Round 3
Gil's doing pretty good. The hemoglobin is a bit low, but due to a calculation error, a count of 12.6 is ok. It's when the count gets to 11 that we have to worry. How do you get your hemoglobin up? I still have yet to really research that. Blood pressure is still a little low. All of this seems to be a rest issue. The Dr. feels he is doing outstandingly well; keep up the good attitude.
Jason has shut down. After crossing the line with me and wanting to do...whatever, but can't because he doesn't have a car. He want's more freedom than we can rightfully give. Don't know what to do about that.
Me, I'm just kind of trying to keep my sanity. When you get so focused on taking care of everyone else, it's hard to make time for yourself.
210 120/80
Friday, January 27, 2006
Monday, January 23, 2006
Blood Work
Well, sorry I have been so remiss in keeping up here.
Gil has been pretty tired lately. As it turns out his hemoglobin is low...12.5; it needs to be at 13 or above for him to be able to have his chemo this week. He needs to get rest (yeah, right...if you know Gil, he hasn't slowed down much) and ...I'm not sure what, but I'm going to try to get him to take some iron pills this week. I know he's not really into leafy greens, so that's the best I can do.
He still hasn't quite shaved his head. He keeps meaning to, but the between his business and the hairstylist next to his shop, it's just been to busy. So everyday, I wait to see if he comes home shaved. His hair is very sparse - his eyebrows have thinned alot, it takes better than a week for any growth to even be felt on his face; the biggest thing we have noticed are some body odors and uncontrolled sweating around the mouth (maybe more than should be known, but...).
OK, well, now that I have overshared...
This week we have chemo coming up, if all is good with his blood count. Gil is hoping to talk the Dr. down to only 2 more treatments, but I'm not sure it's going happen...but I suppose if everything is really going better than anyone hoped for...who knows what could happen.
I will hope to have some happy news this weekend!
Gil has been pretty tired lately. As it turns out his hemoglobin is low...12.5; it needs to be at 13 or above for him to be able to have his chemo this week. He needs to get rest (yeah, right...if you know Gil, he hasn't slowed down much) and ...I'm not sure what, but I'm going to try to get him to take some iron pills this week. I know he's not really into leafy greens, so that's the best I can do.
He still hasn't quite shaved his head. He keeps meaning to, but the between his business and the hairstylist next to his shop, it's just been to busy. So everyday, I wait to see if he comes home shaved. His hair is very sparse - his eyebrows have thinned alot, it takes better than a week for any growth to even be felt on his face; the biggest thing we have noticed are some body odors and uncontrolled sweating around the mouth (maybe more than should be known, but...).
OK, well, now that I have overshared...
This week we have chemo coming up, if all is good with his blood count. Gil is hoping to talk the Dr. down to only 2 more treatments, but I'm not sure it's going happen...but I suppose if everything is really going better than anyone hoped for...who knows what could happen.
I will hope to have some happy news this weekend!
Tuesday, January 17, 2006
Lyrics
Just some lyrics that I have found most interesting at this time in our lives:
Some of us laugh, some of us cry,
Some of us smoke, some of us lie,
But it's all just the way that we cope with our lives.
~ ~ "Some Of Us" by Starsailor ~ ~
Falling from the rooftop
Crashing like a raindrop
Can you make my heart stop
Shaking like a leaf
Standing at the floodgate
Steady as an earthquake
Can you hear my heart break
Tearing at the seams
~ ~ "Drifting" by Bebo Norman ~ ~ (btw - this whole song is GREAT!!!)
Just thought I'd share. It's been kind of a rought day for Gil - he's been a bit sick today. A little suprising after had such a good weekend.
Some of us laugh, some of us cry,
Some of us smoke, some of us lie,
But it's all just the way that we cope with our lives.
~ ~ "Some Of Us" by Starsailor ~ ~
Falling from the rooftop
Crashing like a raindrop
Can you make my heart stop
Shaking like a leaf
Standing at the floodgate
Steady as an earthquake
Can you hear my heart break
Tearing at the seams
~ ~ "Drifting" by Bebo Norman ~ ~ (btw - this whole song is GREAT!!!)
Just thought I'd share. It's been kind of a rought day for Gil - he's been a bit sick today. A little suprising after had such a good weekend.
Saturday, January 14, 2006
Half Way Point!
Jan 12 was Gil's 4th treatment (end of round 2 and the half-way point).
They backed off things to the same level they were during the first 2 treatments, so he is doing much better than after the last treatment. The benadryl was the only thing kept at a higher level. Also he is back to taking his old anti-nausea medication (a generic Compazine).
Monday he will probably remove what hair he has left. We have found that baby shampoo (actually body wash/shampoo) is best for his super senstive skin right now. Regular shampoo was starting to really irritate his scalp.
He say's he actually feels pretty good right now. We have this week off from church, for which I am grateful - even if he is feeling ok. I was so afraid he would be so sick like he was last time...I glad Phil took my suggestion to the next level, even if Gil wasn't.
Anyway...
4 down, 4 to go!
209 116/76
They backed off things to the same level they were during the first 2 treatments, so he is doing much better than after the last treatment. The benadryl was the only thing kept at a higher level. Also he is back to taking his old anti-nausea medication (a generic Compazine).
Monday he will probably remove what hair he has left. We have found that baby shampoo (actually body wash/shampoo) is best for his super senstive skin right now. Regular shampoo was starting to really irritate his scalp.
He say's he actually feels pretty good right now. We have this week off from church, for which I am grateful - even if he is feeling ok. I was so afraid he would be so sick like he was last time...I glad Phil took my suggestion to the next level, even if Gil wasn't.
Anyway...
4 down, 4 to go!
209 116/76
Tuesday, January 03, 2006
Rough week
Well, this last Thursday (12/29/05) they had increased his medication - the preventative drugs (benadryl, change in anti-nausea, saline). Unfortunately this created some side effects we were not expecting. Nausea has actually increased, low grade fever, along with general weakness and being tired. I'm also wondering if he has caught a cold (he has a stuffy nose which is not a typical side effect of the chemo that I'm aware of). I'm not sure what to do at this point. I know he has another treatment coming Jan. 12, but I'm worried that he may not have recovered from this treatment completely. He sees the Dr. at his Jan. 12 appointment, so I'm sure he will mention all this to her.
Other than that - Mom & Dad (Horton) will be coming to visit Saturday, and Jensen returns from Hong Kong Sat. evening. We are all back at work - Jason and I went back to school Monday (1/2) and Gil went back today (1/3). None of really wanted to go, but...such is life.
WAAaaaaa!!
Other than that - Mom & Dad (Horton) will be coming to visit Saturday, and Jensen returns from Hong Kong Sat. evening. We are all back at work - Jason and I went back to school Monday (1/2) and Gil went back today (1/3). None of really wanted to go, but...such is life.
WAAaaaaa!!
Sunday, January 01, 2006
Happy New Year!!!
It’s 11:58 pm on Dec. 31st. I’m about to ring in the new year sitting on my front porch, sparkling grape juice at my feet (and I just set my glass on a slug – eww), David’s next to me and Merlyn is on a leash. The fog has rolled in - or is it smoke from the fireworks?
HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!
Ah – fireworks, sirens, whining dog whom David just took for a little walk. I hear distant voices probably wishing everyone a Happy New Year. Gil is asleep, Jason is playing Chinese chess and David made it back awefully quick from a walk down the street. I’m truly surprised Merlyn isn’t barking.
Well, I suppose I should be getting off to bed. Hopefully this next year will be better – no more hurricanes, no major sicknesses, Jason will be heading off to college….all I can ask for is a slightly more calm and quiet new year.
God bless.
K-bang – that one was close!
C
HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!
Ah – fireworks, sirens, whining dog whom David just took for a little walk. I hear distant voices probably wishing everyone a Happy New Year. Gil is asleep, Jason is playing Chinese chess and David made it back awefully quick from a walk down the street. I’m truly surprised Merlyn isn’t barking.
Well, I suppose I should be getting off to bed. Hopefully this next year will be better – no more hurricanes, no major sicknesses, Jason will be heading off to college….all I can ask for is a slightly more calm and quiet new year.
God bless.
K-bang – that one was close!
C
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