Sunday, January 3, 2010

2010

For future updates on R, please go to: http://indessed.com/cancer/

I will post periodically when updates are available or you can bookmark the link and check it on your own rather than coming here - whichever is easiest and works best for you.

Friday, December 25, 2009

Merry Christmas and Happiest of New Years to all

23 December 2009
Vaseline

The nose dryness got to the point where I asked the doctor for more help. His suggestion: vaseline. Google seems paranoid that this will cause lung problems like pneumonia, but it’s been working amazingly well so far.

22 December 2009
Current Daily Symptoms

A muscle pain in my neck that sometimes almost feels like a bruise; dryness of the nasal cavities that sometimes leads to nosebleeds; and mouth sores of various shapes, sizes, and locations.

21 December 2009
Our Other Doctor — Dr. Mario

R plays Tetris to help manage his anxiety when it starts feeling a little out of control. He plays an interactive variation where he plays against other people over the internet on his Nintendo DS. Everyone joining the Tetris network gets a rating so they can be optimally matched. R was noticing today that he was playing someone with a much higher rating than his, but R was totally winning. R’s rating fluctuates a lot because of his health. On the worse days it drops, and on the better days it rises. Today his rating’s rising!

21 December 2009
Another Dose

Got my bleomycin today. The visit was quick and painless and I was probably the least lightheaded as I’ve been getting outpatient chemo.


18 December 2009
Flying

Back in July, we booked plane tickets to travel to see my folks for the holidays. We haven’t been sure in the last couple of months that we were going to be able to use them, but we are planning on it at this point (though everything is tentative until the plane takes off).

R’s estimated lowest day (day 10 in Round 2) was today — and he went in for a full day of work. Nothing like day 10 in Round 1, where he spent most of the day semi-conscious and in bed. So we think he’ll be in pretty good form to fly on Tuesday next week. It will still take a lot of energy and cause a bit of stress, though, so we’re trying to figure out how to maximally alleviate that.

I called the airline today and got special accommodations set up. The person who helped me put a wheelchair request in for R. Supposedly the wheelchair (and the person who pushes it) gets you in a special security queue, and lines you up for priority boarding. So R hopefully won’t have to wear himself out too much with flying.

Thursday, December 17, 2009

update 17 Dec

17 December 2009
HCG Counts

Called for the HCG counts today: 10,400! That’s basically an order of magnitude drop from last time. I’m getting less and less pregnant every day …

Wednesday, December 16, 2009

Update 15 December

15 December 2009
Downside

Trouble swallowing; white spots on the back of the throat. Could be an infection—waiting to hear back from the doctor. Update: doctor thinks it’s a yeast infection. Great, add that to the list: mood swings, nausea, weird food cravings, pee-on-a-stick-test-positive … sheesh. J has gone to the pharmacy to pick up an appropriate prescription.

15 December 2009
Night Sweats

Last night was the first night, I believe since October, where I didn’t have any night sweats. Essentially none at all. I am in awe.

Saturday, December 12, 2009

December 12 update

11 December 2009
Better

Slept much better last night; had some visitors; got some work done; worst day nurse EVAR.

Wednesday, December 9, 2009

Thank you everyone for your prayers

We believe in the power of prayer. We believe in miracles. R. is showing many signs of improvement. We are certain that is because of the many prayers of faith being offered in his behalf and for that we thank each and every one of you.

December 11 update

8 December 2009
Vital Statistix

When we checked in to the hospital this morning, R’s vitals were awesome. Blood pressure = 99/61 (on the low side, but that’s fairly normal for R). Temperature = 97.7ºF (tumor fevers long gone). My favorite: Oxygen saturation = 99%. Last time we were here, they could only get him up to the acceptable threshold for normal (92) with 3 or 4 litres of oxygen helping him out! (Mine was 97 last time I was at the doctor.) No oxygen tubes this time. The lung tumors must be dead.

8 December 2009
Successfully Checked In

Currently sucking down the first batch of today’s chemo.