hello rollercoaster

This week has been a roller coaster.  Dad started radiation on Monday and by Tuesday, was extremely weak and tired.  To the point that it was concerning, even to the doctor and oncology team.  When we took him for his oncology appointment Tuesday, they thought maybe there was an infection, maybe his white blood counts had gone down, maybe his electrolytes were off, maybe his kidneys were not functioning properly.  The blood work showed the opposite.  Everything looked how it should.  White counts were okay.  Kidney numbers were off a little, but functioning and doing their job, no electrolyte issue.  No sepsis.

At one point while we were waiting in the chemo lounge with all the other patients staring at us, Mom leaned over and whispered: "I don't get the impression that this is normal."  All I said was "Mmmhmmm..."

So, as a process of elimination, and with all the dangerous complications ruled out, we realized that maybe we needed to alter some things.  Dr. Kosmo (Dad's oncologist) made changes to several medications.  He prescribed a new nausea medication which is stronger and dissolves on the tongue.  Dad had started refusing to take the anti-nausea med they prescribed because it was oral and hurt too much to swallow.  As a result, the nausea was out of control.  Dr. K also had my Dad get fluids via IV in the chemo lounge while he spoke to mom and I.  The change in Dad post-IV fluids always astounds us.  It's like he is a completely different patient.  More stable on his feet, more alert, more expression on his face.  So, with that, Dr. Kosmo decided that the best thing to is to have a nurse come to the house every day this week and administer fluid directly into the bloodstream, via the porta cath.  The nurse starts 1 liter a day and my mom is able to unhook it once it's completed. {We now use words like "hypo" in the Everett household}...

Hydration is a huge key to Dad feeling good.  Going through the IV they are also able to add things like potassium and electrolytes, which is even better.  Hydrated, Dad uses words like "Indeed!"... Dehydrated, he barely uses words at all.  Staying hydrated is turning out to be a huge part of staying in the game.

The drug change combined with the IV fluids is working.  The extreme weakness seems to have abated for now, although he is still sleeping quite a bit.  The new anti-nausea med seems to be working as well.

He actually asked for ice cream this week:

"Strawberry, but no chunks of strawberry in it.  And sherbert.  But not sorbet.  Pineapple.  No not pineapple.  Strawberry.  Or black cherry.  Raspberry. Just make sure it's red."
.......I love my Dad ;) .......He hasn't had a ton, but just the fact that it's going down at all is great.

We are still fighting the weight loss, but do seem to be on the upswing with getting more nutrients in him.

As to the radiation, Dad is on day 3.  Today was supposed to be Day 4, but the machine went down.  Seriously?  The radiation machine goes down??  I'm sure Dad was secretly grateful, but we really wanted to see him get treatment today.  If the radiation is effective, it can mean so much.  For the 3 days that he has had, he seems to be tolerating it well. 

Every day holds its own victories and obstacles.  We are doing our best to be grateful for the victories and find solutions for the obstacles.

All the credit for us surviving the daily battle at all goes to my saint of a Mom.  There is no one more patient, more loving or strong.  She is truly amazing.  She never loses her cool, never speaks an unkind word, never gets agitated.  She is completely calm, cool, collected...and she is focused on getting the best out of each day for my Dad.

Thank you for the love, prayers, cards and sweet messages. There is lots of pain and heartache in the world.  We feel humbled and grateful that you all care about ours.

....Team Poppa