Incorrigible -- Word for the Day - Thursday, June 5, 2008

Incorrigible
DEFINITION: (adjective) impossible to manage or reform

Each day patients with MM go into the Infusion area to get chemo bags changed, lab drawn, blood transfusions, etc. This area is a room with recliners in a horseshoe arrangement around the wall and the 'inside' of the horseshoe. The recliners are about 4 ft. from each other. Enough room for the caregiver to sit with the patient. Usually a very quiet area with each nurse having about two patients each. You do hear laughter.

Well, Chemo Sabe dealt with a nurse he believed was incorrigible yesterday. She was loud, mouthy, negative and annoying. She was not his nurse for the day, but she was in the area. He had enough so he told her he was sick, had a headache and would appreciate it if she would quieten down because she was depressing him. It seemed to do the trick. If he does that, then you know he is not feeling well.

Hemoglobin was very low yesterday so he had a blood transfusion of two units. He was very weak when leaving the house. Appointment was for 9:30. After the transfusions, an hour for each bag, he ended up getting home at 6:00 p.m. , but he had a little more energy. Enough to go straight to his recliner and sit the rest of the evening.

Did not sleep well because of the immediate drop from the steroid. After taking his temp of 100.6 at 2:30 a.m. I contacted the doctor. Was not urgent so she advised we could wait until our appointment this morning, 9:30 a.m. We were given a tube of liquid antibiotic to be inserted into his IV port that is still in his juggler. If he goes over 101 I will have to hook him up to the med.

He is nutrapenic beginning today. That means his white blood count (WBC) is low enough he could get an infection very easily. He will have to wear a mask at the hospital and in public. He cannot eat from buffets, have fresh fruits and a variety of other rules we have to follow. This means no physical contact (hugs/kisses) and the dogs will be confined to an area he will not be entering. They will be very upset....so will he.

The WBC will be coming back up mid-week, but then drop even lower. When they start to peak the second time the stem cell process will begin. The sucking out is the first step. Hopefully next Saturday, June 14.

We started two visits a day today for a growth factor shot. This helps to produce new bone marrow. A side effect is aching in his bones (ribs, legs, arms, back). The nurse today explained it as a GOOD hurt. To imagine his WBC jumping and hopping around in his bone marrow and singing "We are making bone marrow, we are making bone marrow". You should have seen her waving her hands in the air like she don't care... na, na, na... Word Up! Excuse me... that was a song Chemo Sabe and I use to dance to.

He was very weak this morning, but seemed better when we came back home. He had a good nap and we are preparing to head back to UAMS.

PRAISE -- his wrist is not swollen. He has feeling in his index and middle finger again. He has good motion. We think it was the exercise he got from riding his motorcycle last week! ha

Please continue your prayers. Pray specifically today for Billy and Sherry from Alabama. He started his bag the same day as Chemo Sabe. He is the one that had the hiccups, too. His remedy was drinking water upside down. Cured them immediately. We still have them with meds. Anyway, his MM is in his kidneys. Not good. But, they laugh with us and also have good spirits.

We love you all....... Pepper (alias, Tonto)

p.s. We asked for black masks today, we got white. bummer!