Tuesday, March 26 - My mom has begun to struggle as a result of the side effects of the chemo therapy drugs. She has been extremely light headed and nauseous. She has not been able to eat enough or drink enough to keep up the strength to do her daily chores. Mom's regular scheduled appointment was this Tuesday. She had her blood levels checked, which is the routine on the weeks that she doesn't have the chemotherapy. This week her white blood count was so low that Dr. Gupta said it was at a dangerous level. My Mom's dizziness and nauseous feeling is a result of this level being so extremely low.
Mom was given a shot that is said to help raise the white blood counts and immediately put on antibiotics to prevent infection. She has to have a second shot On Wednesday and a third shot on Thursday, both of which she will be able to get at the hospital in Bethany. Friday she will have another blood test to monitor all levels and possibly an additional shot depending on the blood test results. The goal is to get her blood levels to a range so that she can get her normally scheduled chemotherapy next Tuesday.
Dr. Gupta said that these final nine weeks of therapy were completely necessary before the double mastectomy and radiation. I fear that the chemotherapy is going to completely wear her down to a point where she will just give up. For the first time, Mom is getting very negative about the cancer and the treatment that will save her life. Her outlook has totally changed. She is extremely down-hearted. Mom is beginning to say things like, "This will probably be the last time I will get to go to a graduation", and "I probably won't be around for that." It is so disheartening to hear this. I believe that a patient's mental state and positive attitude really contribute to the outcome of their treatment and so hearing the negativity is especially troubling.
My Mom could really use your prayers, and your smiles of concern right now. I believe that God doesn't give us more than we can handle. And I have faith that God will provide, but I am beginning to wonder just how much one person has to bare in their lifetime, and why....?
Wednesday, March 27, 2013
Tuesday, March 12, 2013
New Therapy....and Updates
Tuesday,March 12 - Mom started the new therapy of chemo today. The doctor describes it as a new cocktail of medicines. As he has explained it, just because it is 1x every 3 weeks that doesn't mean that it is more intense or harsher to her system. The nurse says that because she did so well with her first therapy she will also do well with this therapy! We are all optimistic....my mom says that she can do anything 1x a week every 3 weeks, especially if there are only a total of 4 total.
I took Mom to her appointment just to satisfy myself and see what the new treatment would consist of. We had a week off for spring break at North Harrison and so it was the perfect opportunity for me to spend time with my Mom. The medicated IV's took 3hours and 30 minutes to run through her system. The day was beautiful and spring like and so I waited outside for her to finish after I talked to her doctor and nurses.
My mom came out of the treatment charged! She had more energy than I have seen her possess in months. She was chirping like a bird and wanted to go shopping (of all things)! I am not a shopper and she knows it, but I was thrilled to spend the day with her. We ate out at 54th Street Restaurant; I had never eaten there and now I know why it is Mom's favorite. There enough food on our table to feed 5 people. My mom was finally able to eat. Eating has been a problem for her because she says everything tastes metallic and this is the thing she misses the most. She has lost about 15 pounds since her treatments began 14 weeks ago. I believe this is a good thing because she had some weight to loose and I know she will be healthier coming out the other side of this gloom and doom.
We stopped at Lowe's and she bought a new faucet for her bathroom and then she wanted to hit the mall. Whew! Mom bought 2 new outfits to wear to Payton 's graduation functions and an assortment of accessories to glam them up (she actually bought scarves and jewelry)! She had a great time trying on the outfits I handed her over the dressing room door. She has lost a couple of sizes and I think she was excited about the new possibilities in clothes. We must have gone into every store in the mall...I was totally exhausted by the time we got home late that evening. I am so glad for the opportunity to spend the day with my Mom.
Tuesday, March 19 - All blood levels are good and Mom doesn't seem to be experiencing any side adverse side effects.
Wednesday, March 20 - I try to call my Mom every evening just to check on and her. Mostly I just need to hear her voice and tell her that I love her. I could tell that something was wrong, she didn't seem to be listening and I noticed that her words were slurred. During her conversation, my mom fainted! Just passed out cold right there in the kitchen floor! She was so dehydrated from lack of drinking during the day that she a actually passed out! I did the first thing I always do in a crisis, I called my sister! Debra finally got my Mom to answer and when she did she confessed that she was lying in the kitchen floor near the phone! It was such a helpless feeling! We are both at least 40 minutes from her! We have to figure something out regarding how we can keep a closer watch on her, and how we can get to her quicker if she need us. Our next challenge has presented itself!
I took Mom to her appointment just to satisfy myself and see what the new treatment would consist of. We had a week off for spring break at North Harrison and so it was the perfect opportunity for me to spend time with my Mom. The medicated IV's took 3hours and 30 minutes to run through her system. The day was beautiful and spring like and so I waited outside for her to finish after I talked to her doctor and nurses.
My mom came out of the treatment charged! She had more energy than I have seen her possess in months. She was chirping like a bird and wanted to go shopping (of all things)! I am not a shopper and she knows it, but I was thrilled to spend the day with her. We ate out at 54th Street Restaurant; I had never eaten there and now I know why it is Mom's favorite. There enough food on our table to feed 5 people. My mom was finally able to eat. Eating has been a problem for her because she says everything tastes metallic and this is the thing she misses the most. She has lost about 15 pounds since her treatments began 14 weeks ago. I believe this is a good thing because she had some weight to loose and I know she will be healthier coming out the other side of this gloom and doom.
We stopped at Lowe's and she bought a new faucet for her bathroom and then she wanted to hit the mall. Whew! Mom bought 2 new outfits to wear to Payton 's graduation functions and an assortment of accessories to glam them up (she actually bought scarves and jewelry)! She had a great time trying on the outfits I handed her over the dressing room door. She has lost a couple of sizes and I think she was excited about the new possibilities in clothes. We must have gone into every store in the mall...I was totally exhausted by the time we got home late that evening. I am so glad for the opportunity to spend the day with my Mom.
Tuesday, March 19 - All blood levels are good and Mom doesn't seem to be experiencing any side adverse side effects.
Wednesday, March 20 - I try to call my Mom every evening just to check on and her. Mostly I just need to hear her voice and tell her that I love her. I could tell that something was wrong, she didn't seem to be listening and I noticed that her words were slurred. During her conversation, my mom fainted! Just passed out cold right there in the kitchen floor! She was so dehydrated from lack of drinking during the day that she a actually passed out! I did the first thing I always do in a crisis, I called my sister! Debra finally got my Mom to answer and when she did she confessed that she was lying in the kitchen floor near the phone! It was such a helpless feeling! We are both at least 40 minutes from her! We have to figure something out regarding how we can keep a closer watch on her, and how we can get to her quicker if she need us. Our next challenge has presented itself!
Tuesday, March 5, 2013
We've Hit a Tough Stretch
Tuesday, March 5 - The past week has been a rough one for my Mom. She was extremely fatigued and short of breath. Oh yes, she continued to work each day as if nothing was wrong! Thursday, Friday, and Saturday from 9:00 to 6:00 she pushed on through. I stopped in to visit her on Saturday evening before closing just to check. I knew something was really wrong when I told her that Brandy and I were thinking about coming down on Sunday only to have her say that she didn't think she could cook anything. She said she was thinking about staying in bed all day long! I have never in my lifetime heard those things from my Mom. I knew something was really wrong.
Sunday morning Brandy and I headed down to her house anyway. She looked so worn out and weak and her coloring was gray. When she stood up she almost blacked out and had to grab on to her chair. Walking across the kitchen made her gasp and she had to stop every 10 feet or so. I called my sister for reinforcements. Brandy, Payton, Debra and I left Mammy with no choice! We took her to the emergency room Sunday evening under great protest. She insisted that she was fine! Mom's sodium and magnesium were extremely low and she needed IV's because she was so dehydrated. The doctor decided to give her a blood transfusion while she was there because of low hemoglobin levels. Mom had a fever that persisted throughout the evening. She was admitted and spent the night in the hospital.
Cancer takes away all pride. My Mom is not a prideful person but cancer leaves you with nothing. I fear at times that it will also break her spirit. Mom looses control of her bladder and colon at times. She is humiliated by this as anyone would be. She tries to make jokes about it just to make light of the situation. Always better to laugh through the pain!
The new regimen of chemotherapy was set to begin today but the doctor didn't feel that Mom was well enough to get it. Therefore, it will begin next Tuesday. Luckily next week is spring break at school so I can drive Mom to her appointment and not have to miss work. She will then continue the new regimen one time every three weeks. If all goes well the four doses will end about May 14th. I have learned not to take dates literally since there are so many variables between then and now. However, if all goes well that is the end date. The chemo will be followed by a double mastectomy and radiation. Hopefully all of those things will take place during summer vacation so that Chandelar, Payton, Brandy, and I can all be available to help with daily chores, driving, etc.... Wish us luck!
Sunday morning Brandy and I headed down to her house anyway. She looked so worn out and weak and her coloring was gray. When she stood up she almost blacked out and had to grab on to her chair. Walking across the kitchen made her gasp and she had to stop every 10 feet or so. I called my sister for reinforcements. Brandy, Payton, Debra and I left Mammy with no choice! We took her to the emergency room Sunday evening under great protest. She insisted that she was fine! Mom's sodium and magnesium were extremely low and she needed IV's because she was so dehydrated. The doctor decided to give her a blood transfusion while she was there because of low hemoglobin levels. Mom had a fever that persisted throughout the evening. She was admitted and spent the night in the hospital.
Cancer takes away all pride. My Mom is not a prideful person but cancer leaves you with nothing. I fear at times that it will also break her spirit. Mom looses control of her bladder and colon at times. She is humiliated by this as anyone would be. She tries to make jokes about it just to make light of the situation. Always better to laugh through the pain!
The new regimen of chemotherapy was set to begin today but the doctor didn't feel that Mom was well enough to get it. Therefore, it will begin next Tuesday. Luckily next week is spring break at school so I can drive Mom to her appointment and not have to miss work. She will then continue the new regimen one time every three weeks. If all goes well the four doses will end about May 14th. I have learned not to take dates literally since there are so many variables between then and now. However, if all goes well that is the end date. The chemo will be followed by a double mastectomy and radiation. Hopefully all of those things will take place during summer vacation so that Chandelar, Payton, Brandy, and I can all be available to help with daily chores, driving, etc.... Wish us luck!
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