The UTI was negative and there was nothing on the chest x-ray. Blood culture will take longer. They started antibiotics. Fever was 99.7 while I was there, down from 101.
She was really confused and agitated this evening. I ran up for a couple hours.
Paul is there for the night.
Hoping tomorrow heads in a better direction.
Tired,
M.
Saturday, December 31, 2011
Saturday afternoon ...
Paul just called me and Mom has a fever of 101. They're checking her for a UTI, doing a blood culture, CBC, etc. and are also taking her downstairs for a chest x-ray. They'll start IV antibiotics while they try to figure it out.
I'll let you know when I know ..............
M.
I'll let you know when I know ..............
M.
from Liz/Betty, Nysh's #1 sister ...
Though Big Giant Nysh is just her nickname
it's not really fitting for her svelte frame
A big giant she is not
because she really is totally hot
She is curvy yet lean, witty & cute
She is smart, sassy & competent to boot
She nurtures & cares for everyone's soul,
& her illness on all of us has taken a toll
For her, the holidays were very, very bad
& all friends & family are very, very sad
But we will all drink a toast because the New Year is here,
and as Nysh starts her recovery, we must all seriously cheer.
it's not really fitting for her svelte frame
A big giant she is not
because she really is totally hot
She is curvy yet lean, witty & cute
She is smart, sassy & competent to boot
She nurtures & cares for everyone's soul,
& her illness on all of us has taken a toll
For her, the holidays were very, very bad
& all friends & family are very, very sad
But we will all drink a toast because the New Year is here,
and as Nysh starts her recovery, we must all seriously cheer.
Doc update ...
Highlights from doc;
Her hematocrit is stable, they'll check it again today to make sure but they think she had some mild bleeding in her stomach. That should have stabilized so she shouldn't need any more transfusions.
Her Bp was fairly low throughout the night + the random confusion, she just asked me why I drew the cow's butt, so they cut her pain meds back.
Ben has gotten her up in a chair once, we'll try that again today.
They are starting her on TPN, pseudo IV nutrition, containing electrolytes, amino acids, lipids, glucose, and minerals.
She has some bowel sounds this a.m. Doc said the large bowel is the last to wake up.
She had a low grade fever yesterday, if it returns this afternoon they'll start her on antibiotics.
So, Ng tube for probably two more days. This will allow her bowels more time to wake and heal before they have to start processing.
Ben is taking off. Paul is here for the day and night. I'll be here for a little while.
She just asked Paul to hang up her Ng tube. Beth, she said she had called you on it. :)
Holding on ................
Her hematocrit is stable, they'll check it again today to make sure but they think she had some mild bleeding in her stomach. That should have stabilized so she shouldn't need any more transfusions.
Her Bp was fairly low throughout the night + the random confusion, she just asked me why I drew the cow's butt, so they cut her pain meds back.
Ben has gotten her up in a chair once, we'll try that again today.
They are starting her on TPN, pseudo IV nutrition, containing electrolytes, amino acids, lipids, glucose, and minerals.
She has some bowel sounds this a.m. Doc said the large bowel is the last to wake up.
She had a low grade fever yesterday, if it returns this afternoon they'll start her on antibiotics.
So, Ng tube for probably two more days. This will allow her bowels more time to wake and heal before they have to start processing.
Ben is taking off. Paul is here for the day and night. I'll be here for a little while.
She just asked Paul to hang up her Ng tube. Beth, she said she had called you on it. :)
Holding on ................
Saturday a.m.
Well ... so much for the Dilaudid humor. She got so confused last night that she pulled her Ng tube out. Ugh! So, they had to put it back in and Ben had to stand over her the rest of the night to make sure she didn't take anything else out.
She is running a low grade fever and is still VERY confused.
The on-call doc should be in shortly.
Ben and I have several questions for him and then I'll update the blog.
M.
She is running a low grade fever and is still VERY confused.
The on-call doc should be in shortly.
Ben and I have several questions for him and then I'll update the blog.
M.
Friday, December 30, 2011
Friday night
Not much to report, no change, no news.
I did talk to her a bit ago to say goodnight and she asked me which spaceship I was on? She was very concerned that we weren't all on the same spaceship. Go Dilaudid! Ben decided it was time to turn Star Trek off ............
Night,
Maggie
I did talk to her a bit ago to say goodnight and she asked me which spaceship I was on? She was very concerned that we weren't all on the same spaceship. Go Dilaudid! Ben decided it was time to turn Star Trek off ............
Night,
Maggie
Friday
Hi,
See is having a pretty bad day. She's in a lot of pain, when she's conscious, and feeling very down. Her hematocrit dropped so they gave her two bags of blood earlier. We're all hoping that is due to the surgery + recent chemo and not a bleed somewhere internally. They'll monitor and see which direction she heads with the 2 additional pints.
The only comic relief we have is the Tourettes that seems to develop from the dilaudid pain meds. She asked Paul where all the munchkins went this morning?
Ahhhhhh ..........
That is all for now.
Loving,
Maggie
See is having a pretty bad day. She's in a lot of pain, when she's conscious, and feeling very down. Her hematocrit dropped so they gave her two bags of blood earlier. We're all hoping that is due to the surgery + recent chemo and not a bleed somewhere internally. They'll monitor and see which direction she heads with the 2 additional pints.
The only comic relief we have is the Tourettes that seems to develop from the dilaudid pain meds. She asked Paul where all the munchkins went this morning?
Ahhhhhh ..........
That is all for now.
Loving,
Maggie
Thursday, December 29, 2011
Thursday evening ...
There's not much to report this evening. She got a little behind on pain meds and had a pretty bad hour. She did sit up in bed for a bit. They also turned off her Ng tube and gave her some liquids, waited to see if she developed any nausea or not (she didn't), and then they turned it back on. Baby steps I suppose???
Paul is staying with her tonight. Hoping they get some sleep.
Night,
Maggie
Paul is staying with her tonight. Hoping they get some sleep.
Night,
Maggie
Thursday morning ...
Morning,
At the hospital with Ben and Paul. Ben said there were a lot of interruptions last night but Mom got some sleep. She is in a lot of pain, not surprised. But, aside from the surgery pain the rest of her is working great! They are watching her very closely for any signs of a bowel leak.
Ben and I are headed out and Paul is going to nap with Mom.
Hopefully she can sleep through this first day, and most of tomorrow too.
Loving,
Maggie
At the hospital with Ben and Paul. Ben said there were a lot of interruptions last night but Mom got some sleep. She is in a lot of pain, not surprised. But, aside from the surgery pain the rest of her is working great! They are watching her very closely for any signs of a bowel leak.
Ben and I are headed out and Paul is going to nap with Mom.
Hopefully she can sleep through this first day, and most of tomorrow too.
Loving,
Maggie
Wednesday, December 28, 2011
Brief update ...
I just talked to Ben. Mom was uncomfortable and nauseous when they brought her to her room but a little medication adjustment and Ben said she was snoozing away. Hopefully, there will be more of that throughout the night.
Goodnight,
Maggie
Goodnight,
Maggie
She's out of surgery .......
The doctor just came out, 3 hour surgery. She is okay, heart, bp, etc. all working.
The surgery was absolutely the right decision. The foot+ section of bowel he removed was twisted, the tissue looked radiated from the cyberknife and was not working. There were tumors within the folds of the bowel he removed but the obstruction was caused by scar tissue and "sick" bowel, not the tumors. He also removed one larger tumor, tennis ball size, and a few golf ball size tumors too. The Ng tube has to stay in for the next few days so her bowels can heal and then they'll start her on liquids.
Her major risk for the next few days would be a bowel leak, but this is not expected of course.
She is in recovery for the next two hours. Paul and Ben are staying, Ben for the night.
Thanks so much for all the love, prayers, support, etc.
More soon,
Maggie
The surgery was absolutely the right decision. The foot+ section of bowel he removed was twisted, the tissue looked radiated from the cyberknife and was not working. There were tumors within the folds of the bowel he removed but the obstruction was caused by scar tissue and "sick" bowel, not the tumors. He also removed one larger tumor, tennis ball size, and a few golf ball size tumors too. The Ng tube has to stay in for the next few days so her bowels can heal and then they'll start her on liquids.
Her major risk for the next few days would be a bowel leak, but this is not expected of course.
She is in recovery for the next two hours. Paul and Ben are staying, Ben for the night.
Thanks so much for all the love, prayers, support, etc.
More soon,
Maggie
In surgery ...
Mom went in to surgery around 2pm. I'll update when the doc comes out. I have no idea on time, maybe 4 or 5 our time.
Loving,
Maggie
Loving,
Maggie
Surgery this afternoon ...............
Mom's doctor came in about an hour ago. The CT scan showed that the disease has spread in her pelvic cavity, as well as a huge pocket around the liver and her colon. It is really growing fast.
Nysh and Paul had a long discussion with her doctor about her options and she has opted for surgery. She'll probably go down to pre-op around 1:30pm. Objectives of surgery; de-bulk tumors, remove bowel blockage, possibly put a PEG tube in her belly (this would allow them to remove the Ng tube for good in case her bowels stop working again), and there is a very small possibility that they'll do a colostomy. She'll have a week, give or take a few days, in the hospital recovering. Then, she'll head home for a couple weeks. At that point she will try chemo again. Her doctor is concerned about the effectiveness, or lack of, at this stage of the disease, but we'll give it a shot.
I'll update when she's out of surgery. It will probably be 5-6pm or so before I'm able to update.
While we greatly appreciate all of the love and support, Nysh and Paul kindly request only immediate family at the hospital for today and the next few days. Please try to limit calls as well. Thank you very much for your understanding!
Love from Nysh & Paul
Thank you!
Love,
Maggie
Nysh and Paul had a long discussion with her doctor about her options and she has opted for surgery. She'll probably go down to pre-op around 1:30pm. Objectives of surgery; de-bulk tumors, remove bowel blockage, possibly put a PEG tube in her belly (this would allow them to remove the Ng tube for good in case her bowels stop working again), and there is a very small possibility that they'll do a colostomy. She'll have a week, give or take a few days, in the hospital recovering. Then, she'll head home for a couple weeks. At that point she will try chemo again. Her doctor is concerned about the effectiveness, or lack of, at this stage of the disease, but we'll give it a shot.
I'll update when she's out of surgery. It will probably be 5-6pm or so before I'm able to update.
While we greatly appreciate all of the love and support, Nysh and Paul kindly request only immediate family at the hospital for today and the next few days. Please try to limit calls as well. Thank you very much for your understanding!
Love from Nysh & Paul
Thank you!
Love,
Maggie
Tuesday, December 27, 2011
No news
Well, the scan results have yet to make it to Mom's room and her doc never returned either. Very frustrating. He'll make rounds in the morning and depending on what the scan shows ... probably schedule surgery for later in the day.
I'll post first thing tomorrow morning after we see him.
Love,
Maggie
I'll post first thing tomorrow morning after we see him.
Love,
Maggie
A bit of a plan ...
Well, her doctor came in. Here is the plan. The Ng tube has had enough time to relieve pressure and the block would have cleared by now if it was able to. The doc wants to do one more CT scan to see if he can get any more information and/or if there is the slightest opening at the site of the block. The scan will happen today at noon. Also, he still can't tell for sure what the block is; adhesion, scar tissue, tumor, etc.
Regardless of the CT scan it is looking like surgery tomorrow. It will be major abdominal surgery. He will "de-bulk" or remove tumors while in there. We're not sure about the bowels. He may have to remove a lot, etc.
Her CA125 has come down a bit, I think it's 237. Basically, that is not a significant drop but more of a stable result.
With her CA125 not dropping drastically and the block not clearing it indicates that the chemo is not really working.
She is really scared and overwhelmed, major surgery after 10 days of 0 caloric input ...
Ben is staying in town indefinitely.
I'll update later.
Love,
Maggie
Regardless of the CT scan it is looking like surgery tomorrow. It will be major abdominal surgery. He will "de-bulk" or remove tumors while in there. We're not sure about the bowels. He may have to remove a lot, etc.
Her CA125 has come down a bit, I think it's 237. Basically, that is not a significant drop but more of a stable result.
With her CA125 not dropping drastically and the block not clearing it indicates that the chemo is not really working.
She is really scared and overwhelmed, major surgery after 10 days of 0 caloric input ...
Ben is staying in town indefinitely.
I'll update later.
Love,
Maggie
Monday, December 26, 2011
Not much to report
The on-call doctor did not have much to say today. He wants to wait for her doc who will be in tomorrow. They did start giving her glucose, potassium and other electrolytes. She got up for a shower this a.m. and has been walking some. Other than that, not much change. She is pretty down, very bored and ready to see her doctor!
I'll update tonight.
Love,
Maggie
I'll update tonight.
Love,
Maggie
Sunday, December 25, 2011
Doesn't feel like Christmas ...
Hi,
I'm at the hospital with Ben. Paul is taking a reprieve.
When Nysh was admitted last night they put the Ng tube back in and it immediately pumped over a liter out of her belly. It's pulled another 700mL since then so she is definitely still blocked. Aside from the pain of the tube she is able to rest a bit.
They're doing an x-ray right now to double check the position of the tube.
Ben and Paul asked the on-call doc about an oncology or a gastric consult but he said that this was standard protocol for an intestinal block. Relieve the pressure and see if it clears.
Her regular doctor who is an Gyn/Oncologist will be in Tuesday. Ugh ........
She's pretty sick everyone ... not sure what or how else to say it.
M.
I'm at the hospital with Ben. Paul is taking a reprieve.
When Nysh was admitted last night they put the Ng tube back in and it immediately pumped over a liter out of her belly. It's pulled another 700mL since then so she is definitely still blocked. Aside from the pain of the tube she is able to rest a bit.
They're doing an x-ray right now to double check the position of the tube.
Ben and Paul asked the on-call doc about an oncology or a gastric consult but he said that this was standard protocol for an intestinal block. Relieve the pressure and see if it clears.
Her regular doctor who is an Gyn/Oncologist will be in Tuesday. Ugh ........
She's pretty sick everyone ... not sure what or how else to say it.
M.
Saturday, December 24, 2011
Not good .....................
Paul just called me and Ben is driving them back to the ER. Her symptoms are back. She has felt awful since she got home and the nausea, pain, etc. are returning.
I don't know anything else right now.
I don't know anything else right now.
Saturday evening ...
Hi all,
Mom is home. They flushed the Ng tube this afternoon, twice I think, and her belly was clear. So, out the tube came, which was stuck to her throat, and slowly they started to disconnect everything. Ben and I ran up there around 2pm and she wasn't feeling that good but decided to try heading home and see what happened.
So, lots of unknowns. Not sure how the night will go. If her belly fills and the nausea returns then she will need to head back in. If she doesn't go back to the ER then she'll meet with her doc on Tuesday and have labs done, discuss options, etc.
Thanks for all the love and hope everyone is having a nice holiday!
Love,
Maggie
Mom is home. They flushed the Ng tube this afternoon, twice I think, and her belly was clear. So, out the tube came, which was stuck to her throat, and slowly they started to disconnect everything. Ben and I ran up there around 2pm and she wasn't feeling that good but decided to try heading home and see what happened.
So, lots of unknowns. Not sure how the night will go. If her belly fills and the nausea returns then she will need to head back in. If she doesn't go back to the ER then she'll meet with her doc on Tuesday and have labs done, discuss options, etc.
Thanks for all the love and hope everyone is having a nice holiday!
Love,
Maggie
Saturday morning ...
Mom is a bit better this a.m. They turned the Ng tube off and will see what happens. If her belly fills and she gets nauseated then they'll have to turn it back on. If things work, as in go south, then she'll be able to have some clear liquids and they'll monitor how that goes.
Ben found a ticket yesterday that gets in shortly! So, I'm off to pick him up!!!
Will update later.
Love,
Maggie
Ben found a ticket yesterday that gets in shortly! So, I'm off to pick him up!!!
Will update later.
Love,
Maggie
Friday, December 23, 2011
Friday afternoon ...
On-call doc thinks the blockage is a result of a tumor. The block is on her lower, right side. The Ng tube, although extremely painful for Mom, is working. It has pumped about 2500cc out of her gut, poor lady. They have her on IV pain meds, anti-nausea, anti-coagulants, etc. Now we wait. She can't have any food or water. The idea is to take all of the pressure off of the bowels to see if the block will correct itself as it did when she was in this November.
Her GYN/Oncologist will be in Monday. There aren't a lot of options. She was supposed to have chemo again this Wednesday, doesn't look like that will happen.
Don't expect much change tonight but I will update if there is.
M.
Her GYN/Oncologist will be in Monday. There aren't a lot of options. She was supposed to have chemo again this Wednesday, doesn't look like that will happen.
Don't expect much change tonight but I will update if there is.
M.
Friday morning ...
Mom's symptoms got increasingly worse throughout the evening. She was beyond miserable, Matt drove her and Paul to the ER around 10pm last night. She was admitted through the ER and is on the oncology floor now. She has another bowel blockage near her colon. It is possibly a result of having part of that bowel section removed in the original surgery and not due to a tumor, not 100% on that. She also has the ng tube back in.
I'm heading up to relieve Paul. I'll update later.
Doc said she would be in for at least a few days. :(
M.
I'm heading up to relieve Paul. I'll update later.
Doc said she would be in for at least a few days. :(
M.
Thursday, December 22, 2011
update on Mom ..........
Paul took Nysh to the cancer center to see the doc. She was up all night with horrendous epigastric pain, nausea, dehydration, low Bp and general misery.
It was looking like they might admit her.
But, good news, she is doing a bit better. She is in the cancer center, getting fluids and they are going to try a steroid to see if that helps with the pain. Assuming the pain is an inflammation response to the chemo, therefore the steroid will help. She also has a rash all over her hands, chemo side effect, so steroid might help with that. The pain medication is finally working and she sounds much better. She was getting ready to nap while she waited for all of the IV stuff to finish. And then home! YAY! No admission today.
All very relieved ...........
Loving,
Maggie
It was looking like they might admit her.
But, good news, she is doing a bit better. She is in the cancer center, getting fluids and they are going to try a steroid to see if that helps with the pain. Assuming the pain is an inflammation response to the chemo, therefore the steroid will help. She also has a rash all over her hands, chemo side effect, so steroid might help with that. The pain medication is finally working and she sounds much better. She was getting ready to nap while she waited for all of the IV stuff to finish. And then home! YAY! No admission today.
All very relieved ...........
Loving,
Maggie
Friday, December 16, 2011
BGGN news .....
Hi all,
Mom has had a really nice week visiting with her bestest gal pal Miss Pat! And, thank goodness she's been here to drive Nysh to all of her appts. Thank you Pat!
Mom had an acupuncture appt, chemo on Wednesday, neulasta shot yesterday and went in today for more fluids. She's starting to get the blahs. Looks like a weekend of laying on the couch and watching football but she's hanging in.
Lots of love,
Maggie
Mom has had a really nice week visiting with her bestest gal pal Miss Pat! And, thank goodness she's been here to drive Nysh to all of her appts. Thank you Pat!
Mom had an acupuncture appt, chemo on Wednesday, neulasta shot yesterday and went in today for more fluids. She's starting to get the blahs. Looks like a weekend of laying on the couch and watching football but she's hanging in.
Lots of love,
Maggie
Thursday, December 15, 2011
Wednesday, December 14, 2011
Tuesday, December 13, 2011
Monday, December 12, 2011
Here's how it happened!
Mom's best friend Pat flew in last night from Mississippi. My best friend Jodi was here for the weekend. There were no drinks involved, just a lot of love for Mom! Her hair was thinning rapidly so we went for it.
Before - Mom & Pat with the girls
Vivian had a blast cutting hair
Mom & Pat, lookin' fabulous!
Vivian cutting my ponytail off.
Oh, and it makes the perfect horse tail. :)
Me & Jodi
We love you Big Giant Grandma Nysh!!!
Before - Mom & Pat with the girls
Vivian had a blast cutting hair
Mom & Pat, lookin' fabulous!
Vivian cutting my ponytail off.
Oh, and it makes the perfect horse tail. :)
Me & Jodi
We love you Big Giant Grandma Nysh!!!
Wednesday, December 7, 2011
Wednesday
Hi all,
Mom finished chemo a little while ago. She just had the gemsar today, gemsar/taxotere combo is next week. No problems, she is home resting.
Her CA125 was 266 a couple weeks ago, it is 265 today. So, nurse and doc said this was good. It hadn't jumped. It's as if the chemo has just had time to stop growth but not enough time to shrink tumors. And, she hasn't been having any abdominal or pelvic pain, no bowel blockage, etc. So, they'll recheck in three weeks.
All for now.
Loving,
Maggie
Mom finished chemo a little while ago. She just had the gemsar today, gemsar/taxotere combo is next week. No problems, she is home resting.
Her CA125 was 266 a couple weeks ago, it is 265 today. So, nurse and doc said this was good. It hadn't jumped. It's as if the chemo has just had time to stop growth but not enough time to shrink tumors. And, she hasn't been having any abdominal or pelvic pain, no bowel blockage, etc. So, they'll recheck in three weeks.
All for now.
Loving,
Maggie
Monday, December 5, 2011
from Mom ...
I finally starting coming out of the chemo darkness and feeling like a human being a couple of days ago. Much better energy and appetite and just in time for a wonderful visit from my brother, Hank and his wife, Freida. Unfortunately, the frigid temperatures are limiting our outdoor excursions.
I have lab work tomorrow (including a CA125), doctor appointment and chemo on Wednesday. I should be good until Thursday evening, then chemo again the following Wednesday.
Are we having fun yet?
Love you all,
BGGN
I have lab work tomorrow (including a CA125), doctor appointment and chemo on Wednesday. I should be good until Thursday evening, then chemo again the following Wednesday.
Are we having fun yet?
Love you all,
BGGN
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)