well it is Sunday evening and I am back in Little Rock. Barb is really doing well. She will finish the 7 day Chemo Tues. evening. She has had one unit of platelets and probably won't need more till Tues. She looks great and is in good spirits. When I got here we did her exercises, (me too, and I can feel the stretch as much as she does! ) Even though they are simple ones, like leg lifts sitting and standing, toe curls and tip toe calf stretch. I had brought my EHC "Strong Women" exercises for us to do, then the physical therapy guy brought a pamphlet by that was very similar. She also walks 3 and 4 times per day making large circles around the floor. She is prone to blood clots so it is very important to keep moving. I know our cousin Angie will be proud us!!!!
I ask that you pray for continue strength, energy, and encouragement! As her blood counts fall into the negative side pray she will not get too sick, that God will sustain her through this as only He can!
Psalm 119:116 NLT LORD, Sustain me as you promised, that I may live! Do not let my hope be crushed.
I ask that you pray for continue strength, energy, and encouragement! As her blood counts fall into the negative side pray she will not get too sick, that God will sustain her through this as only He can!
Psalm 119:116 NLT LORD, Sustain me as you promised, that I may live! Do not let my hope be crushed.
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