Hi,
Mom did go back in to the cancer center yesterday. She received more fluids and they ran some more tests, although she did not have the results when I spoke with her early evening.
Vivian and I took Ben to the airport yesterday afternoon. Sad to have him leave but great to have him here!
Mom seemed a bit better yesterday. Unfortunately, this is her week off, so to speak. She has chemo a week from today. Ugh ...........
Thanks,
Maggie
Wednesday, November 30, 2011
Tuesday, November 29, 2011
Update ...
Mom has been fairly sick since chemo last week. She continued to feel worse over the weekend and could barely stand by yesterday morning. Ben took her in to the cancer center at the hospital, her bp was like 76/45. Yikes! They gave her a bag and a half of fluids and ran a CBC, which was relatively normal. They wanted to admit her but she went home. She'll probably go back in today for more fluids and labs. The chemo appears to be kicking her butt.
I'll update later today.
Thanks,
Maggie
I'll update later today.
Thanks,
Maggie
Friday, November 25, 2011
Thursday, November 24, 2011
Wednesday, November 23, 2011
from Kiernan, Nysh's niece ...
Baby Miles
Miles,
I have a lot to tell you about the Fly family but let me just start with this: the Flys are awesome. As of now, you are the youngest member of the Fly family. You have a lot of cousins, a lot of aunties and uncles and a few grandparents. You also have a Big Giant. What is a Big Giant you ask?? A Big Giant is incredibly special. She has an enormous heart and treats each child in the family as if they were her own. She never forgets a birthday and is always kind, even if she is calling you on your shit, which she does sometimes. (Oh shit! Jamey, when do we have to stop cussing around the baby?) She is absurdly happy in her marriage and loves to talk about it. Oh, as a warning, you should know that a Big Giant cries alot. It is not uncommon for a Big Giant to start weeping at any given time during a family gathering. But not to worry. Big Giants cry because their hearts are just so big and full of love that their bodies cannot hold onto everything inside of them. The tears of a Big Giant are there because she loves her family so much. In fact, she already loves you so much. Let me show you what a Big Giant looks like. See? See, Miles? Isn't she beautiful and isn't she brave? We are very lucky to have a Big Giant in our family. I cannot wait for you to meet her soon.
Miles,
I have a lot to tell you about the Fly family but let me just start with this: the Flys are awesome. As of now, you are the youngest member of the Fly family. You have a lot of cousins, a lot of aunties and uncles and a few grandparents. You also have a Big Giant. What is a Big Giant you ask?? A Big Giant is incredibly special. She has an enormous heart and treats each child in the family as if they were her own. She never forgets a birthday and is always kind, even if she is calling you on your shit, which she does sometimes. (Oh shit! Jamey, when do we have to stop cussing around the baby?) She is absurdly happy in her marriage and loves to talk about it. Oh, as a warning, you should know that a Big Giant cries alot. It is not uncommon for a Big Giant to start weeping at any given time during a family gathering. But not to worry. Big Giants cry because their hearts are just so big and full of love that their bodies cannot hold onto everything inside of them. The tears of a Big Giant are there because she loves her family so much. In fact, she already loves you so much. Let me show you what a Big Giant looks like. See? See, Miles? Isn't she beautiful and isn't she brave? We are very lucky to have a Big Giant in our family. I cannot wait for you to meet her soon.
Brief update ...
Mom had chemo yesterday. So far, just fatigue and general blah. Her white count had come up some, still not great. She gets a neulasta shot today which helps her body to produce white blood cells, rapidly. She'll also get some fluids, this helped a lot last round.
That's all for now.
Thanks,
Maggie
That's all for now.
Thanks,
Maggie
Monday, November 21, 2011
Sunday, November 20, 2011
Quick update ...
Short and sweet: I talked to my oncologist on Friday. I'll be having labs on Monday and chemo all day Tuesday, regardless of my lab results. He said we just can't wait anymore to start chemo, the tumors are growing too fast. They'll be able to give me a Neulasta shot on Wednesday, which should bump up my white count considerably. Paul and I are concerned but trying to enjoy the kids being here (Matt, Eric and Jess).
We're having thanksgiving dinner on Thursday at Beth and Danny's with all 5 kids, 3 spouses and 4 granddaughters! I'll probably be somewhat chemo sick, but it will be great! We haven't had our 5 kids together for 6 years and never with everyone together. Ben is flying in on Wednesday! So excited!!!
You know, we just have to keep focused on the positive and how lucky we are. I feel like I have the most incredible, loving, supportive family & friends in the entire world, which includes each of you.
I love you all,
Big Giant Grandma Nysh
We're having thanksgiving dinner on Thursday at Beth and Danny's with all 5 kids, 3 spouses and 4 granddaughters! I'll probably be somewhat chemo sick, but it will be great! We haven't had our 5 kids together for 6 years and never with everyone together. Ben is flying in on Wednesday! So excited!!!
You know, we just have to keep focused on the positive and how lucky we are. I feel like I have the most incredible, loving, supportive family & friends in the entire world, which includes each of you.
I love you all,
Big Giant Grandma Nysh
Wednesday, November 16, 2011
from Mom ........
The best laid plans ...
Hello all of you. I know I’ve been out of touch directly through this latest event. Thankfully, Maggie is doing a fantastic job updating my blog. After a week from my last chemo, I woke up feeling pretty chipper and ready for the next chemo this morning. Unfortunately, they canceled it when we got there as my labs (from yesterday) indicated a severely low white count and neutrophil count. The chemo today would have completely wiped it out, leaving me completely unguarded against anything, so absolutely a no go.
We’ve rescheduled it for next Wednesday, but it will depend on labs drawn early next week. The other concerning part of this is that my CA125 has gone from 157 (less than 2 weeks ago) to 266 today. These suckers are really growing in there. The goal is to keep my intestines clear until the chemo has a chance to shrink the tumors. So it’s a bit of a “wait and see” game at this point. Worst case scenario will be if the tumor blocks my intestine again and they have to do surgery and a bowel resection. Personally, I’ll take door #1.
Thank you all for the continued support!
“You gain strength, courage and confidence by every experience in which you really stop to look fear in the face.”
Eleanor Roosevelt
Love you all,
Big Giant Grandma Nysh
Hello all of you. I know I’ve been out of touch directly through this latest event. Thankfully, Maggie is doing a fantastic job updating my blog. After a week from my last chemo, I woke up feeling pretty chipper and ready for the next chemo this morning. Unfortunately, they canceled it when we got there as my labs (from yesterday) indicated a severely low white count and neutrophil count. The chemo today would have completely wiped it out, leaving me completely unguarded against anything, so absolutely a no go.
We’ve rescheduled it for next Wednesday, but it will depend on labs drawn early next week. The other concerning part of this is that my CA125 has gone from 157 (less than 2 weeks ago) to 266 today. These suckers are really growing in there. The goal is to keep my intestines clear until the chemo has a chance to shrink the tumors. So it’s a bit of a “wait and see” game at this point. Worst case scenario will be if the tumor blocks my intestine again and they have to do surgery and a bowel resection. Personally, I’ll take door #1.
Thank you all for the continued support!
“You gain strength, courage and confidence by every experience in which you really stop to look fear in the face.”
Eleanor Roosevelt
Love you all,
Big Giant Grandma Nysh
Sunday, November 13, 2011
Sunday
Hi all,
Mom has been resting most of the weekend, and watching some football. The chemo side effects are in full effect, and she will have chemo again on Wednesday. She is really weak and tired but trying to eat as often as she can. Paul has been amazing, staying on top of things she needs to take and getting her to eat!
She went to acupuncture on Friday and found it to be very helpful so she'll keep up with that this week.
More this week ....
Maggie
Mom has been resting most of the weekend, and watching some football. The chemo side effects are in full effect, and she will have chemo again on Wednesday. She is really weak and tired but trying to eat as often as she can. Paul has been amazing, staying on top of things she needs to take and getting her to eat!
She went to acupuncture on Friday and found it to be very helpful so she'll keep up with that this week.
More this week ....
Maggie
Thursday, November 10, 2011
Thursday
Mom is home! I haven't called to see how she's doing this afternoon, don't want to risk waking her up. There is a lot of anxiety regarding the effectiveness of the chemotherapy drugs that she has left in her arsenal. We will wait and see.
Grateful she's home.
Love,
Maggie
Grateful she's home.
Love,
Maggie
Wednesday, November 9, 2011
Wednesday
Mom continued to improve today. She really wanted to go home but doc wanted her there one more night. They started chemo this evening, one tonight and the other one will be on Monday.
The plan is for her to be discharged tomorrow!
Thanks for all the love and support as always,
Maggie
The plan is for her to be discharged tomorrow!
Thanks for all the love and support as always,
Maggie
Tuesday, November 8, 2011
WOO - HOO!
Scan was good, NG tube is out and she is eating! :)
As long as things digest properly she should go home in a day or two.
Chemo soon, but she sounds SO much better.
Feeling thankful!
Loving,
Maggie
As long as things digest properly she should go home in a day or two.
Chemo soon, but she sounds SO much better.
Feeling thankful!
Loving,
Maggie
Tuesday a.m.
Morning,
I'm up at the hospital now with Paul. They've started running the contrast dye through her NG tube. Her catscan is scheduled for 11:15. They will be looking to see if the dye can get all the way through her bowels, past the blockage. The blockage is up high so we will see, hopefully we will know this evening.
If the dye cannot pass through then they will have to look at the PICC line options for nutrition and starting chemo in the hospital. There are some other options, doc said he would go over them tomorrow if needed.
Hopefully, the dye will get through and they'll be able to remove the NG tube and start her on some liquids.
She is resting, although fairly uncomfortably.
More later ...
I'm up at the hospital now with Paul. They've started running the contrast dye through her NG tube. Her catscan is scheduled for 11:15. They will be looking to see if the dye can get all the way through her bowels, past the blockage. The blockage is up high so we will see, hopefully we will know this evening.
If the dye cannot pass through then they will have to look at the PICC line options for nutrition and starting chemo in the hospital. There are some other options, doc said he would go over them tomorrow if needed.
Hopefully, the dye will get through and they'll be able to remove the NG tube and start her on some liquids.
She is resting, although fairly uncomfortably.
More later ...
Monday, November 7, 2011
Monday .........
Her doc came in this a.m. with yesterday's ultrasound report. There is not an internal blockage in her bowel; the blockage is being caused by a tumor putting pressure on the bowel. So, no surgery! They have been giving her things today to try to stimulate her bowels and get them working. She has gotten up a couple of times to walk today but is extremely weak.
She has not run a fever again, good news. So, they won't look for an infection at this time.
They are planning another catscan for tomorrow to try and see how much of a block there is.
Chemo will probably start Wednesday, it is imperative that tumor shrinking begin.
If her bowels are not cooperating by then she'll start chemo in the hospital and they will put a PICC line in for nutrition, since she won't be able to eat. This would mean a few weeks in the hospital while we wait for the chemo to shrink her tumors and bowel function to return. This is not anyone's first choice.
Paul and I have a couple questions for the doc. Once Paul speaks with him or his nurse, hopefully in the next hour, I'll update again.
Maggie
She has not run a fever again, good news. So, they won't look for an infection at this time.
They are planning another catscan for tomorrow to try and see how much of a block there is.
Chemo will probably start Wednesday, it is imperative that tumor shrinking begin.
If her bowels are not cooperating by then she'll start chemo in the hospital and they will put a PICC line in for nutrition, since she won't be able to eat. This would mean a few weeks in the hospital while we wait for the chemo to shrink her tumors and bowel function to return. This is not anyone's first choice.
Paul and I have a couple questions for the doc. Once Paul speaks with him or his nurse, hopefully in the next hour, I'll update again.
Maggie
Sunday, November 6, 2011
Sunday evening ...
Paul spent the majority of the day with Mom. She went in and out of restless sleep. The NG tube, extremely uncomfortable, continues to pump "stuff" from her stomach and her nausea is gone! I ran up for an hour to tuck her in this evening. ;) She was much more lucid for the hour I saw her this evening due to being able to back off on the pain meds. She said she had an appetite!
Paul said that they did repeat the ultrasound this afternoon, assuming this way the doc will have that report first thing in the morning when he does rounds.
Her fever went up this evening to 101. They gave her some Tylenol and then will wait 6 hours. At that point if it's back up they'll start blood cultures to look for any infections, which would suck. We didn't hear back on any labs today but should get all of that info. tomorrow.
In her typical Nysh fashion she told me that she would probably be discharged tomorrow and could babysit for me by Wednesday. HA! Love the optimism but that's the morphine talking.
For tonight, we're hoping the bowel obstruction begins to clear so that surgery is not around the corner.
Thanks again for all the love. I pass it on every time I see Nysh and Paul.
Loving,
Maggie
Paul said that they did repeat the ultrasound this afternoon, assuming this way the doc will have that report first thing in the morning when he does rounds.
Her fever went up this evening to 101. They gave her some Tylenol and then will wait 6 hours. At that point if it's back up they'll start blood cultures to look for any infections, which would suck. We didn't hear back on any labs today but should get all of that info. tomorrow.
In her typical Nysh fashion she told me that she would probably be discharged tomorrow and could babysit for me by Wednesday. HA! Love the optimism but that's the morphine talking.
For tonight, we're hoping the bowel obstruction begins to clear so that surgery is not around the corner.
Thanks again for all the love. I pass it on every time I see Nysh and Paul.
Loving,
Maggie
Day 3
She had a rough night, very nauseous and no improvement. The doc said it was NG tube time. For those not familiar; a tube is inserted into a nostril and 'thread' in to her stomach. Then a pump is turned on to help relieve pressure from her stomach and bowels. It started working immediately, so hopefully she'll have a more restful evening. The tube will stay in at least 24 hours, not comfortable and she really can't talk now.
Her doc will be in tomorrow morning. So, just depends on how things go between now and then. Side note, she has been running a low fever so they're rechecking her white count and running a liver panel as well.
I have been passing on all of your messages and well wishes.
Thank you for the love and support!
Maggie
Her doc will be in tomorrow morning. So, just depends on how things go between now and then. Side note, she has been running a low fever so they're rechecking her white count and running a liver panel as well.
I have been passing on all of your messages and well wishes.
Thank you for the love and support!
Maggie
Saturday, November 5, 2011
The evil C .............
Nyshie is back in the hospital. I'll back up for those of you that are hearing this for the first time.
Thursday she woke with her horrendous gastric/reflex pain that she has periodically, ever since she began chemo. It is sometimes managed at home and sometimes she requires IV meds to "quiet the spasm." Nothing worked. Rod (brother-in-law) so kindly drove her to the ER and they gave her the usual run of IV pain meds, anti-spasmodic, anti-nauseas, etc. They did a scan or ultrasound and noted that she had a gallstone, and then sent her home. The pain continued throughout the evening and Friday morning she was in agony.
Friday afternoon Paul took her to the cancer center and they did a catscan. She was literally lying on the floor in unbearable pain, belly distended, so they admitted her Friday late afternoon. The catscan showed a small blockage in her bowel, believed to be air or adhesions/scar tissue from previous surgery and trauma she has suffered to that area. The scan also showed that she has a number of tumors. The one near her thoracic artery is back as well as the one in her pelvic cavity. She also has tumors adjacent to her bladder and liver. I believe there were a few more mentioned on the scan but can't recall any more details. Friday evening they tried to control her nausea and pain. She did not rest very much.
Saturday morning I headed up and she felt fairly awful. They increased her pain meds and Paul arrived just as the doc stopped in to do rounds. Her usual doc is not on call this weekend but will see her Monday. The on call doc was great. The plan is to see if the bowel obstruction will correct itself between now and Monday and also they adjusted her meds to try to make her more 'comfortable.'
They also repeated her CA125, tumor indicator blood test, which was in the 60s but has jumped to 157.
If the bowel obstruction has not cleared by Monday, when her regular doc who is an OBGyn/Oncologist returns, then they will talk surgery. First he will correct the bowel, second removal of tumors and third, possible removal of gallbladder with one lone gallstone.
Chemo will begin soon.
Her cell is off, she can't talk. She also has said she is not ready for visitors. I will let everyone know when that changes. Paul is also very emotional and overwhelmed so please try not to call. All three of his kids are here rallying around him.
If you have questions feel free to call or email me, manshutz@gmail.com. I'll update the blog a few times a day.
For now ... please send love.
Thank you,
Maggie
Thursday she woke with her horrendous gastric/reflex pain that she has periodically, ever since she began chemo. It is sometimes managed at home and sometimes she requires IV meds to "quiet the spasm." Nothing worked. Rod (brother-in-law) so kindly drove her to the ER and they gave her the usual run of IV pain meds, anti-spasmodic, anti-nauseas, etc. They did a scan or ultrasound and noted that she had a gallstone, and then sent her home. The pain continued throughout the evening and Friday morning she was in agony.
Friday afternoon Paul took her to the cancer center and they did a catscan. She was literally lying on the floor in unbearable pain, belly distended, so they admitted her Friday late afternoon. The catscan showed a small blockage in her bowel, believed to be air or adhesions/scar tissue from previous surgery and trauma she has suffered to that area. The scan also showed that she has a number of tumors. The one near her thoracic artery is back as well as the one in her pelvic cavity. She also has tumors adjacent to her bladder and liver. I believe there were a few more mentioned on the scan but can't recall any more details. Friday evening they tried to control her nausea and pain. She did not rest very much.
Saturday morning I headed up and she felt fairly awful. They increased her pain meds and Paul arrived just as the doc stopped in to do rounds. Her usual doc is not on call this weekend but will see her Monday. The on call doc was great. The plan is to see if the bowel obstruction will correct itself between now and Monday and also they adjusted her meds to try to make her more 'comfortable.'
They also repeated her CA125, tumor indicator blood test, which was in the 60s but has jumped to 157.
If the bowel obstruction has not cleared by Monday, when her regular doc who is an OBGyn/Oncologist returns, then they will talk surgery. First he will correct the bowel, second removal of tumors and third, possible removal of gallbladder with one lone gallstone.
Chemo will begin soon.
Her cell is off, she can't talk. She also has said she is not ready for visitors. I will let everyone know when that changes. Paul is also very emotional and overwhelmed so please try not to call. All three of his kids are here rallying around him.
If you have questions feel free to call or email me, manshutz@gmail.com. I'll update the blog a few times a day.
For now ... please send love.
Thank you,
Maggie
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)