It has been a most enjoyable Thanksgiving for us this year. I had asked about 14 people to come to lunch. I only had eight. One of which didn't stay for lunch but she brought me a beautiful Christmas cactus. I will try to take a photo and get it on here.
On Tuesday, Michael and I went to the hospital for his chemo treatment. While he was doing his thing in the Oncology department, I went to the Primary care clinic and saw my doctor. My arms and hands have been numb and I needed to let him know that it was getting worse and that I had started dropping things. I already know that I have C2 through C6 compressed and there are nerves being pinched. I also know that I have carpel tunnel on both hands. I have been putting off my problems in order to be there for Michael but it has come to a point where I need to take care of this.
So he told me that I would be getting a Cat scan of my chest (he is going to look at my graft to make sure it is ok) and he is setting me up for a nerve induction test. Also this past week, I broke the back part of one of my eye teeth. It looks fine from the front but it is sheered off in the back and it is up above the gum line. I am going to assume that they will have to pull it. Not looking forward to this one as it is right in front and it will be noticeable when I open my mouth. Guess I will have to close it more often. Yeah right!!!
Anyway, Michael got some good news at the docs office. The chemo treatments and the hormone therapy are working. His PSA level is going down. It has dropped by 50 percent since the last of October. We are really happy. He had only had two chemo treatments and has had only one issue.. he is tired. So this coming week, he will be having a surgery to put in a portacath. They will put it in his chest and when they need to draw blood or give him his chemo, they will not have to start and IV. They can pull and push through this catheter port.
We have had prayers being said for us and we are very appreciative. We thank you all for your concern and thoughts. Michael keeps on fighting the good fight.
We have a friend here who Michael and I have known for over 30 years. I ask you to pray for him. He went to the doctor on Monday and found out that his cancer is growing. The persons who diagnosed him in Corpus Christi didn't think about doing surgery and taking out the tumor while it was small. They just let it go. I am not sure how they can live with themselves when they do this. It seems like the right hand doesn't know what the left hand is doing half the time. Anyway, they have told him that he might not make it until Christmas. Please pray for him and his family. His grandson, just got out of the hospital after having a surgery in which the doctors put a tube from his brain down to his pelvis to help regulate the pressure in his head. The boy has Pfieffer's Syndrome/Disease. This little boy (7) has had more surgeries on his head than he is old. They also found out that he is losing his eyesight. Pray for this family please.
God Bless and Take care.
Lynn
Thursday, November 22, 2012
Wednesday, November 14, 2012
Green Mountain Coffee Fair Trade
Got my Bzz Agent kit with the coffee in it and tried a pot. It was great. Michael loved it and you all know how much Michael loves his coffee. In the kit they sent a bunch of coupons for the coffee. I have passed those out to friends and family and if I didn't get one to you, I will try to pass them along the next time I get a kit.
Now on to Michael. He started his chemo a couple of weeks ago and so far so good. His platelet count is low and his white blood cell count is also low. The second weeks chemo had to wait to make sure that the doc wanted to give it to him or not. But they did.
He had an appointment today to see if they would put a port a cath in his chest. It is a procedure that they do on chemo patients so that they do not have to start an IV on a weekly basis. It is easier on the patient and the nurses. So we went to this doc and he told Michael that he had to be off the chemo for at least two weeks in order for him to put one in. So we went to the oncology department and told them and they said that it was hooey. You see if there is a problem with the cath and it doesn't heal right, he could get sepsis and he could die. So we are a little leary about putting one in. But the nurses state that it is done all the time without problems.
So we told them (both the doctors) to argue it out and let us know what they decide. So we hope to hear from the doctors by tomorrow.
We had a wonderful visit with Kim and Mom this past few days. They had to stay an extra day as Mom's car died. It was the battery and as soon as the new one was purchased and put in, the car purred. So they stayed an extra night with us and it was great. I enjoyed their company and I know that Michael was glad to see them.
Michael has been tired and that is to be expected with the chemo but he would really like to hear from all the friends. Give him a call 316-323-7050. It is better to call him in the afternoon. I hope that all who read this will give him a call of encouragement.
Take care and God Bless.
Now on to Michael. He started his chemo a couple of weeks ago and so far so good. His platelet count is low and his white blood cell count is also low. The second weeks chemo had to wait to make sure that the doc wanted to give it to him or not. But they did.
He had an appointment today to see if they would put a port a cath in his chest. It is a procedure that they do on chemo patients so that they do not have to start an IV on a weekly basis. It is easier on the patient and the nurses. So we went to this doc and he told Michael that he had to be off the chemo for at least two weeks in order for him to put one in. So we went to the oncology department and told them and they said that it was hooey. You see if there is a problem with the cath and it doesn't heal right, he could get sepsis and he could die. So we are a little leary about putting one in. But the nurses state that it is done all the time without problems.
So we told them (both the doctors) to argue it out and let us know what they decide. So we hope to hear from the doctors by tomorrow.
We had a wonderful visit with Kim and Mom this past few days. They had to stay an extra day as Mom's car died. It was the battery and as soon as the new one was purchased and put in, the car purred. So they stayed an extra night with us and it was great. I enjoyed their company and I know that Michael was glad to see them.
Michael has been tired and that is to be expected with the chemo but he would really like to hear from all the friends. Give him a call 316-323-7050. It is better to call him in the afternoon. I hope that all who read this will give him a call of encouragement.
Take care and God Bless.
Sunday, November 4, 2012
New place- New Plans
The place that we had been living at was starting to be a problem. The apartment used to be a stable and there were drafts and other issues with the place. The landlord had put the place up for sale when his sister moved out. So Michael and I started looking for a warmer place for us for winter is starting to show up in Central Kansas.
We found a place not too far from our last place. Our new address is 206 E 18th St North, Wichita, KS 67214. The place is just a bit bigger than the old place and it has hardwood floors. It is a residence for seniors and the place is somewhat quiet. The first night that we were here, the gentleman next door had a seizure and the ambulance was called. We sat on the front porch watching as they took him to the hospital. Told the other residents that if this was quiet, I think that we will continue looking for another place. Honestly, the place is beautiful. It is an old brick building that was built in the 30's but has been refurbished. All new appliances and new drywall. New windows and alot of light. We both like the place. Please feel free to write and let us know what is happening with Terlingua and the surrounding area.
Michael finished his radiation treatments last Friday. The main reason for the treatments was to try to curb the pain that he was in. It didn't work as far as we can see but the doc was optimistic that it would take a little longer to do the job. He said that we might not see results for a couple of weeks after the treatments so we are praying that he is correct and that it does indeed work.
He had an appointment with his oncologist last Tuesday. The PSA level is still going up. It is currently at 355.. normal is less than 4. So the doctor suggested that Michael try the chemo therapy to see if it might slow the cancer down. Michael has the most aggressive kind of advanced prostate cancer that you can have. OF COURSE HE DOES... HE NEVER DOES ANYTHING HALF HEARTED..
Anyway, the doctor said that he could have a massive dose and then wait three weeks and come to get another or he could have a smaller dose on a weekly basis and that it would be a little easier on his body. He asked me what I thought. I told him that it was really his choice but if I were going to fight this disease, that I would take the chemo. He has been adamant about not wanting to take the chemo but I think that he wants to fight for as long as he can.
He has lost a bunch of weight and is down to 182 now. I am trying to feed him all the time and he says that everything tastes like cardboard or it has no taste at all. So I have started giving him Ensure and Boost on a daily basis. If I can't get the food in him at least I will get the protein and carbs in him that way.
So it is back to wait and see and hope and pray that the treatment works. We talked with Michael's mom and sister and they will be making a trip up to see him. His other two sisters are coming up at Thanksgiving time and if all is working OK, we will be back in Terlingua after the 1st of the year. If Hospice had services down in that area, we would be home sooner. But they do not and with the scare that we had a few weeks ago with his kidneys, hydration and his heart, we can't afford to come home as we couldn't get him to the hospital in time to save his life. I am doing the best that I can to keep him comfortable and healthy enough so that we can eventually come home. I hope that you all understand. The only reason that we are staying up in KS is that the VA in Texas wouldn't get him the treatment that he needed down there and this VA in KS is.
Hard to believe that a 100 percent disabled veteran from the Vietnam war can't get the services that are needed and deserved. Thank you Mr Obama.
By the way, we both sent in our absentee ballots and I have returned them by overnight mail. YEAH!!! I can only hope and pray that this is only a one term president.
God Bless and Take Care.
We found a place not too far from our last place. Our new address is 206 E 18th St North, Wichita, KS 67214. The place is just a bit bigger than the old place and it has hardwood floors. It is a residence for seniors and the place is somewhat quiet. The first night that we were here, the gentleman next door had a seizure and the ambulance was called. We sat on the front porch watching as they took him to the hospital. Told the other residents that if this was quiet, I think that we will continue looking for another place. Honestly, the place is beautiful. It is an old brick building that was built in the 30's but has been refurbished. All new appliances and new drywall. New windows and alot of light. We both like the place. Please feel free to write and let us know what is happening with Terlingua and the surrounding area.
Michael finished his radiation treatments last Friday. The main reason for the treatments was to try to curb the pain that he was in. It didn't work as far as we can see but the doc was optimistic that it would take a little longer to do the job. He said that we might not see results for a couple of weeks after the treatments so we are praying that he is correct and that it does indeed work.
He had an appointment with his oncologist last Tuesday. The PSA level is still going up. It is currently at 355.. normal is less than 4. So the doctor suggested that Michael try the chemo therapy to see if it might slow the cancer down. Michael has the most aggressive kind of advanced prostate cancer that you can have. OF COURSE HE DOES... HE NEVER DOES ANYTHING HALF HEARTED..
Anyway, the doctor said that he could have a massive dose and then wait three weeks and come to get another or he could have a smaller dose on a weekly basis and that it would be a little easier on his body. He asked me what I thought. I told him that it was really his choice but if I were going to fight this disease, that I would take the chemo. He has been adamant about not wanting to take the chemo but I think that he wants to fight for as long as he can.
He has lost a bunch of weight and is down to 182 now. I am trying to feed him all the time and he says that everything tastes like cardboard or it has no taste at all. So I have started giving him Ensure and Boost on a daily basis. If I can't get the food in him at least I will get the protein and carbs in him that way.
So it is back to wait and see and hope and pray that the treatment works. We talked with Michael's mom and sister and they will be making a trip up to see him. His other two sisters are coming up at Thanksgiving time and if all is working OK, we will be back in Terlingua after the 1st of the year. If Hospice had services down in that area, we would be home sooner. But they do not and with the scare that we had a few weeks ago with his kidneys, hydration and his heart, we can't afford to come home as we couldn't get him to the hospital in time to save his life. I am doing the best that I can to keep him comfortable and healthy enough so that we can eventually come home. I hope that you all understand. The only reason that we are staying up in KS is that the VA in Texas wouldn't get him the treatment that he needed down there and this VA in KS is.
Hard to believe that a 100 percent disabled veteran from the Vietnam war can't get the services that are needed and deserved. Thank you Mr Obama.
By the way, we both sent in our absentee ballots and I have returned them by overnight mail. YEAH!!! I can only hope and pray that this is only a one term president.
God Bless and Take Care.
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