UPDATE -- Anniversary
ChemoSabe is not a happy camper tonight. The pain in his calf is now so bad he can hardly walk. He pulled his cane out and I haven't seen it since 1998. I looked his leg over when he came home and the back of it is pretty well swollen, but I see no redness. He has been in the recliner all evening.
The RN niece came over with hubby and child and looked it over. She thinks, as he, that it is just a pulled muscle. We both agree he should have it checked out tomorrow. I pulled out some instant hand warmers from our biker gear and placed them on the back of his leg and secured them with an ace bandage and elevated it. He asked for a pain pill, which is highly unusual and he is out.
Our anniversary dinner, you ask? His favorite, of course -- Digorno Supreme pizza. Tomorrow evening we will be having filet Mignon with baked potato.
UAMS has been switching our schedule around a bit. I hope it has nothing to do with the insurance deal today. The insurance company advised me they had contacted UAMS before they called me. I am curious if the insurance is void on the UAMS treatment or on any other type of illness through the end of the year. I am also concerned about the medication coverage as he needs four refills before the weekend. Questions I did not think of today during our conversation. I will be calling back tomorrow.
All-in-all, we had a very good evening. I got some needed housework and washing done. Didn't get around to Woody's cage, I didn't beat the dogs and nor did I scatter the fish. I did rearrange the spare bedroom and the sunroom. Those of you familiar with me know I have to rearrange a room at least once a month. Our two blinds dogs hate me when that happens.
Billy's WBC is coming down rapidly. He is happy about that. Still has some nausea, but the clinic is giving him something for that. I hate to see them go home, but I hope he gets to soon. We have not been able to see them this trip. Our missed dinner last week was due to my illness. Can't make these boys ill with something other than what they have already. Still ain't been no kissin in this house.
I will let you know at the end of the week how all the tests went. Especially the BMB (bone marrow biopsy). I already have the lollipops and sedative in my bag.
Better hit the rack since he has to be at UAMS by 6:30 a.m.
Remember -- God is good all the time; All the time God is good.
Good night and Love -- Pepper (Turnip)
p.s. -- Thanks for listening to my gripes today about the insurance. Bummer!
Chemo Sabe
- ChemoSabe
- Benton, AR, United States
- Diagnosed with Multiple Myeloma-- May 2008
Wednesday, August 6, 2008
Anniversary -- Word for the Day -- Wednesday, August 6, 2008
Anniversary
Definition: the annual recurrence of a date marking a notable event; broadly : a date that follows such an event by a specified period of time measured in units other than years
This evening at 7:30 marks a day in our lives, 21 years ago, that we became one. Now isn't that mushy? About this day of the month in April and May I was wondering if we would have any future anniversaries. Cried like a baby every day. Today things are much different as ChemoSabe's prognosis is considerably better.
This week has been a tiring week for him. Steroids kept him pumped up last week. He was like a fly; couldn't light anywhere for more than a few milliseconds. He is very run down now. His hip hurt him all weekend and we decided it was the side-to-side movements on the deck when we cleaned it last week. Now he has an awful pain in his left calf area. He feels it may be a pulled muscle. Sense he is not on blood thinner right now, I am hoping it isn't a clot. He has not slept well with it.
We have both kicked back early each night this week. I fixed a pot of potato soup and my awesome iron skillet corn bread last night. Seems that was the soul food we needed, even though the weather is still very hot. We got upstairs and to bed by 8:00 in time to watch "America's Got Talent". ChemoSabe didn't get into it but 15 minutes. I looked over and his lamp was shining on the chrome. I had to laugh. If I didn't know better I would believe he put polish on that noggin! He shines his shoes EVERY morning and I am beginning to wonder about the head.
Received a call today that insurance is not paying anymore on treatment. We have reached the max of $125k for the year. Generous of them, wasn't it? We have been through worse and we will make it through this. Cannot let this ruin our day. I will just change my biker name to "Turnip" and tell them when they call for payment that I don't have any blood! ha.. Get it? "Can't squeeze blood out of a turnip". I see a tattoo coming. How would a turnip look on the side of my calf?
My day is winding down. I may write some more this evening after I clean Woody's cage, beat the dogs, scatter the fish and fix ChemoSabe's supper.
Good day --- Love, Pepper
Definition: the annual recurrence of a date marking a notable event; broadly : a date that follows such an event by a specified period of time measured in units other than years
This evening at 7:30 marks a day in our lives, 21 years ago, that we became one. Now isn't that mushy? About this day of the month in April and May I was wondering if we would have any future anniversaries. Cried like a baby every day. Today things are much different as ChemoSabe's prognosis is considerably better.
This week has been a tiring week for him. Steroids kept him pumped up last week. He was like a fly; couldn't light anywhere for more than a few milliseconds. He is very run down now. His hip hurt him all weekend and we decided it was the side-to-side movements on the deck when we cleaned it last week. Now he has an awful pain in his left calf area. He feels it may be a pulled muscle. Sense he is not on blood thinner right now, I am hoping it isn't a clot. He has not slept well with it.
We have both kicked back early each night this week. I fixed a pot of potato soup and my awesome iron skillet corn bread last night. Seems that was the soul food we needed, even though the weather is still very hot. We got upstairs and to bed by 8:00 in time to watch "America's Got Talent". ChemoSabe didn't get into it but 15 minutes. I looked over and his lamp was shining on the chrome. I had to laugh. If I didn't know better I would believe he put polish on that noggin! He shines his shoes EVERY morning and I am beginning to wonder about the head.
Received a call today that insurance is not paying anymore on treatment. We have reached the max of $125k for the year. Generous of them, wasn't it? We have been through worse and we will make it through this. Cannot let this ruin our day. I will just change my biker name to "Turnip" and tell them when they call for payment that I don't have any blood! ha.. Get it? "Can't squeeze blood out of a turnip". I see a tattoo coming. How would a turnip look on the side of my calf?
My day is winding down. I may write some more this evening after I clean Woody's cage, beat the dogs, scatter the fish and fix ChemoSabe's supper.
Good day --- Love, Pepper
Monday, August 4, 2008
Platelet -- Word for the Day -- Monday, August 4, 2008
Platelet
Definition: a minute flattened body (as of ice or a mineral); especially : a minute colorless disklike body of mammalian blood that assists in blood clotting by adhering to other platelets and to damaged epithelium —called also blood platelet.
Here's a history listen for you guys today. Do you remember the low count for Platelets? When ChemoSabe's platelets became a certain level he would be in the Infusion chair for approximately 30 minutes to receive a bag. Okay -- here's your answer -- Below 20. He received his report today from last Thursday and his platelets are 155. AWESOME!
Okay -- I will tell you this one.. We get worried when the WBC is below 2. Thursday he was at 5.29. Yeeeeaaaaaahhhhh!!! He just keeps on getting better. With results like this he will be more than ready for his big dose of chemo on Tuesday. That will knock him down on his knees again, as far as counts go.
With his last dose of steroids on Friday, he was running full speed. I won't tell you how little sleep he got because you wouldn't believe me, but you could probably count on one hand how much in 48 hours. He finally ran out of gas yesterday after we went out and had breakfast with the son. He slept the rest of the day in the recliner. Today he was still out of gas, but didn't crash when he got home. Instead of going to bed at 7:00 or watching reruns on television, we watched a very good movie with Kevin Spacy (21) and are down for the night.
Billy had his transplant today. ChemoSabe called him this afternoon and got the scoop. He sounded relieved when he got off the phone. Billy says he feels well except for a little nausea. He is quite susceptible to infection now. He indicates you can go down for about a week and then come back up and then you get another dose of cells. We didn't realize it would be so fast, but here we are. It's amazing and humbling. We are about to have babies.
We stayed in much of the weekend. Son came over on Saturday since he was a 'weekend bachelor' and cooked us burgers on the grill. Rainman and Stretch were out riding their bikes and dropped in to cool off. None too soon, I would venture to say. Too, too hot to ride.
We have a lot in store this week. ChemoSabe will be at UAMS by 7:00 a.m. on Thursday and his last test begins at 1:30 p.m. That being the dreaded bone marrow biopsy again. He doesn't seem to be dreading it as much as in the past. Even with much discomfort at least he knows it is just a drop in the bucket to survival. I plan to drop him off and got into work so I can catch up. I need at least three hours to get my Sunday work ready. He can do the first four tests, but that BMB just ain't a one man band.
I have seen about three articles in the paper the last two weeks about the MM patients at UAMS. A blog on KTHV gives us statistics, contact with other patients, etc. I have not looked at the blog. Another article tells about the movies and dinner once a month for the patients. And one today was about a Corp of Engineers camp site where patients live in the RVs while away from home. Have I been unaware of these stories in the past about the popularity of MM, or is it such a common disease and I have not been listening to the words in the past? Does that make sense to you? I hate long sentences.
Rainman told ChemoSabe of a man in Conway he speaks with that is an eight year survivor. He will be getting a call from ChemoSabe for progress notes.
Well -- got my orders to finish up. I have been the patient since Thursday myself so I need to wind down. I am running out of fuel. Could I get some steroids, please?!
Good night and love those platelets!! Pepper
Definition: a minute flattened body (as of ice or a mineral); especially : a minute colorless disklike body of mammalian blood that assists in blood clotting by adhering to other platelets and to damaged epithelium —called also blood platelet.
Here's a history listen for you guys today. Do you remember the low count for Platelets? When ChemoSabe's platelets became a certain level he would be in the Infusion chair for approximately 30 minutes to receive a bag. Okay -- here's your answer -- Below 20. He received his report today from last Thursday and his platelets are 155. AWESOME!
Okay -- I will tell you this one.. We get worried when the WBC is below 2. Thursday he was at 5.29. Yeeeeaaaaaahhhhh!!! He just keeps on getting better. With results like this he will be more than ready for his big dose of chemo on Tuesday. That will knock him down on his knees again, as far as counts go.
With his last dose of steroids on Friday, he was running full speed. I won't tell you how little sleep he got because you wouldn't believe me, but you could probably count on one hand how much in 48 hours. He finally ran out of gas yesterday after we went out and had breakfast with the son. He slept the rest of the day in the recliner. Today he was still out of gas, but didn't crash when he got home. Instead of going to bed at 7:00 or watching reruns on television, we watched a very good movie with Kevin Spacy (21) and are down for the night.
Billy had his transplant today. ChemoSabe called him this afternoon and got the scoop. He sounded relieved when he got off the phone. Billy says he feels well except for a little nausea. He is quite susceptible to infection now. He indicates you can go down for about a week and then come back up and then you get another dose of cells. We didn't realize it would be so fast, but here we are. It's amazing and humbling. We are about to have babies.
We stayed in much of the weekend. Son came over on Saturday since he was a 'weekend bachelor' and cooked us burgers on the grill. Rainman and Stretch were out riding their bikes and dropped in to cool off. None too soon, I would venture to say. Too, too hot to ride.
We have a lot in store this week. ChemoSabe will be at UAMS by 7:00 a.m. on Thursday and his last test begins at 1:30 p.m. That being the dreaded bone marrow biopsy again. He doesn't seem to be dreading it as much as in the past. Even with much discomfort at least he knows it is just a drop in the bucket to survival. I plan to drop him off and got into work so I can catch up. I need at least three hours to get my Sunday work ready. He can do the first four tests, but that BMB just ain't a one man band.
I have seen about three articles in the paper the last two weeks about the MM patients at UAMS. A blog on KTHV gives us statistics, contact with other patients, etc. I have not looked at the blog. Another article tells about the movies and dinner once a month for the patients. And one today was about a Corp of Engineers camp site where patients live in the RVs while away from home. Have I been unaware of these stories in the past about the popularity of MM, or is it such a common disease and I have not been listening to the words in the past? Does that make sense to you? I hate long sentences.
Rainman told ChemoSabe of a man in Conway he speaks with that is an eight year survivor. He will be getting a call from ChemoSabe for progress notes.
Well -- got my orders to finish up. I have been the patient since Thursday myself so I need to wind down. I am running out of fuel. Could I get some steroids, please?!
Good night and love those platelets!! Pepper
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