Monday, February 25, 2008
The General
Although she needs no introduction, for those of you who haven't had the pleasure, meet Lu Fly.
Update
Hi all,
The last week has been relatively mellow considering the last two months. Nysh had one trip to the ER, which thankfully turned out to be nothing. Today she got an epidural in her back to relieve some severe leg pain and she and Paul drove up to Denver to meet with the urologist about removing the catheter. They will meet with the oncologist at the end of the week to discuss the schedule. It looks like the IV chemo. will resume one week from today.
Nysh's mom (Lu), sister (Betty/Liz) and brothers (Gene and Hank) are in town. She's been getting some good "Fly" lovin'. Pictures below...
Love ya'll,
M.
The last week has been relatively mellow considering the last two months. Nysh had one trip to the ER, which thankfully turned out to be nothing. Today she got an epidural in her back to relieve some severe leg pain and she and Paul drove up to Denver to meet with the urologist about removing the catheter. They will meet with the oncologist at the end of the week to discuss the schedule. It looks like the IV chemo. will resume one week from today.
Nysh's mom (Lu), sister (Betty/Liz) and brothers (Gene and Hank) are in town. She's been getting some good "Fly" lovin'. Pictures below...
Love ya'll,
M.
Friday, February 22, 2008
Hey, hey
From Nysh;
At last, I seem to have gathered enough energy to put an update on the blogsite. I can’t tell you how much Paul and I appreciate what everyone has done for us: food, flowers, gifts, etc. I am so fortunate to have so many wonderful people call me “family”, “friend”, “sister", etc.
I was discharged last Thursday from another round of peritoneal infection, as you all know. I have continued the IV antibiotics, which were completed today. Whether it has been the antibiotics, the peritonitis, the intra-peritoneal chemo, or a combination of all of the above, I have spent the last month in a very deep hole and feel that I am only now beginning to climb my way back out. I knew that I had lots of support, but felt that I had to tackle this on my own. I literally have not been up to phone calls or email.
I’ll have the next week off until we meet with our oncologist to hopefully “bulk up” and get mentally prepared for the next round of chemo. I should have 5 more sessions of the chemo, but I'm not certain of the exact schedule.
Well, that’s about the end of email time for today. By the way, this is the best day yet. No nausea, able to eat, walked close to a ½ mile today. Hoorraayy!!!!!
Love you all,
Nyshie (B.G.)
PS Paul shaved my head today!
At last, I seem to have gathered enough energy to put an update on the blogsite. I can’t tell you how much Paul and I appreciate what everyone has done for us: food, flowers, gifts, etc. I am so fortunate to have so many wonderful people call me “family”, “friend”, “sister", etc.
I was discharged last Thursday from another round of peritoneal infection, as you all know. I have continued the IV antibiotics, which were completed today. Whether it has been the antibiotics, the peritonitis, the intra-peritoneal chemo, or a combination of all of the above, I have spent the last month in a very deep hole and feel that I am only now beginning to climb my way back out. I knew that I had lots of support, but felt that I had to tackle this on my own. I literally have not been up to phone calls or email.
I’ll have the next week off until we meet with our oncologist to hopefully “bulk up” and get mentally prepared for the next round of chemo. I should have 5 more sessions of the chemo, but I'm not certain of the exact schedule.
Well, that’s about the end of email time for today. By the way, this is the best day yet. No nausea, able to eat, walked close to a ½ mile today. Hoorraayy!!!!!
Love you all,
Nyshie (B.G.)
PS Paul shaved my head today!
Wednesday, February 20, 2008
Saturday, February 16, 2008
Saturday Update
Hi,
Well, let's see. Nysh and Paul drove up to Denver to see the urologist on Friday. She had to leave the hospital with the foley catheter in and the doc is not quite sure what is going on. Basically, they decided to leave it in until she is in a better place (no abdominal inflammation or infection) to have some tests run to figure out why she's having some incontinence issues.
After that appt. they drove to the internist's office here in the Springs. She is having IV antibiotics every other day. I think that continues through most of this coming week. Unfortunately, the antibiotics are freakishly strong and have the same side effects list as the chemo. So, she feels like garbage. Pretty bad fatigue and nausea but she is trying to eat more.
Lu (Nysh's Mom aka The General) arrived this evening with Liz/Betty (Nysh's sister). It's been difficult on them to be so far away. I'm sure that's true for a lot of people. The love rally is great for Nysh!!!
Also, Nysh's hair is pretty much gone now. Just as the doc predicted it would be. Her spirits are down right now. She's ready for a little bit of relief.
Love ya'll,
M.
PS Thank you so much for all of the love that keeps flowing in! What an amazing, wonderful support group.
Well, let's see. Nysh and Paul drove up to Denver to see the urologist on Friday. She had to leave the hospital with the foley catheter in and the doc is not quite sure what is going on. Basically, they decided to leave it in until she is in a better place (no abdominal inflammation or infection) to have some tests run to figure out why she's having some incontinence issues.
After that appt. they drove to the internist's office here in the Springs. She is having IV antibiotics every other day. I think that continues through most of this coming week. Unfortunately, the antibiotics are freakishly strong and have the same side effects list as the chemo. So, she feels like garbage. Pretty bad fatigue and nausea but she is trying to eat more.
Lu (Nysh's Mom aka The General) arrived this evening with Liz/Betty (Nysh's sister). It's been difficult on them to be so far away. I'm sure that's true for a lot of people. The love rally is great for Nysh!!!
Also, Nysh's hair is pretty much gone now. Just as the doc predicted it would be. Her spirits are down right now. She's ready for a little bit of relief.
Love ya'll,
M.
PS Thank you so much for all of the love that keeps flowing in! What an amazing, wonderful support group.
Thursday, February 14, 2008
She's Home!
Yea, Nysh went home this afternoon. I don't even know how many days it's been. Ugh! But, thankfully she is home and resting.
Love,
M.
Love,
M.
Wednesday, February 13, 2008
Wednesday
Hi,
Nysh is feeling "pretty good!" She hasn't been able to eat for two days, nausea and zero appetite. She's trying to take an anti-nausea pill right before meal times so that she can start to ingest some calories and Ben is encouraging her to drink ginger tea and take some ginger chews, both help with nausea. She's been on two long hallway walks today and they've been switching all IV meds to oral meds to prepare her for heading home. Her fever tends to show up in the evenings but it's staying around 100F and all blood levels are good.
Her main focus is caloric intake! She'll possibly go home tomorrow, maybe the next day.
Love ya'll,
M.
Nysh is feeling "pretty good!" She hasn't been able to eat for two days, nausea and zero appetite. She's trying to take an anti-nausea pill right before meal times so that she can start to ingest some calories and Ben is encouraging her to drink ginger tea and take some ginger chews, both help with nausea. She's been on two long hallway walks today and they've been switching all IV meds to oral meds to prepare her for heading home. Her fever tends to show up in the evenings but it's staying around 100F and all blood levels are good.
Her main focus is caloric intake! She'll possibly go home tomorrow, maybe the next day.
Love ya'll,
M.
Monday, February 11, 2008
Information
Hi,
Paul and I just had a big phone update so I got some clarification on a couple of things.
One, Paul met with the patient representative at the hospital today to complain about several things. The meeting went really well and she is scheduling a conference between the executives and Paul, he does this with other hospitals as an executive coach. So, the formal complaint list is compiling. If any of you that have been to the hospital, especially Ben and Pat, have very specific things to add please email Paul.
Two, an infectious disease consult met with them today and explained the staph infection. It's a common strain of staph that we all have on the surface of our skin. It would have been introduced into Nysh's abdominal cavity during placement of the port or during the IP chemo. It became a problem when her WBC plummeted. So, now that her WBC is back up and the antibiotics are on board, it should get taken care of.
She still won't go home for another day or two. She's running a fever of 100.4 tonight and is feeling crummy. But, she did feel better this morning. Hopefully that will get longer each day.
Hope the new info. is helpful.
Love,
M.
Paul and I just had a big phone update so I got some clarification on a couple of things.
One, Paul met with the patient representative at the hospital today to complain about several things. The meeting went really well and she is scheduling a conference between the executives and Paul, he does this with other hospitals as an executive coach. So, the formal complaint list is compiling. If any of you that have been to the hospital, especially Ben and Pat, have very specific things to add please email Paul.
Two, an infectious disease consult met with them today and explained the staph infection. It's a common strain of staph that we all have on the surface of our skin. It would have been introduced into Nysh's abdominal cavity during placement of the port or during the IP chemo. It became a problem when her WBC plummeted. So, now that her WBC is back up and the antibiotics are on board, it should get taken care of.
She still won't go home for another day or two. She's running a fever of 100.4 tonight and is feeling crummy. But, she did feel better this morning. Hopefully that will get longer each day.
Hope the new info. is helpful.
Love,
M.
Monday
Hi,
The last ultrasound showed no fluid in her abdomen, the belly swelling was due to her extremely full bladder. She's been having some incontinence issues so they put the foley catheter back in yesterday and drained like 2500cc. Yikes! So, needless to say she has another appt. with the urologist at the end of the week. The doc said she'll likely be in until the end of the week. They have to get the inflammation and the infection under control. For those of you doing research on the chemical peritonitis they never did find a bowel rupture.
Ben, Vivian & I just went up for a visit. She walked the hall, first time I've seen her up in 10 days, and she was headed for a shower. She's trying to eat more and she's really ready to go home.
I have no idea when they'll start up the chemo. The schedule is obviously thrown off. I'll update when there is more news.
Love,
Maggie
The last ultrasound showed no fluid in her abdomen, the belly swelling was due to her extremely full bladder. She's been having some incontinence issues so they put the foley catheter back in yesterday and drained like 2500cc. Yikes! So, needless to say she has another appt. with the urologist at the end of the week. The doc said she'll likely be in until the end of the week. They have to get the inflammation and the infection under control. For those of you doing research on the chemical peritonitis they never did find a bowel rupture.
Ben, Vivian & I just went up for a visit. She walked the hall, first time I've seen her up in 10 days, and she was headed for a shower. She's trying to eat more and she's really ready to go home.
I have no idea when they'll start up the chemo. The schedule is obviously thrown off. I'll update when there is more news.
Love,
Maggie
Saturday, February 9, 2008
Saturday
Hi,
The surgery went fine yesterday. They removed the port but there was no fluid around that part of her abdomen, it's in the lower part. The infection is staph, don't know exactly how she got it, most likely from the port. She's STILL feeling like garbage today, mostly resting. Good news, her red and white blood cells are normal. She's having an ultrasound this afternoon and they will likely go in and drain the fluid again.
Paul got in last night and Nysh's nephew Robert just arrived and is headed up to sit with her.
Big Al (Dad) just headed home and I'm off to nap.
Love and more later,
M.
The surgery went fine yesterday. They removed the port but there was no fluid around that part of her abdomen, it's in the lower part. The infection is staph, don't know exactly how she got it, most likely from the port. She's STILL feeling like garbage today, mostly resting. Good news, her red and white blood cells are normal. She's having an ultrasound this afternoon and they will likely go in and drain the fluid again.
Paul got in last night and Nysh's nephew Robert just arrived and is headed up to sit with her.
Big Al (Dad) just headed home and I'm off to nap.
Love and more later,
M.
Friday, February 8, 2008
More Surgery
The fluid is back in Nysh's abdomen so she will have surgery today to drain that and to remove the IP port, which is probably the source of the infection. Her blood numbers are up enough for her to have surgery so they're trying to get it scheduled. I'll post when she is out.
Thanks,
Maggie
Thanks,
Maggie
Wednesday, February 6, 2008
Wednesday
Hi,
Dad and I just went up to see Mom and she did seem to be feeling a bit better. They drained 4 liters of fluid from her abdomen this morning and they're giving her a pint of blood. Both making a huge difference. However, the fluid from her abdomen appears to be a bacerial infection and so the doc is calling in an internal specialist to figure out the best protocol. She's still on antibiotics, plus all the other stuff. Her WBC is slowly coming up but still a bit danerous. The best though is her attitude and spirits seem better. She even had earrings on when we went to see her! Now we'll just wait and see what they say about the fluid.
I'll update when I know more. My surgery went fine but I'm wiped.
Love,
M.
Dad and I just went up to see Mom and she did seem to be feeling a bit better. They drained 4 liters of fluid from her abdomen this morning and they're giving her a pint of blood. Both making a huge difference. However, the fluid from her abdomen appears to be a bacerial infection and so the doc is calling in an internal specialist to figure out the best protocol. She's still on antibiotics, plus all the other stuff. Her WBC is slowly coming up but still a bit danerous. The best though is her attitude and spirits seem better. She even had earrings on when we went to see her! Now we'll just wait and see what they say about the fluid.
I'll update when I know more. My surgery went fine but I'm wiped.
Love,
M.
Monday, February 4, 2008
Monday still...
Well ... shit. Now she has chemical peritonitis. Not surprising considering they pumped all that garbage into her. So, she's on IV antibiotics and still getting the pain meds., anti-nausea and they've doubled the saline to help with the dehydration. Due to that and the low WBC she'll be in until at least Friday. That's what the doc just said. She needs to focus on calories. So, we're trying to hang in.
I've been updating Paul via email in Denmark. I know Nysh will be ready for his arrival on Friday.
Sidenote; I'm having surgery tomorrow. Outpatient, nothing too major. But, I won't be updating the blog until Wednesday, possibly Thursday. So, I'll get online as soon as I can to give you all the latest. For those of you who have emailed me I'm sorry if I don't get back to you until later in the week. Thanks!
Thank you so much for all of the "help" offers, emails, etc.
Love ya'll,
M.
I've been updating Paul via email in Denmark. I know Nysh will be ready for his arrival on Friday.
Sidenote; I'm having surgery tomorrow. Outpatient, nothing too major. But, I won't be updating the blog until Wednesday, possibly Thursday. So, I'll get online as soon as I can to give you all the latest. For those of you who have emailed me I'm sorry if I don't get back to you until later in the week. Thanks!
Thank you so much for all of the "help" offers, emails, etc.
Love ya'll,
M.
Monday a.m.
Hi,
Well, yesterday afternoon was a little scary as Nysh's fever hit 101, but this a.m. no fever! She is feeling a little bit better today and hopefully will go home tomorrow. Her white blood count is really low, expected, so anyone seeing her needs to be extremely mindful of their health and hand washing. Thank you! It will probably be at least next week before she's ready for visitors. She is wiped!!! Ben and Pat will be with her this week and Paul arrives home on Friday.
Thanks and love,
Maggie
Well, yesterday afternoon was a little scary as Nysh's fever hit 101, but this a.m. no fever! She is feeling a little bit better today and hopefully will go home tomorrow. Her white blood count is really low, expected, so anyone seeing her needs to be extremely mindful of their health and hand washing. Thank you! It will probably be at least next week before she's ready for visitors. She is wiped!!! Ben and Pat will be with her this week and Paul arrives home on Friday.
Thanks and love,
Maggie
Sunday, February 3, 2008
Sunday
Hi all,
She's still in the hospital and not going anywhere. They started her on an IV morphine drip so hopefully that will give her a bit more relief than the other. Also, they started IV magnesium and potassium. No improvement. I wish I had something better to report.
Love,
M.
She's still in the hospital and not going anywhere. They started her on an IV morphine drip so hopefully that will give her a bit more relief than the other. Also, they started IV magnesium and potassium. No improvement. I wish I had something better to report.
Love,
M.
Saturday, February 2, 2008
Saturday
She is staying in the hospital today and will probably go home tomorrow. Doc said it could take another day or two for the cystplatin to clear her system. Still miserable, no improvement. She is trying to eat a little.
Got to run,
M.
Got to run,
M.
Friday, February 1, 2008
Friday-3
Hi,
I spoke with Nysh briefly. The doc said this is due to the IP chemo. blast of cystplatin that they put into her abdomen. She is not going to do any more IP chemo. She will have 2 1/2 weeks off and then resume the IV chemo only, that will be a combination of taxol and carboplatin. She might go home tomorrow, maybe Sunday. She does not have any fever currently, good news, and I'm waiting to hear on her blood levels.
Paul is headed home to pack for his trip to Denmark in the morning and Ben is headed up to the hospital. Mom's great friend Pat Wallace is coming into town tomorrow so she and Ben will be caring for Nysh while Paul is gone.
I can't think of anything else to type that isn't extremely colorful. Aghhhhhhhhhh!
Love,
Maggie
I spoke with Nysh briefly. The doc said this is due to the IP chemo. blast of cystplatin that they put into her abdomen. She is not going to do any more IP chemo. She will have 2 1/2 weeks off and then resume the IV chemo only, that will be a combination of taxol and carboplatin. She might go home tomorrow, maybe Sunday. She does not have any fever currently, good news, and I'm waiting to hear on her blood levels.
Paul is headed home to pack for his trip to Denmark in the morning and Ben is headed up to the hospital. Mom's great friend Pat Wallace is coming into town tomorrow so she and Ben will be caring for Nysh while Paul is gone.
I can't think of anything else to type that isn't extremely colorful. Aghhhhhhhhhh!
Love,
Maggie
Friday-2
Paul just called and they are transferring Nysh to the hospital. The plan is to keep her on IV-fluids/anti-nausea/pain meds. and send her home in the morning. I don't have any more information right now.
Love ya'll,
M.
Love ya'll,
M.
Friday
Paul took Nysh to the oncology clinic this morning. They are giving her IV fluids, anti-nausea and I think IV pain meds. There was some talk of putting her back in the hospital, but I'm not sure. Ben and I are waiting to hear from Paul.
That's all I know right now.
Love,
M.
That's all I know right now.
Love,
M.
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