The First Week of the Big Dose

As I said on my blog post on Monday, this week was Joe's first treatment with the increased dosage to last three weeks. There are several advantages to doing it every three weeks. Obviously there is the time savings by not going every week. There is the money savings by not paying the insurance co-pay every week and there is the less time away from work for me by not going to the infusion every week. Those are the pluses. We are now discovering the negatives: extreme fatigue, extreme joint pain and extreme "I don't want to do anything but lay on the couch" syndrome. Joe today questioned whether he wants to continue with the increased dosage or go back to each week. I think we will see it through the holidays with just the one more treatment on December 17th and then maybe after the new year, go back to weekly.....possibly.

We also got the lab results from the "specimen" jars he dropped off at the Duke Cancer Center back on Wednesday. He did test positive for the C-Diff infection but not positive for the Odon parasite. He's back on an antibiotic and having to supplement his diet with pedialyte and bananas. Not sure what purpose the banana has other than potassium but he's eating a couple a day. He was having a pretty good day today, better than the last two days, up until this evening when he started feeling nauseous and began throwing up. We had been so pleased that this treatment didn't seem to be causing any nausea, or at least minimal. We are hopeful that tonight is maybe from the C-diff and not the chemo. Regardless, he feels really bad tonight. It always seems to start on Saturday evenings. With his music all planned out for Sunday, it upsets him a lot when he has a bad Saturday. He then gets very anxious about how he will feel the next day. Me, I just stay anxious each and every day. It's really disappointing for this to be happening tonight since we've had a good day. We went to PGUMC this morning and I helped with the Christmas decorations and Joe practiced his music for tomorrow and then we had a quick lunch and a very quick trip to Costco. The Costco trip was shorter than usual because he was tiring. Another symptom he's been having the last three days is dizziness, and I don't mean the quirky kind. The actual room spinning, I feel like I'm going to fall down kind. There will be another call to the Duke Cancer Center triage come Monday with that symptom. I know that typically it can be caused by dehydration and that may be all that it is. I'm becoming quite the pusher of water and fluids. I'm also becoming quite annoying to Joe when it comes to that topic, I do believe.

We had Dolly cremated while we were in the mountains (that ever so brief trip) and this week we got her remains from the vet. We haven't gotten her a permanent container like we have for our last three kitties but we will. Until then, she will stand tall in her fake marble container from the vet's office. Her brothers are jumping with joy to have her with them in "kitty heaven" chasing butterflies. (Joe's words, not mine)

The photo is the urns for (left to right): Hannibal, Nona, Dolly, and Bud. Our family of kitties that will always be in our hearts and minds.

A Day Like So Many Others...

...yet so different.
Today Joe started back his chemotherapy treatments after a month off due to being hospitalized, on antibiotics and the Thanksgiving holiday. Before his last hospitalization, he had been doing his treatments every week. Now, however, he is doing them once every three weeks, getting a larger dosage (4 hours long). He had his lab and doctor appointments early this morning prior to his treatment. He saw Dr. Zafar and of course after last weeks fever there were lots of questions. Joe was a good patient and told him about every issue he has had in the last few weeks. Since coming off the antibiotics he has been experiencing some stomach issues so now he has to provide a couple of "specimens" to make sure he doesn't have a c diff infection. He is so looking forward to delivering the samples tomorrow. Since he was already scheduled to go back to the Duke Cancer Center tomorrow for a shot to boost his white cell count, he'll just have to make a detour to the third floor to drop off his two cups (hopefully in a non see thru bag).

What made this treatment different is that it was the first long one that I wasn't present for. I'm here to tell you that I didn't like it one bit either. It will be the first and last. His next appointment isn't until December 17th. If he can just stay healthy, keep fevers away and stay out of the hospital, then life will be good.

With the higher dosage, we can expect the accompanying initial symptoms to increase: more fatigue and more joint aches. Hopefully however, by the end of this week, the symptoms will have eased and he will have a couple of really good weeks before his next infusion.

We both really appreciate all the words of encouragement and support this past week. It wasn't the best of weeks but your concern has been a big blessing. Thank you.

While waiting to pick Joe up, I had a lovely ride around Duke Chapel.