Sunday, February 28, 2010
Treatment #12
I talked to my sister who is taking turns with me this weekend sitting with Jeanine and she said that things are going well and that Jeanine had treatment #12. So far so good.
Treatment #11
Jeanine has now reached the minimum doses of her treatment and everything on out is icing on the cake. The maximum will be 14 doses and is she continues on schedule she will be done early Monday morning. That is a big "IF" though. As you may remember, she only made it to 12 last time.
Yesterday there was a little scare. She complained of heaviness in her legs and it was determined that she needed an ultrasound of the blood vessels in her legs to check for blood clots. Thankfully she had none.
Her blood pressure has dropped several times to the 80's for the systolic and 40's for the diastolic. She needed oxygen for a while early this morning to keep her oxygen level in the 90's. She still has a low grade fever. The other annoying symptoms such as vomiting, weakness, swelling, and needing the room down to 65 degrees are still there and her skin is starting to peel again. But all in all, it looks good on our end, but it is the blood tests that determine if she is allowed to continue. We'll see what the doctor says.
Yesterday there was a little scare. She complained of heaviness in her legs and it was determined that she needed an ultrasound of the blood vessels in her legs to check for blood clots. Thankfully she had none.
Her blood pressure has dropped several times to the 80's for the systolic and 40's for the diastolic. She needed oxygen for a while early this morning to keep her oxygen level in the 90's. She still has a low grade fever. The other annoying symptoms such as vomiting, weakness, swelling, and needing the room down to 65 degrees are still there and her skin is starting to peel again. But all in all, it looks good on our end, but it is the blood tests that determine if she is allowed to continue. We'll see what the doctor says.
Saturday, February 27, 2010
Treatment #8
Jeanine is on track with 8 treatments and so far she is pretty consistent with her reactions. She gets red, gets the chills (which are getting harder to control), and throws up and then sleeps in between. Her blood pressure is holding up well and she runs a low grade fever. Her pulse has been the most troublesome, but it hasn't stopped any of her treatments. GO JEANINE!
Friday, February 26, 2010
Treatment #5
I've just come home after a long stint with Jeanine. Yesterday, she officially worried the nurses. She counted four times they called the doctor. Several of those times I thought they were overreacting, but one time, Jeanine had me worried. Her temperature headed up to 37.7... not terribly high (around 100 degrees F), but her pulse was racing at 165. Her blood pressure has remained fairly stable. She has not dipped below 100 systolic and 50 diastolic.
She had chills for the first time, during this hospital stay, last night and we determined it was because the Demerol that is used to control them was not administered soon enough. If they do it exactly 1 hour from the time she ends her chemo, she gets cold, but not the horrible shakes.
Before I go back she will have had treatment number 6. She says that the time is crawling despite the fact that she sleeps most of the time. More later.
She had chills for the first time, during this hospital stay, last night and we determined it was because the Demerol that is used to control them was not administered soon enough. If they do it exactly 1 hour from the time she ends her chemo, she gets cold, but not the horrible shakes.
Before I go back she will have had treatment number 6. She says that the time is crawling despite the fact that she sleeps most of the time. More later.
Thursday, February 25, 2010
Chemo starts
Jeanine's chemo began at 3:30 yesterday afternoon. Which means at this point, she has had 3 treatments.
She has so far managed to skip the chills with the help of medicine, but has added cold sweats to her list of symptoms. With her very 1st treatment, her first symptom was extreme tiredness. She has added nausea, vomiting, heartburn. Her blood pressure has been good so far and her pulse, not unexpectedly, a little high. Her temperature is normal.
Her doctor came to see her last night and told her that he had talked to the radiologist. There was no change in her tumors after the last batch of chemo.
I'm heading back to her bedside soon after enjoying a few hours of sleep at home.
She has so far managed to skip the chills with the help of medicine, but has added cold sweats to her list of symptoms. With her very 1st treatment, her first symptom was extreme tiredness. She has added nausea, vomiting, heartburn. Her blood pressure has been good so far and her pulse, not unexpectedly, a little high. Her temperature is normal.
Her doctor came to see her last night and told her that he had talked to the radiologist. There was no change in her tumors after the last batch of chemo.
I'm heading back to her bedside soon after enjoying a few hours of sleep at home.
Tuesday, February 23, 2010
Back to the Hospital
Jeanine was called at 9 am today and told to come into the hospital. She told them it would be 2 hours (she was just waking up after a horrible night's sleep). They sounded all offended and told her to get there as soon as she could.
We arrived about 11 am and spent the next 5-6 hours waiting. The doctor had left no instructions and was in a meeting. About 4 pm, things started happening... an EKG, some blood work and I left about 6 pm as she was heading down to get her picc line. We expect, but haven't been told, that she will start HD-IL2 (her chemo) tonight. She is not at all looking forward to it, but she has been so bored for the last 7 hours, I think that even chemo is starting to look good.
I will stay tonight and see how her symptoms are with this chemo. We have no idea what to expect. If she starts out with a bang, I want to be there to help her out. More as soon as I know and when I get home.
We arrived about 11 am and spent the next 5-6 hours waiting. The doctor had left no instructions and was in a meeting. About 4 pm, things started happening... an EKG, some blood work and I left about 6 pm as she was heading down to get her picc line. We expect, but haven't been told, that she will start HD-IL2 (her chemo) tonight. She is not at all looking forward to it, but she has been so bored for the last 7 hours, I think that even chemo is starting to look good.
I will stay tonight and see how her symptoms are with this chemo. We have no idea what to expect. If she starts out with a bang, I want to be there to help her out. More as soon as I know and when I get home.
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