I am done with chemo for the time being. I have already discussed with the oncologist that I will have some follow up chemo after surgery, but last time I had it the effect was pretty mild.
I have had six rounds of chemo, every two weeks, so three months of feeling off, fatigued, lethargic and having a mildly upset stomach will be done. I have to be off chemo for six weeks before I can have surgery. I have an appointment with the specialist in Little Rock on December 15, 2014 and I will sign a consent form then that is good for 30 days. That means that surgery will take place after the first of the year and must be before the 15th.
I'll look forward to feeling well for the 2014 Christmas.
Wednesday, November 26, 2014
Monday, November 24, 2014
Chemo: Round Six
I am becoming an old hand at this. The oncologist and I had a discussion because I want to end the chemo, he argue for it as we had agreed to six rounds, and I have completed five. In addition I realized this is a short week and I won't get in to see the specialist this week, however the week after Thanksgiving would be fine. It would also be the second week after chemo and later in the week I start to recover. So I went for Round 6.
However, there is a drug they give that helps with anti-nausea and is a strong steroid. The effect is I feel good for about three days. Thursday, Day 4 is when the effect wears off and I feel very tired, little stamina and my stomach is mildly upset, this lasts for about a week, then slowly lifts.
So tonight I am up late as I cannot go to sleep. The drug makes me feel good, I am hungry and have enjoyed half a left over Turkey sandwich from our early Thanksgiving bird, and may even enjoy a second. My mind is alert and I simply do not feel tired. I lay on the bed and listened to a number of Leon Redbone tracks then read his biography on Wikipedia. I read the news, looked up Monday night football and checked the weather. I turned the light out, rolled over and was wide awake. I'm downstairs at the computer taking advantage of the energy.
That is what my chemo is like, and has been through all 5 rounds. However, the Dr. did lower the dosage by 15% on the two remaining drugs I take so hopefully the side effects won't be as severe this time, nor last as long.
However, there is a drug they give that helps with anti-nausea and is a strong steroid. The effect is I feel good for about three days. Thursday, Day 4 is when the effect wears off and I feel very tired, little stamina and my stomach is mildly upset, this lasts for about a week, then slowly lifts.
So tonight I am up late as I cannot go to sleep. The drug makes me feel good, I am hungry and have enjoyed half a left over Turkey sandwich from our early Thanksgiving bird, and may even enjoy a second. My mind is alert and I simply do not feel tired. I lay on the bed and listened to a number of Leon Redbone tracks then read his biography on Wikipedia. I read the news, looked up Monday night football and checked the weather. I turned the light out, rolled over and was wide awake. I'm downstairs at the computer taking advantage of the energy.
That is what my chemo is like, and has been through all 5 rounds. However, the Dr. did lower the dosage by 15% on the two remaining drugs I take so hopefully the side effects won't be as severe this time, nor last as long.
Thursday, November 13, 2014
Observations from my hospital stay
I have already written about the large bowel partial blockage I experienced in late October. I hope no one has to go through that. This short blog concerns the care I received while under the care of the hospital.
The hospital just opened in November 2013. It represents over $500,000,000 investment in our area and is a state of art hospital when it comes to technology. The hospital also recently received some accredation that puts in on the same footing as MD Anderson and Mayo's for level of care. It is a gem.
I went in through ER and did not experience the painful slow intake process usually associated with the ER. Within less than half and hour I had been triaged, had an x-ray that determined I had a partial lower bowel blockage and waited on transport to a regular room
Within a half an hour I was in a room and nurses were attending to me. Several times during the admission to the hospital the "hospitalist" came in and check. Now I was have violent cramps and pain all this time but no pain meds were prescribed until a Dr. had determined the final diagnosis and settled on a course of treatment. That is frustrating and kind of scary, but I can understand how necessary it is. I've been through that several times before.
The next 6 days were spent in pain, uncontrolable bowel movements, and boredom. The nurses were efficient, compassionate, and very efficient. I was truly impressed at their work ethic and care they exhibited for their patient. Everyone was part of the team and pitched in to perform whatever task was needed to be performed, from cleaning up the messes I made to administering medications. Nothing was too low or to unimportant.
I met a Dr. in the hospital who had been a general surgeon but didn't make the change with new surgery procedures and became a hospitalist. He was straightforward and honest and I appreciated it. He gave me advice and told me things that perhaps a Dr. wouldn't. I did appreciate the input.
All in all the experience, under the circumstances, was good. Just wish I didn't have to go back, but this one will be at the University of Arkansas School of Medicine in Little Rock so we shall see what comes of that.
The hospital just opened in November 2013. It represents over $500,000,000 investment in our area and is a state of art hospital when it comes to technology. The hospital also recently received some accredation that puts in on the same footing as MD Anderson and Mayo's for level of care. It is a gem.
I went in through ER and did not experience the painful slow intake process usually associated with the ER. Within less than half and hour I had been triaged, had an x-ray that determined I had a partial lower bowel blockage and waited on transport to a regular room
Within a half an hour I was in a room and nurses were attending to me. Several times during the admission to the hospital the "hospitalist" came in and check. Now I was have violent cramps and pain all this time but no pain meds were prescribed until a Dr. had determined the final diagnosis and settled on a course of treatment. That is frustrating and kind of scary, but I can understand how necessary it is. I've been through that several times before.
The next 6 days were spent in pain, uncontrolable bowel movements, and boredom. The nurses were efficient, compassionate, and very efficient. I was truly impressed at their work ethic and care they exhibited for their patient. Everyone was part of the team and pitched in to perform whatever task was needed to be performed, from cleaning up the messes I made to administering medications. Nothing was too low or to unimportant.
I met a Dr. in the hospital who had been a general surgeon but didn't make the change with new surgery procedures and became a hospitalist. He was straightforward and honest and I appreciated it. He gave me advice and told me things that perhaps a Dr. wouldn't. I did appreciate the input.
All in all the experience, under the circumstances, was good. Just wish I didn't have to go back, but this one will be at the University of Arkansas School of Medicine in Little Rock so we shall see what comes of that.
Wednesday, November 12, 2014
Partial Lower Bowel Obstruction
I had my 4th Round of Chemo on October 20th. I enjoyed my usual two to three days of feeling good from one of the pre-meds they give me prior to chemo. However about Thursday I started having trouble going to the bath room and starting have fairly intense cramps. This worsened throughout the weekend until my belly was distended and I was encountering quite severe pain. I had no appetite and really did not eat much at all. I did try to eat and forced myself, but the minute food touch my stomach I would start these intense, hard cramps.
Finally Tuesday, Oct 28 I told my wife I couldn't take it any more and we needed to go to the ER. I was admitted that morning with a partial lower bowel obstruction. While I was relieved that an NG tube would not be of much help, I then learned the treatment is no food or water, nothing until it worked its way out. I went four days with nothing to eat or nothing to drink. One of the drugs in my chemo regime is Oxyplatin, which causes and intense reaction to cold. So even when I was able to suck on the ice chips I couldn't. I could not stand the reaction to cold.
I started to pass gas along about Thursday, heavy rumbling sounds that were almost as painful as relief. Finally Saturday, Nov. 1 I was put on a clear liquid diet. This meant juice, broth, water, etc. However my taste was all balled up and not much tasted good so I was getting much of my fluids through an IV.
In the meantime on Friday a x-ray revealed a pneumonia. That started an intense round of anti-biotics. Now my bowels have very little going on because of the blockage and then they come along with Round-Up and kill all the bacteria.
My stool looks like sludge, it is uncontrollable and comes frequently. Nurses are having to change my bed several times a shift, I am soiling myself several times and hour and wearing these hospital briefs to contain the output. Its a hell of a mess. I am not feeling any better and my wife is helping as much as she can, which is a lot.
By now, after four days we've established a good repartee with the staff and nurses. I don't know how they can work in the situation I offered them but they seem very professional and take it like just part of what goes on. In the meantime my modesty and embarrassment have fled like a fart in a windstorm.
I start feeling a little better on Saturday evening and Sunday but still I go and go. A Dr. comes in and says he believed if I kept pooping and passing gas and eating I could go home Monday. By Sunday it seemed like I was having a reversal, not in the blockage, but I just started to feel worse and worse.
Monday comes and the Dr.'s nurse comes in to check up and I tell her about feeling worse. She says it is a well known fact that if you stay in a hospital too long it will make you sick. Long story short, I was released on Monday and went home. I felt sick and weak and tired. However, I am getting better, In fact, I'd say I feel about as good as I have in a month. You see chemo colors all. I have know sense of blockage, but chemo just makes you tired, worn out and lethargic. That is where I'm at now having spent six days in the hospital and 8 days out. I'd call that about normal.
Next week a couple of tests, a PET Scan and an MRI with Contrast, then an evaluation of the situation by the Dr. in Little Rock and hopefully surgery in Mid-December. At least that is my hope, we shall see what the outcome will be.
Finally Tuesday, Oct 28 I told my wife I couldn't take it any more and we needed to go to the ER. I was admitted that morning with a partial lower bowel obstruction. While I was relieved that an NG tube would not be of much help, I then learned the treatment is no food or water, nothing until it worked its way out. I went four days with nothing to eat or nothing to drink. One of the drugs in my chemo regime is Oxyplatin, which causes and intense reaction to cold. So even when I was able to suck on the ice chips I couldn't. I could not stand the reaction to cold.
I started to pass gas along about Thursday, heavy rumbling sounds that were almost as painful as relief. Finally Saturday, Nov. 1 I was put on a clear liquid diet. This meant juice, broth, water, etc. However my taste was all balled up and not much tasted good so I was getting much of my fluids through an IV.
In the meantime on Friday a x-ray revealed a pneumonia. That started an intense round of anti-biotics. Now my bowels have very little going on because of the blockage and then they come along with Round-Up and kill all the bacteria.
My stool looks like sludge, it is uncontrollable and comes frequently. Nurses are having to change my bed several times a shift, I am soiling myself several times and hour and wearing these hospital briefs to contain the output. Its a hell of a mess. I am not feeling any better and my wife is helping as much as she can, which is a lot.
By now, after four days we've established a good repartee with the staff and nurses. I don't know how they can work in the situation I offered them but they seem very professional and take it like just part of what goes on. In the meantime my modesty and embarrassment have fled like a fart in a windstorm.
I start feeling a little better on Saturday evening and Sunday but still I go and go. A Dr. comes in and says he believed if I kept pooping and passing gas and eating I could go home Monday. By Sunday it seemed like I was having a reversal, not in the blockage, but I just started to feel worse and worse.
Monday comes and the Dr.'s nurse comes in to check up and I tell her about feeling worse. She says it is a well known fact that if you stay in a hospital too long it will make you sick. Long story short, I was released on Monday and went home. I felt sick and weak and tired. However, I am getting better, In fact, I'd say I feel about as good as I have in a month. You see chemo colors all. I have know sense of blockage, but chemo just makes you tired, worn out and lethargic. That is where I'm at now having spent six days in the hospital and 8 days out. I'd call that about normal.
Next week a couple of tests, a PET Scan and an MRI with Contrast, then an evaluation of the situation by the Dr. in Little Rock and hopefully surgery in Mid-December. At least that is my hope, we shall see what the outcome will be.
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