And it has been a week. Sorry if this one goes for a bit, but we have been busy and not stopping (well until the other night).
We spent most of every waking moment from Thursday through Sunday trying to get everything moved. We did get everything moved out of the house and still had a few thinks left outside to move (his cars, the pig, the storage unit, tractors, etc.) But that was ok as Michael and my dad could work on that during the week and get it all done by this coming weekend. And let me tell you, I think everyone was worn out by Saturday night, but we kept on going. Even though Michael is now 5 weeks out from his last chemo treatment, he still gets very tired so easy.
We did hear back from all the doctors by Monday and had gotten all his appointments scheduled for this week. So Michael’s week was supposed to go like this. Wednesday he was scheduled to have tests with his Gastroenterologist. Thursday he was to meet with his Radiation Oncologist and go to the imaging center to have a chest x-ray done and to get one of his MRI done. Friday he was to go get his last 2 MRI’s done at the imaging center. Plus continue to get the “outside” things moved. We did get one thing done on his list. Well maybe 2 but not in the right order as planned.
We went to his testing on Wednesday as planned. Everything looked good. Later in the day, Michael started to experience the same pain that has been coming and going. This pain would begin at the right of his back, and then go around to the side and then into the abdomen. He would generally double over with this and it would last around 2 – 3 hours then go away. At first, he would have it every few weeks, sometime in the middle of his chemotherapy cycles. Everyone thought it was something possibly in his intestines, stomach, etc. That was the whole reason for seeing the Gastroenterologist. We could never put our finger on why he was having these pains or even a pattern to them.
The pain on Wednesday began last afternoon, and kept getting a little stronger through the evening. We sat down around 7pm to eat dinner. He was able to eat his dinner and keep it down, but the pain was still there. By the time we were going to bed, he had finally asked for some pain medicine. He was not able to sleep, still doubling over, asked for another does since it was not working. Finally around 1:30 in the morning, he called his Gastroenterologist. He could not take the pain any longer. She suggested we meet her at the ER. We got up and took our hour drive to the hospital).
We check in, wait an hour in the waiting room, and finally get to go back to an exam room around 4:15 am. His doctor ordered a CT scan. After answering a ton of questions, the nurse accessing his port, drinking that lovely (nasty) stuff you have to drink for a CT scan, he was able to get it done around 7am. They said it would take about an hour to read the scans and get the results back to the doctors. Around 9am, his oncologist came into the ER room and told us the results. Michael had an inflamed gallbladder and a 1.3 cm gallstone blocking. They called a general surgeon in. She suggested they remove the gallbladder laproscopically. She said she could get him in that afternoon.
By 10:30 am, they took him down to pre-op. The doctors felt he would be more comfortable waiting there than waiting in the ER (he had a real loud patient yelling all the time in the room next to him). The doctors said it would only take about 1 – 1 ½ hours. By 1:00 they took him off to surgery. By 2:20, the doctor came and found me in the waiting room (and had to wake me up, I finally got a little sleep). She said that everything went well, and they were able to remove his gallbladder laproscopically. She was suggesting we stay at the hospital at least one night for observations but it was going to be up to his oncologist.
They kept Michael in recovery for quiet a long time. They were waiting on getting him a bed on the surgical floor. Finally around 5:00, they had a room for him and we were able to get him up there. For about the first hour or two, he was really out of it. He was experiencing some pain. He had a lot of discomfort throughout the night. He did feel better this morning, ready to go home. As he said, we were not getting the care that we normally get when we go to the Jackson building. He was in the main building this time and they are a lot busier there. We weren’t getting that “personal” touch we get when he goes into the oncology ward.
With all this excitement, we had to cancel his Thursday appointment with his radiation oncologist and all his x-ray, MRI’s. At the time he was supposed to get these done, we were in pre-op. We were able to get his appointment with his radiation oncologist rescheduled for Friday.
His appointment was supposed to be at 2pm, but once again, we were still at the hospital. Finally they discharged him around 4pm. We drove over to meet with the radiation doctor. He explained what to expect when he starts radiation. He did say that he wants to get the MRI’s done that the oncologist ordered before we begin his work-up for his radiation. This will give us a clear picture to make sure there isn’t anymore tumors’ floating around in his spinal cord.
I finally got him home around 6:30 this evening. I was able to get him settled in and fix him something to eat. He was able to keep the food down so that is a good sign. He finally asked for some pain medication before he decided to go to bed. Now he is sleeping well. I hope he is able to sleep through the night.
As for the “moving” of the things left, I will work on getting everything done tomorrow. The hardest part is going to keep Michael out of the way and in the house. It is going to take everything we all have to keep reminding him we will get his things moved and do it the “right” way.
So now on Monday, we will go back to see his oncologists’ and get is blood work done. They want to re-check his blood counts and check on his “liver” counts also. Also on Monday we will call and re-schedule his chest x-ray and MRI’s. Once we get his MRI’s done and the results to all his oncologists, we will schedule is radiation work-up. He will go back and see the general surgeon in 2 weeks.
It keeps going and going…
Anyways, thanks for all the prayers and please keep them coming.
Saturday, February 28, 2009
Thursday, February 19, 2009
Doctors Appointments~
We met with his doctors today. They did his blood work. His counts are looking "OK". His white count is down a little from 2 weeks ago, but his platelet count and hemoglobin count did come up some. We will go next week to have a chest x-ray and a full MRI done.
We are waiting for his Gastroenterologist to call tomorrow and schedule an appointment. We are also waiting for the radiation oncologist to call and let us know when we will begin radiation. Hopefully we will know more tomorrow.
We are still trying to get moved. We are hoping to be totally moved by this weekend, but it looks like a long shot for that. You would be surprised what you can accumulate after living in one spot for 9 years. Michael is still very tired. He is trying very hard to help with the move, but you can see where it is wearing on him. If you need our new address, just send me an email and I will send it to you.
I will give another update once we hear when we are to meet with his other doctors. Hope everyone has a great weekend!!
We are waiting for his Gastroenterologist to call tomorrow and schedule an appointment. We are also waiting for the radiation oncologist to call and let us know when we will begin radiation. Hopefully we will know more tomorrow.
We are still trying to get moved. We are hoping to be totally moved by this weekend, but it looks like a long shot for that. You would be surprised what you can accumulate after living in one spot for 9 years. Michael is still very tired. He is trying very hard to help with the move, but you can see where it is wearing on him. If you need our new address, just send me an email and I will send it to you.
I will give another update once we hear when we are to meet with his other doctors. Hope everyone has a great weekend!!
Wednesday, February 11, 2009
Update on Michael~
Sorry for giving an update earlier, but we have been extremely busy. Michael continued to run a fever last week through Wednesday. Never did reach 100.4 (that is the point I have to take him to the hospital), but it came close several times. He still felt tied and didn’t have the energy to do much of anything.
By Thursday last week he felt a little better. We began working on the house over at my parents (that is where we plan on temporarily moving too). He made it over there each day through the weekend to do a “little” work. None of us let him do too much. Each night, he would come home extremely tired, but felt good about being able “to do something” instead of just sitting around. Sunday, he went out to the shop and helped change some springs on a car. Well, he told the boys what to do. He got to stand back and be the “boss” and they were teasing him. I think he really enjoyed spending the afternoon out in the shop.
Last Monday (2/2/2009), we had a fun time (not really). Before we went to his doctor’s appointment, we heard someone outside honking their horn no stop. I went to the side door, and he went to the front door to see what was going on. There was a white van in the street honking trying to get someone’s attention. Our front yard was on fire. Yes, our front yard was on fire and the winds were blowing it right towards our house. I grab my phone, go outside, turning on the water hose and begin trying to keep if from getting to my house and called 911.
Our volunteer fire department finally showed up and helped get the rest of the fire out. While they were driving through my yard to put out the fire, they happened to drive over the area where my water meter is located. Luckily, it just stayed in the yard and didn’t get much closer to the house.
By Wednesday, we noticed we still had water standing in the ditch and called the water company. They finally came out on Friday and inspected our water meter and stated that there was a water break, but it is on our side of the meter which means it is our responsibility to fix it.
With that, if we stay there through the end of the month, that would be an extremely high water bill. We have been working as much as we can to try to get moved by this weekend. Next week is when we are supposed to start getting all his tests done.
Monday, he didn’t feel that great again. He started running a slight fever again, staying around 99.5. Tuesday, he slept all day. Not sure if he just over did it this past weekend working on the house and packing up to move, or if he is trying to catch something again.
Today he said he just feels tired. He is going to take it easy again today until the kids gets out of school, then have them help him pack up more things around the house.
I will try to send another update this weekend.
By Thursday last week he felt a little better. We began working on the house over at my parents (that is where we plan on temporarily moving too). He made it over there each day through the weekend to do a “little” work. None of us let him do too much. Each night, he would come home extremely tired, but felt good about being able “to do something” instead of just sitting around. Sunday, he went out to the shop and helped change some springs on a car. Well, he told the boys what to do. He got to stand back and be the “boss” and they were teasing him. I think he really enjoyed spending the afternoon out in the shop.
Last Monday (2/2/2009), we had a fun time (not really). Before we went to his doctor’s appointment, we heard someone outside honking their horn no stop. I went to the side door, and he went to the front door to see what was going on. There was a white van in the street honking trying to get someone’s attention. Our front yard was on fire. Yes, our front yard was on fire and the winds were blowing it right towards our house. I grab my phone, go outside, turning on the water hose and begin trying to keep if from getting to my house and called 911.
Our volunteer fire department finally showed up and helped get the rest of the fire out. While they were driving through my yard to put out the fire, they happened to drive over the area where my water meter is located. Luckily, it just stayed in the yard and didn’t get much closer to the house.
By Wednesday, we noticed we still had water standing in the ditch and called the water company. They finally came out on Friday and inspected our water meter and stated that there was a water break, but it is on our side of the meter which means it is our responsibility to fix it.
With that, if we stay there through the end of the month, that would be an extremely high water bill. We have been working as much as we can to try to get moved by this weekend. Next week is when we are supposed to start getting all his tests done.
Monday, he didn’t feel that great again. He started running a slight fever again, staying around 99.5. Tuesday, he slept all day. Not sure if he just over did it this past weekend working on the house and packing up to move, or if he is trying to catch something again.
Today he said he just feels tired. He is going to take it easy again today until the kids gets out of school, then have them help him pack up more things around the house.
I will try to send another update this weekend.
Monday, February 2, 2009
Doctor’s Appointment Today
Michael had another doctor’s appointment today. He is still on his antibiotics. While we were at the office his temp was 99.2. He is still running low-grade fever. His white blood count did come up to 4.1K which is a good thing. His platelet count only came up 1 to 25. His hemoglobin is down to 8.9.
After a good discussion with the doctors, they decided not to do his 6th chemo cycle. He is still not feeling that great and is still running a low-grade fever. Each treatment, it is taking longer and longer for him to bounce back. They are going to allow him to rest for a bit and try to get over this fever. They also want to give his body a break from the chemotherapy.
In two weeks, we will begin seeing his various specialists to begin running all his tests (MRI’s, CT Scans, chest x-rays, sonograms, tests to check internal organs, and various other tests). He will have tests from head to toe and everything in-between. After those tests, we will meet back with the oncologists and radiation oncologist and discuss his radiation plan.
At this point, the plan is to have lots and lots of tests in two weeks, if all goes good with the tests, begin his 5 weeks of radiation. Then they are still talking about finishing up with more chemotherapy.
He is happy about the “small” break right now. He is hoping to get some rest and get on his feet a little better. We will still need to monitor his temperature.
After a good discussion with the doctors, they decided not to do his 6th chemo cycle. He is still not feeling that great and is still running a low-grade fever. Each treatment, it is taking longer and longer for him to bounce back. They are going to allow him to rest for a bit and try to get over this fever. They also want to give his body a break from the chemotherapy.
In two weeks, we will begin seeing his various specialists to begin running all his tests (MRI’s, CT Scans, chest x-rays, sonograms, tests to check internal organs, and various other tests). He will have tests from head to toe and everything in-between. After those tests, we will meet back with the oncologists and radiation oncologist and discuss his radiation plan.
At this point, the plan is to have lots and lots of tests in two weeks, if all goes good with the tests, begin his 5 weeks of radiation. Then they are still talking about finishing up with more chemotherapy.
He is happy about the “small” break right now. He is hoping to get some rest and get on his feet a little better. We will still need to monitor his temperature.
Saturday, January 31, 2009
Still Running a Fever
Michael is still on his antibiotics and is still running a low fever. Yesterday his fever was running anywhere from 98.0 – 100.2. Last night I did get worried when it reached 100.2, but that is the highest it reached. It did come down and we stayed home.
Today so far, it has been going between 97.5 and 99.6. He is not really coughing, no sore throat, no stuffy / runny nose, etc. He just feels “blah” and is achy. His color still does not look very good and he is still weak and tired. I feel like a mom looking after her sick infant. I “bug” him every hour or so checking his temp. I even wake up every hour or so to check his temp. I am sure he is real tired of me. The fever is really worrying me. You would think this antibiotic would begin to work by now.
I am going to continue my motherly type checking his temp. If it does go up through the night, I will make the trip to Dallas to get him to the hospital. Please keep Michael in your prayers. I will update again if anything changes.
Today so far, it has been going between 97.5 and 99.6. He is not really coughing, no sore throat, no stuffy / runny nose, etc. He just feels “blah” and is achy. His color still does not look very good and he is still weak and tired. I feel like a mom looking after her sick infant. I “bug” him every hour or so checking his temp. I even wake up every hour or so to check his temp. I am sure he is real tired of me. The fever is really worrying me. You would think this antibiotic would begin to work by now.
I am going to continue my motherly type checking his temp. If it does go up through the night, I will make the trip to Dallas to get him to the hospital. Please keep Michael in your prayers. I will update again if anything changes.
Thursday, January 29, 2009
Running a Fever
Yesterday after lunch, Michael started running a fever, had chills, and the shakes. He called his oncologist. At one point it was up to 101.2. By the time doctors office called back, his fever had dropped down to 100. 2. They called him in some stronger antibiotics and told him to come into the office today to get his blood work and see the doctors. They also said that if it went over 100.4 again to go straight to the emergency room.
We went to his appointment and they did his blood work. Currently all his blood counts are the lowest they have ever been. His white count is only at .2K (normal is 5K – 10K). Also his platelet count is at 24. They are concerned with his counts, but since we are able to keep the fever below 100.4 right now, they let him come home. If it his fever goes over 100.4, I have to get him to the hospital so they can admit him, put him into isolation and get him started on IV antibiotics. We will still go to his appointment on Monday and check his counts again. They did say that if some of his counts get any lower, Michael will have to have a blood transfusion.
Michael is still very week and tired. His skin color doesn’t look right. His balance is off. He just doesn’t feel right. We are going to keep are fingers crossed that his fever doesn’t get much higher. Currently he has been staying between 99.0 and 99.5 since he’s been back from the doctor’s office. They did say depending on what his counts are on Monday, they may post-pone his 6th cycle.
Please keep Michael in your prayers this weekend. I will update you if anything changes.
We went to his appointment and they did his blood work. Currently all his blood counts are the lowest they have ever been. His white count is only at .2K (normal is 5K – 10K). Also his platelet count is at 24. They are concerned with his counts, but since we are able to keep the fever below 100.4 right now, they let him come home. If it his fever goes over 100.4, I have to get him to the hospital so they can admit him, put him into isolation and get him started on IV antibiotics. We will still go to his appointment on Monday and check his counts again. They did say that if some of his counts get any lower, Michael will have to have a blood transfusion.
Michael is still very week and tired. His skin color doesn’t look right. His balance is off. He just doesn’t feel right. We are going to keep are fingers crossed that his fever doesn’t get much higher. Currently he has been staying between 99.0 and 99.5 since he’s been back from the doctor’s office. They did say depending on what his counts are on Monday, they may post-pone his 6th cycle.
Please keep Michael in your prayers this weekend. I will update you if anything changes.
Sunday, January 25, 2009
The Uglier Side of Cancer
Michael has faced this with tremendous courage. Here you take the “man of the house” down for the second time in the past 3 years. And this time, he is down more than he is up. He can not work. He actually struggles just to get around the house. Any thing he does he gets extremely tired. It tires him out just to walk down to the mail box and back. He now has to rely on me or the kids to do things around the house. Usually it is more me than the kids (they are teenage kids). And if you know Michael, he can NOT stand that. He was very independent before all this and does not like me to do anything for him.
Someone asked me the other day how we do it. They said reading our blogs and journals; it doesn’t seem too bad for us. I am not one to complain much or even ask for help. This journey had been very hard and very trying for all 4 of us. With cancer striking Michael, it is affecting us in so many ways.
It affects us with Michael’s health. I have to watch every little thing around him to make sure he doesn’t get sick or to make sure it isn’t a “new” side-effect starting up. He is on so many different preventative medications and medications to counter-act against the different side effects. He can’t even stand to take a Tylenol for a headache. I feel like I treat everyone around me like they are 2 again with the “make sure you wash your hands”. None of us can even get a cold around him. The slightest little cough / sniff in one of us, I have to get us in to see our doctor. In the past, Michael and I use to love to go to the store together. Now he can’t go without the fear of getting around some stranger that might be sick so he stays home. He never gets to go into the real world hardly any more.
It is affecting us financially as well. Michael and I have had to come up with a major decision this week. We have gone from a 2 income-family down to a 1 income-family. Our income has decreased more than half. We are not sure how long we will be riding this cancer journey. At this point, we can no longer afford to live where we are living. We have decided to give up our house and land. We will only have a few weeks to move. It is financially impossible to stay here.
We have to continue to pay for his insurance through COBRA, which if you don’t know, paying for your insurance through COBRA can be quite expensive. We will have to do this so we have continuous medical coverage for him. His insurance isn’t too bad, but it does not cover everything. Our medical bills are piling up and fast. We have already reached a very large amount we owe and it will continue to grow as his new benefit year is coming up and we will have to start all over with the deductibles and out of pocket expenses.
Also financially is the fact we have 2 beautiful children that are seniors in high school. I know some of you have had seniors, or can remember when you were a senior, all the little costs, senior pictures, announcements, trips, cap & gowns, etc. Now just double that because they both seniors. I do not want to deny them any of that. I will find a way to try to make this a good senior year. And don't even get me started on college...
We have received some tremendous help from some wonderful, caring people, our family and friends and co-workers. We will never be able thank you enough. If it wasn’t for you, we would have been on the streets along time ago. Most people you read about going through their journey with cancer, you never see them speak of the financial burden it puts on them. I do know when it is the husband, the father it really is not easy. It is a hard thing, at least for me, to even speak of the financial burden it has put on us.
It has affected us mentally, physically, and spiritually as well. Mentally it is putting a huge strain on Michael and me. I know for me, I tried to keep the “financial worry” away from Michael so he could concentrate on getting better, but it doesn’t work. I know we both lay in bed at night wondering, worrying about how we can get through this financially with him not being able to work. Wondering where the money is going to come from.
We worry about the kids and how this is affecting them. I know it has affected both of them differently. I can tell you it has but a wedge between one of the kids and us. It’s not easy to deal with a teenagers and having your husband have cancer at the same time.
Physically, the weeks he is in the hospital, I get up at 5 in the morning, head to the hospital, stay with him through is whole treatment, leave the hospital late in the evening, run by the office and finish up what ever work I could not do from my laptop at the hospital and head home. I get home between midnight and 1am. I repeat this step all week long. Then the weeks I have him home, I go to work and then come home and try to do everything I can to make sure he is comfortable. I am tired but I can not stop, I must keep going. Some say that I am going to “crash” soon and I say nope. Just like when he had his back surgeries almost 3 years ago, I keep telling him my day will come when he will get to treat me like the pretty princess and I know he will.
Sorry if there was some rambling, but if any of you know me, I do love to talk once you get me started.
Please continue to pray for Michael. I am sure we still have a long road ahead and we can use all the spiritual help and guidance we can get and well as everyone’s love and support.
Someone asked me the other day how we do it. They said reading our blogs and journals; it doesn’t seem too bad for us. I am not one to complain much or even ask for help. This journey had been very hard and very trying for all 4 of us. With cancer striking Michael, it is affecting us in so many ways.
It affects us with Michael’s health. I have to watch every little thing around him to make sure he doesn’t get sick or to make sure it isn’t a “new” side-effect starting up. He is on so many different preventative medications and medications to counter-act against the different side effects. He can’t even stand to take a Tylenol for a headache. I feel like I treat everyone around me like they are 2 again with the “make sure you wash your hands”. None of us can even get a cold around him. The slightest little cough / sniff in one of us, I have to get us in to see our doctor. In the past, Michael and I use to love to go to the store together. Now he can’t go without the fear of getting around some stranger that might be sick so he stays home. He never gets to go into the real world hardly any more.
It is affecting us financially as well. Michael and I have had to come up with a major decision this week. We have gone from a 2 income-family down to a 1 income-family. Our income has decreased more than half. We are not sure how long we will be riding this cancer journey. At this point, we can no longer afford to live where we are living. We have decided to give up our house and land. We will only have a few weeks to move. It is financially impossible to stay here.
We have to continue to pay for his insurance through COBRA, which if you don’t know, paying for your insurance through COBRA can be quite expensive. We will have to do this so we have continuous medical coverage for him. His insurance isn’t too bad, but it does not cover everything. Our medical bills are piling up and fast. We have already reached a very large amount we owe and it will continue to grow as his new benefit year is coming up and we will have to start all over with the deductibles and out of pocket expenses.
Also financially is the fact we have 2 beautiful children that are seniors in high school. I know some of you have had seniors, or can remember when you were a senior, all the little costs, senior pictures, announcements, trips, cap & gowns, etc. Now just double that because they both seniors. I do not want to deny them any of that. I will find a way to try to make this a good senior year. And don't even get me started on college...
We have received some tremendous help from some wonderful, caring people, our family and friends and co-workers. We will never be able thank you enough. If it wasn’t for you, we would have been on the streets along time ago. Most people you read about going through their journey with cancer, you never see them speak of the financial burden it puts on them. I do know when it is the husband, the father it really is not easy. It is a hard thing, at least for me, to even speak of the financial burden it has put on us.
It has affected us mentally, physically, and spiritually as well. Mentally it is putting a huge strain on Michael and me. I know for me, I tried to keep the “financial worry” away from Michael so he could concentrate on getting better, but it doesn’t work. I know we both lay in bed at night wondering, worrying about how we can get through this financially with him not being able to work. Wondering where the money is going to come from.
We worry about the kids and how this is affecting them. I know it has affected both of them differently. I can tell you it has but a wedge between one of the kids and us. It’s not easy to deal with a teenagers and having your husband have cancer at the same time.
Physically, the weeks he is in the hospital, I get up at 5 in the morning, head to the hospital, stay with him through is whole treatment, leave the hospital late in the evening, run by the office and finish up what ever work I could not do from my laptop at the hospital and head home. I get home between midnight and 1am. I repeat this step all week long. Then the weeks I have him home, I go to work and then come home and try to do everything I can to make sure he is comfortable. I am tired but I can not stop, I must keep going. Some say that I am going to “crash” soon and I say nope. Just like when he had his back surgeries almost 3 years ago, I keep telling him my day will come when he will get to treat me like the pretty princess and I know he will.
Sorry if there was some rambling, but if any of you know me, I do love to talk once you get me started.
Please continue to pray for Michael. I am sure we still have a long road ahead and we can use all the spiritual help and guidance we can get and well as everyone’s love and support.
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