Lethargic -- Word for the Day -- Thursday, July 17, 2008

Lethargic
DEFINITION: (adjective) lacking energy; sluggish.

Week is ending up quite like I expected. Chemo Sabe's WBC is 1.56. He began wearing his mask today, though not black like I have requested in the past.

We rode for about 45 min. last night with the kids. We went to Chili's for his birthday dinner and wasn't gone from the house but about two hours. He went to his regular labs at 3:00 p.m. and didn't get home until 6:00 p.m. One of his nurses on Monday indicated his needed his dressing changed and the port entry looked at on Tuesday. When Chemo Sabe discussed this with the Infusion nurse (the one I mentioned a couple of month's ago he talked to about her attitude), she informed him it looked okay. She called a higher up nurse and he said there was nothing wrong with it. Well, yesterday there seemed to be a concern since a seepage of green matter was visible and a culture was run after the dressing was changed. They were talking infection. Remember, the port goes into the juggler vein. This worried him all night. He was up and down throughout the evening and ended up in his favorite spot -- the recliner in the den.

This morning the sight looked as if it had collected a yellowish substance about the size of a quarter. Instead of waiting for the 3:00 p.m. appointment he decided to go on in. Ended up he was there until 12:30 p.m. for a massive two hour induction of high dose antibiotic. The antibiotic is called Red Man because it is so strong it can turn the face red and blister. During this time he found out about his WBC being 1.56. We have to keep in mind that it has to be below 1.5 before the growth factor can be injected again.

When I got home from work he was very lethargic. The son and a friend came over to cut down some dead trees and Chemo Sabe went out with me to the bottom yard and I thought he wouldn't make it back to the house. When he asked me if I was taking him into clinic tomorrow, I knew then how bad he really felt. So, I took the easy way out for supper and fixed his favorite -- pizza.

He looks quite pale this evening and is losing his appetite. His culture came back and the infection is NOT in the blood. The site is not red or swollen. They believe the new dressing that has a pre-applied antibiotic has irritated the skin around the entry site. These dressings have only been in use the last few weeks. A representative will be in the area in the morning and they want Chemo Sabe there early to visit with them so they can see first hand what is happening.

With all that, we have had a very good and busy week. We rode Tuesday night and last night so we got in some good weather time. We have both worked hard this week with him preparing for his crash time some part of next week and me preparing for vacation Bible school at the church where I work. We feel certain he will be neutrapenic all weekend. We hope the growth factor will kick in and he can be back to work by Monday. Alll next week will be a tough week for me to squeeze in time to take him in if he is unable. BUT, that is my most important responsibility. We will have plenty of volunteers to help me out.

Speaking of lethargic -- I am there this evening myself. Your prayers continue to work and we are grateful. God continues to show us how he works, sometimes in just the smallest of ways.

Please continue to remember our new friends at the MM Center. They are all doing well, even with their neutrpenia. They all have indicated how much better they feel the second go round of the chemo. I think a lot of it is we now know what to expect with the chemo process and it doesn't seem as scary. I guess my next "Word for the Day' should be "Chemo". What do you think?

Prepare yourself for the next test. You NEVER know when it will be right around the corner!

Good evening and love -- Pepper

p.s. Chemo Sabe just told me a funny, funny story... It could be one of your tests, in fact. Beverly, the compassionate nurse, told them today that she really appreciates the patients that have learned and know the medical terms used during the MM process. She tells that one patient came in one day and told her he was "Neutragenic"... For some of you guys that may not know -- Neutragena is a brand name for a product used in skin care, shampoo, etc.! ha. But, then, when I started this blog I had to apologize because I had spelled it wrong throughout my journaling. Oops... Night, Night.