Pneumonia -- Word for the Day -- Friday, June 26, 2009

Pneumonia

A disease of the lungs characterized especially by inflammation and consolidation of lung tissue followed by resolution and by fever, chills, cough, and difficulty in breathing and that is caused especially by infection

I wish I could tell you that ChemoSabe is better, but he isn't. His CRP was at 133 on Wednesday and then came down to 50 on Thursday. He has been getting IV antibiotics every day along with Levaquin by mouth at night. I had my hopes up yesterday, but then he called from lab this morning and CRP is up to 73. They left the IV in his arm so they can give him another round of antibiotics tomorrow and Sunday.

He has a rash on his face and I am certain that is from the antibiotics. Infection causes it, too. I have seen this in other patients that stayed at our cancer houses and their end result wasn't good. I am getting worried. It has been a week.

His coughing got a lot better on Wednesday, but now when he gets up to go to the kitchen or bathroom he starts coughing so bad he bends over. It is a crackling, deep down cough. The Infusion center doesn't seem to be worried.

He has been eating good. Although, night before last all he wanted was cheese toast. He has been snacking, as well. I went to W-M today and got some more snacks and he said he has been craving a cook out...(hamburgers) So, we talked about chili dogs for supper. It is just too hot to go in and out from the deck. I will just boil the wieners.

As soon as I got home I fixed him a bologna/salami sandwich and he ate it like he was starved. I noticed a cereal bowl in the sink so that tells me he ate before I got back. For that I am thankful.

He has been asleep in the recliner since about 1:00 p.m., but he does wake up to talk to me and give me that smile.

He has done so well over the past year. I would hate for something like this to bring him down.

CelGene Corp. called today to advise they are sending his new prescription of Revlimid. That is another sort of chemo by mouth. They have been sending it free. Another one of those $3,000/mo meds. For this, we are blessed. I have been surprised they call us to let us know when it is coming. I told the young lady about him being sick all week and lo and behold, she called him on his cell and told him pneumonia wasn't in the picture... They laughed.

If you remember, in October when my mom was in hospice, these people sent ME a FedEx package and I thought it was more paperwork to fill out. It was a card of encouragement from a young lady that worked with me. She has since been transferred and now the girl that called today is just as considerate.

I have chores I need to do, like pay bills, and I just don't want to. I sit in the den with him and watch him. When he goes upstairs early to bed, then I pack things up and head up with him. I did stop by Hastings today and picked up four movies. I don't much think he will stay awake to watch them, but they are good ones.

The kids have been extra quite today as if they know he is sick. I have not let them in to our part of the house. They have been in the sunroom much of the day because of the heat. I do have a floor fan on the deck for them, but it just blows the heat. We have been putting ice in their bucket.

Well, I just wanted to give you an update. If you want to call you can, but he is generally refusing to talk to anyone. His sis called last night and he said, "Hello, here is ____". (I don't use our real names on here).

Our two little zebra finches had four eggs about two weeks ago and one hatched today. It isn't as big as my fingernail or a milk dud. He did smile and laugh about that... He is so amazed at the tininess of it.

Good evening and Love -- Pepper