Yesterday's beautiful clear skies are dark gray this afternoon and it looks like we're in for a storm tonight. It's apropos because the chemo has started to do it's wonderful/terrible work.
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Here's a message from Vicki which I am posting on her behalf.
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Last night I got really nauseous. I was given anti-nausea drugs and I got some sleep. This morning I forced myself to eat some yogurt and a boiled egg white. Big mistake. I was doing my laps around the floor when I waylaid by the need to throw up and I did right in the hall in front of the nurse's station. I got more meds and then I slept most of the day.
I did not eat lunch and doubt I can eat dinner. Can't wait until this is over and I am home sweet home!
Thursday, December 18, 2008
Wednesday, December 17, 2008
Day -5 - A routine day
The SF Bay Area is having abnormally cold weather, probably nothing for most of you folks in other parts of the country, but we had a rare hard freeze last night and there's snow dusting the hills. Today the cold was accompanied by beautiful crystal clear skies. Vicki enjoyed the view from her room, watching the fishing boats said under the Golden Gate Bridge on their way out to sea.
She said she heard the prisoner go by or at least hear chains rattling. I asked if she was sure it wasn't the ghost of Bob Marley.
Here's picture of Vicki with her mini-quilt made of photographs from Sea Ranch.
She said she heard the prisoner go by or at least hear chains rattling. I asked if she was sure it wasn't the ghost of Bob Marley.
Here's picture of Vicki with her mini-quilt made of photographs from Sea Ranch.
Tuesday, December 16, 2008
Day -6
Vicki's transplant is scheduled for the 22nd. The transplant is considered day zero so the days leading up to it are -8, -7, etc. and the days after are +1, +2, and so on. Christmas will be day +3. Vicki is looking forward to watching Bad Santa on Christmas Day. She says she's in a private room so there should be no complaints unless we snort too loudly, but I want to remind her of some of the infamous lines from the movie - remember the three B's? Booze, broads, and something I can't post on the blog? We're going to have to keep the volume turned down or else I'm going to have to get the edited version.
There is a prisoner on the floor there are 2 or 3 California Dept of Corrections guards on duty at all times. Vicki asked Jack to bring up his Red Ryder BB gun just in case a shoot out develops! She didn't mention whether she expected Jack to stand guard duty outside her room or if she wanted the gun for her own use. Those nurses and doctors had better watch out.
On the previous hospitalizations she needed to wear the hospital gowns for access to the port in her arm. With the line her her neck she can wear her own jammies and t-shirts and things and says this makes her much more comfortable, although she complains that the bath towels are the size of a paper towel with less absorption. What does she think this is, the MGM Grand? I didn't notice that she minded the hospital gowns that much anyway, what with their air conditioned backs and her penchant for unrepentant flashing.
She has the same attending physician as last time and likes him a great deal too.
All in all, things are moving along as expected.
There is a prisoner on the floor there are 2 or 3 California Dept of Corrections guards on duty at all times. Vicki asked Jack to bring up his Red Ryder BB gun just in case a shoot out develops! She didn't mention whether she expected Jack to stand guard duty outside her room or if she wanted the gun for her own use. Those nurses and doctors had better watch out.
On the previous hospitalizations she needed to wear the hospital gowns for access to the port in her arm. With the line her her neck she can wear her own jammies and t-shirts and things and says this makes her much more comfortable, although she complains that the bath towels are the size of a paper towel with less absorption. What does she think this is, the MGM Grand? I didn't notice that she minded the hospital gowns that much anyway, what with their air conditioned backs and her penchant for unrepentant flashing.
She has the same attending physician as last time and likes him a great deal too.
All in all, things are moving along as expected.
Monday, December 15, 2008
(ad)Mission Accomplished
UCSF Round 1
The first trip to UCSF was to get a infusion of palifermin to protect against mouth sores from the coming chemo.
After the infusion V&J called the main hospital to see if V's room was ready, which it was not. The hospital said the room would not be ready until 3PM. Since it was only 10AM and pouring rain on our coldest day so far this winter, the McF's decided to go home.
It's a good think they did because they later called from home and the hospital told them it would be 5PM then 8PM. When they arrived at the hospital at 8PM the room was still not ready. This is worse than checking in at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas and they don't even have Wheel of Fortune or cocktails.
UCSF Trip 2 - The Human Pin Cushion
After getting the dreaded catheter in her neck, they still needed another line to check out V's busulfan level so she got poked 4 times in my arm and once in each foot (OUCH) before they brought a nurse from ER who got me on the first try in her arm.
Monday Morning - Staring the Honeymoon
This morning they started the busulfan which V. will get 4 times a day for 4 days. The nurse Vicki calls St Agnes (had her several times last visit) says the first part of my stay will be a honeymoon period. Vicki says, "I sure hope she is right. But we know what comes after the honeymoon OH NO!" After the busulfan she'll get the stem cell transplant and the real fun will start.
The first trip to UCSF was to get a infusion of palifermin to protect against mouth sores from the coming chemo.
After the infusion V&J called the main hospital to see if V's room was ready, which it was not. The hospital said the room would not be ready until 3PM. Since it was only 10AM and pouring rain on our coldest day so far this winter, the McF's decided to go home.
It's a good think they did because they later called from home and the hospital told them it would be 5PM then 8PM. When they arrived at the hospital at 8PM the room was still not ready. This is worse than checking in at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas and they don't even have Wheel of Fortune or cocktails.
UCSF Trip 2 - The Human Pin Cushion
After getting the dreaded catheter in her neck, they still needed another line to check out V's busulfan level so she got poked 4 times in my arm and once in each foot (OUCH) before they brought a nurse from ER who got me on the first try in her arm.
Monday Morning - Staring the Honeymoon
This morning they started the busulfan which V. will get 4 times a day for 4 days. The nurse Vicki calls St Agnes (had her several times last visit) says the first part of my stay will be a honeymoon period. Vicki says, "I sure hope she is right. But we know what comes after the honeymoon OH NO!" After the busulfan she'll get the stem cell transplant and the real fun will start.
More Head Dents
Vicki adds "I have already bumped my head on the bleeping TV! And a nurse was in the room but I talked her out of any further action!" Last time Vicki whacked her head on Ivy and they had to do a head CT. The tiny television hangs down over the bed on a movable arm so there are numerous head denting opportunities.
Thursday, December 11, 2008
All Systems are Go
Vicki is recovered enough from her cold and bronchitis that she'll start the next phase of her treatment on schedule this Friday. She gets the neck catheter and starts her injections in preparation for admission on Sunday and starting the Big Chemo.
Sunday, December 7, 2008
A Nasty Cold and Preparing for the Next Round
You'd think that a person with cancer would get a pass on ordinary stuff, but Vicki came down with a cold around Thanksgiving. She was very careful about going out and about, but it's everywhere at this time of year so short of staying hermetically sealed in a bubble it's pretty hard to avoid. It progressed into a case of bronchitis so the docs got her going on antibiotics and she's starting to feel better.
Chemo goes after all the fast growing cells in the body. While that's good for killing cancer, it does a number on fast growing healthy tissues such as hair, skin, and mucus membranes. Late this week Vicki will start a series of injections which will help build up the mucus membranes in her mouth, nose, and throat. The purpose is to limit the extent of the sores that are expected during this next intense chemo.
This week Vicki learned that she'll need another catheter in her neck, similar to the one she needed during the stem cell harvest. This was upsetting news because the previous one was painful, but the transplant coordinator assured her that this one will be better. This is necessary because the catheter in the neck provides more access to larger vessels making it possible for her to receive fluids, transfusions, medications, and intravenous feedings all at once.
Chemo goes after all the fast growing cells in the body. While that's good for killing cancer, it does a number on fast growing healthy tissues such as hair, skin, and mucus membranes. Late this week Vicki will start a series of injections which will help build up the mucus membranes in her mouth, nose, and throat. The purpose is to limit the extent of the sores that are expected during this next intense chemo.
This week Vicki learned that she'll need another catheter in her neck, similar to the one she needed during the stem cell harvest. This was upsetting news because the previous one was painful, but the transplant coordinator assured her that this one will be better. This is necessary because the catheter in the neck provides more access to larger vessels making it possible for her to receive fluids, transfusions, medications, and intravenous feedings all at once.
Tuesday, December 2, 2008
Bone Marrow Monday
Patient Consent, page 2 of 7: "After a four to six week rest period at home I will again be evaluated to make sure I am still in complete remission adn to make sure that my internal organs (heart, liver, kidney and lungs) are in satisfactory condition to proceed with further intensive treament."
Vicki had another bone marrow biopsy yesterday, one of the first steps in preparing to return for the second phase of treatment. She said that this one wasn't as bad as the previous two. I suppose it's all relative as the previous two were at the northwest corner of Hideous and Excruciating.
Vicki had another bone marrow biopsy yesterday, one of the first steps in preparing to return for the second phase of treatment. She said that this one wasn't as bad as the previous two. I suppose it's all relative as the previous two were at the northwest corner of Hideous and Excruciating.
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