more scans

Yesterday was another PET/CT scan. From these scans, Dr Einhorn will be able to tell me something about progress so far when I meet with him on Wednesday. Hopefully, there has been good progress and I will not need additional chemo for now. In any case, he will advise regarding progress and next steps. Each day has been a little better for the last few days. BP is still running high and I am once again getting headaches - but not as bad as earlier. Yesterday, I sent the past week's BPs to Dr Forking and I hope to hear from her regarding changing BP meds or dosages.

better each day

Good news - I have continued to feel better each day. We made a trip to the outlet mall today. We needed to exchange a suitcase that broke on its first use - the trip to the Dominican Republic for Abby"s wedding. Wouldn't you know that the latches worked just fine when the store clerk tried them. But, she exchanged the bag anyway.

My BP appears to still not be completely under control. It has kicked back up after just a very short time of being lower. Will see what Dr Forkin says. Still having some headaches - but less often and not nearly as severe. PET/CT scan tomorrow. Will see Dr Einhorn Wednesday to find out about the scans.

Jill's mom went home Saturday. She and Jill got a lot done while she was here. They got all the tubs emptied from the living room. And, Julie is gone right now. She is helping to chaperone a mission trip by a group of high school age kids to New Orleans. She was to help drive one of the vehicles - a Ford Expedition. Quite a large vehicle for her since she only drives her VW Jetta.

Last night we hosted our euchre group. It was a great success and all the food seemed to be a hit - but it sure wore out both of us. We didn't do loads of cooking - but there was quite a bit of prep for things like meatballs/sauce, antipasto tray, homemade quacomole, etc. We were both really tired when the night was over.

last chemo for now - we hope

Last Thursday, I had what I hope will be my last chemo for a while. Unfortunately, it has reached a point where every chemo infusion kicks my butt. This one was no different. The blood work before the chemo showed that my blood counts were quite low. In fact, the hemoglobin count was only 9 versus a normal range of 12 - 14. That would explain the issue of lost energy. The Friday after chemo wasn't too bad - but Saturday, Sunday and Monday were pretty rough. As usual, got a little better each day beginning Monday. Today, Wednesday, I am finally able to get into work. Have been having splitting headaches. Dr Einhorn scheduled me for a head MRI just to ensure that the cancer had not spread to my brain. I got a call Tuesday afternoon to confirm that my head was completely clear. Dr Forkin adjusted my blood pressure meds since the BP was pretty high. BP started to finally come down on Tuesday. Next Monday I will have a PET/CT scan and will see Dr Einhorn to talk about progress and next steps.

one more tomorrow

I guess I better write a post today before my chemo tomorrow. I am feeling a little better. Got into the office around 10-ish and plan to leave shortly - about 2PM. Still not even close to fully recovered from last week and I expect tomorrow to end up killing another weekend. But, the good news is that this will hopefully be the last chemo for a while. We will see what happens with the tests and scans in a couple weeks. Jill's mom is supposed to arrive today - so I might get a little pampering for a while. Jill has been a real trooper the past week or so when I have felt so bad. But, she has her own energy issues. Will be nice to have some help for her for a while.

this one hit hard

This particular long chemo infusion really hit me hard. On Friday, I was feeling OK and cooked sauce and meat for lasagna - which was delicious. It was nice to have both kids here, along with Brett's girlfriend Arielle, to help so that we could make and eat a big lasagna. But...shortly after, I started to get hit by the chemo on Friday night. Ended up sleeping 21 hours on Saturday and about 14-15 hours on Sunday. Didn't eat much and felt generally pretty crummy. Finally started to come out of it a little on Monday but I was not able to get to work. It seemed to help when I could eat a little - but food just didn't appeal to me at all. On Monday night, I had a little of the leftover lasagna. Tuesday, I needed to get into work for a meeting so I pushed myself to eat more. I did make it to work by noon and lasted until the end of the meeting around 4:30. But, went straight to bed and napped until about 7PM. Finally tonight, I am feeling a little better. I expect that I will be able to get into work tomorrow - just sitting around gets old very quickly. But, I get another short chemo infusion on Thursday. Hopefully, this will be the last chemo and I will get a chance to recover a little more fully.

another long day

Well...yesterday was another very long day of chemo. At the meeting with Dr Einhorn first, he indicated that he thinks there is a good chance this may be the last chemo treatment. That would certainly be nice. It would be great to have enough time to really recover before getting slammed again. It wasn't too bad other than being very tired - not sure if that was the chemo or sitting in the chair for 7 hours. Slept until around 10:30 this morning. Don't feel too bad right now. Not sure I would want to drive downtown to work - but OK since I am just sitting around. I set an appt to see Dr Forkin on Monday. Dr Einhorn thinks my BP is running a bit high and wants me to talk with her about maybe adjusting my BP med. Apparently, the avastin that I am getting and will be getting for a year has a tendency to elevate BP. Next PET/CT scan is July 23 and I meet with Dr Einhorn on July 25. I imagine we will discuss status and next steps. The last PET/CT scan was after two chemo treatments and this will be after a total of four. So...I hope there will have been considerable progress.

We had a very busy July 4. I grilled steaks, burgers and brats. Also put pouches on the grill filled with potatoes & onions and peppers, onions, celery & garlic. Jill made potato salad, sweet corn & sliced cucumbers. It was very delicious - and very tiring. We haven't prepared that kind of meal in quite a while. Glad the kids were here to pitch in a little help - and to eat it so that we could make a good variety. Can't do that kind of thing with just the two of us.

Looks like Brett and Arielle are staying until around Sunday. So, we are going to make lasagna tonight. Hopefully, my energy will hold up so I can be helpful with the prep and cooking.

up and down

The past few days have been filled with relatively minor ups & downs. Started taking a few over-the-counter drugs for sinus congestion and cough. Had headache off and on - but I think it may have been from the sinus congestion. Have made it to work both days so far this week. Tomorrow is July 4 and Brett is home with his girlfriend, Arielle. They got here late last night. We are playing a small cookout and, hopefully, a somewhat relaxing day.

Then, Thursday will be another long day - full day chemo infusion. Depending on how I feel, I may just take off Friday for a long weekend. After this long infusion and a short infusion next Thursday, we'll see what makes sense for the next steps. I will have had two more infusions since the last PET/CT scans. Those scans were after just two infusions. So, hopefully, the next scans will show good improvement.

back to the office

After taking off yesterday just in case my watery eyes might be a relapse of pink eye, I am back today. My eyes are still watering quite a bit - but they have not turned red or swollen as they did with pink eye.

Each day this week, I feel just a little better. Probably over extended a little yesterday. When my eyes didn't get red, we went out to search for and buy tile. Got the tile for the downstairs bath. But...never came up with anything for the kitchen backsplash. After quite a bit of looking at a couple stores, both Jill and I pretty much pooped out. That was it for the day. Got home and took a short nap.

crud

Well...crud...I was planning on pushing my time at work a little more each day this week. But...my eyes started to weep and get a little crusty in the middle of last night - similar to when the pink eye started a couple weeks ago. Can't afford to go to work until I can figure out if it is pink eye coming back. So, I guess I'll hang around at home until I know for sure.

Otherwise, the good news is that I am feeling pretty well. Headaches are completely gone. Energy level is starting to build back up. I suppose I will try to get a few chores done - that should test the energy level. I have several things that have been on hold while I wasn't feeling well.

chemo kicks my butt

Well...so much for my energy being back. Seems that even the one-hour chemo infusions are now kicking my butt. This time I had about three days of headaches and very low energy. Not the worst that I have had - but bad enough to keep me down for much of the weekend. We did get out a few times - but it didn't take much to drain my energy. Happily, I don't have another infusion until July 5...so I have some time to recover and feel OK for a while.

Jill sees her hematologist/oncologist this week. Hopefully, he confirms that everything remains stable. It's is sometimes a little strange for her to have more energy than me - but very good that she seems to be stable.

energy is back - kinda

Well...yesterday I managed to get into the office for a while. And, today, I am quite a bit better. When I got to the office, it turned out that I had a couple boxes from reps. One group of reps sent me a fruit-of-the-month thing - this month was cherries. Very nice and very good. Another sent a box of Harry & David pears - these are always the absolute best ever. So, I had a chance to enjoy some very good fruit - and will have some for the next couple days.

Tomorrow, I have a short chemo and an appt with Dr Forkin to discuss my basic meds - particularly my blood pressure med.

it's been a while

Well...it's been a while since my last post. So...let's get updated.

The trip to the Dominican Republic and the wedding were very nice. Punta Cana Bavaro Suites was a very nice place - I certainly recommend for anyone wanting a good land/beach-based vacation. The rooms, food, atmosphere were all great. It was very relaxing and we took lots of naps. The wedding was quite nice. It was nice to see everyone for longer than the typical wedding/reception since everyone was there for at least four days and others longer.

The day before we left I came down with pink eye. But, that is cleared up now and no longer a problem. We had been worried about possible infections on the trip since my immune system was compromised. But, the pink eye turned out to actually be a relatively minor issue.

Had PET/CT scans on Wednesday. Met with Dr Einhorn before chemo on Thursday. Turns out that what he referred to as the "big miracle" didn't happen - surgery does not look like an immediate option. However, the "small miracle" is that the chemo continues to make good progress. So...we will continue down that route.

The Thursday all-day chemo really kicked my butt. Didn't really have pain or the kinds of side effects that put me in the hospital a few weeks ago. More just a complete loss of energy and little appetite. Spent most of the time late Friday and all day Sunday just sleeping and doing very little. On Sunday, I moved around and ate a little - but still not very much. Today, Monday, I had to get to Dr Forkin's office for a blood draw and I had some breakfast - a great heart-healthy McDonald's breakfast!!! I am feeling a little better. Haven't been in to work for a while but plan to try to get in tomorrow for a while.

Have a short chemo this Thurday and a follow-up with Dr Forkin. I have been off my blood pressure meds since I was in the hospital and had extremely low BP. My BP has been slightly high since going off the meds. We'll see what Dr Forkin wants to do - Dr Einhorn is leaving that decision to her.

The current plan is for my next full-day chemo to be July 5. I assume there will be another short chemo the week after that. Then, Dr Einhorn wants to do the PET/CT scans again. He is not ready to give up on a chance for surgery. In any case, the PET/CT scans will help to determine the clear progress of the chemo during the first four infusions. Will then determine plan going forward. Don't know yet whether the plan will be for a couple more infusions.

doing well

This will be the last post for a week or so. Early tomorrow, we leave for the Dominican Republic where we will attend the wedding of Jill's niece, Abby. I have been feeling remarkably well for the last few days. No significant side effects other than my diminished stamina. Have been getting to the office regularly. I still don't have much of an appetite - but I am "eating by the clock". When it is a normal time to eat, I just eat even though my body doesn't tell me I am hungry. And, I am eating relatively normal amounts even though I don't feel full. Many foods don't have much taste. But, my approach is simply that I need the nutrition - so I eat. It will be interesting to see how my body handles the trip - being outside my normal routine. I expect the travel to tire me quite a bit. But, once we get there, I should have lots to time to rest and relax. We travel Wednesday and the wedding is Saturday - so I will have Thursday and Friday to just relax. We will fly home on Tuesday.

farmer's market

Today was the first day of the Carmel Farmer's Market. Both Jill and I woke up early - not on purpose - and we headed to the market. Got a little tired walking the full market - but it was nice to get out. Grabow Orchards didn't have any pies today but I did get some blueberry bread and banana bread.

I noticed today that the fog/haze I have been feeling for a while is now gone. My stamina has continued to lessen each day - but that is about the only real effect at this time.

We have euchre tonight so I think I will try to get a good nap this afternoon before cards.