Post #14: Not as Good a Day Today

Hello All,

It's been a long day and not her best day lately, but overall not the worst one either. Started out very early as Anita wanted to get in for her blood testing as soon as possible so that she could come back home and eat something. As you know, it is necessary to fast overnight before certain blood testing. Again, we had to get a wheel chair and roll her into the lab offices because she simply cannot walk very much before getting dizzy and totally out of breath. In any event, we made it into the lab offices with no problems and she had her blood drawn. Upon finishing, she announced that it was the most painless blood testing she had ever had done! So that's one bright spot.

The results of the blood testing will be sent to her oncologist who will be looking at them to see if there is some related problem that is causing her shortness of breath and dizziness. As one of Anita's doctor friends informed me today, the possibilities include (but are not limited to): an electrolyte imbalance; or possibly a diffuse inflammatory process in the lungs from tumor necrosis (in other words, the tumor masses are dying and white blood cells (macrophages) are moving in to gobble up the dead stuff resulting in inflammation in the lungs). So, at the moment, we are waiting for the results from the blood testing. Tomorrow Wed. June 20, Anita has the echo doppler exam of her heart. That is scheduled for 4:00 p.m.

Once home, she wanted to eat breakfast with us but elected to remain seated on the sofa rather than come over to the dining table. She started with two (count 'em) glasses of milk and went on to eat a bite or two of scrambled eggs, a piece of bacon and one piece of toast with a little butter. However, she has not eaten much at all this afternoon, only managing to eat some papaya which she really loves. She has rested in bed and napped most of the afternoon and is doing so at the moment.

She has not experienced any nausea today, but has had pain in her stomach area. This may explain why she didn't eat much today. This pain may be due to the chemo working. As the onocologist mentioned yesterday, many of her new pains are attributable to the chemo drugs working. In any event, it is disheartening that her appetite is not as good today as it was yesterday. However, when she is awake, she is alert and talkative. She has been really trying to drink lots of water today as she realizes how important it is to flush all that stuff out of her system. She took morphine drops earlier today and will do so again before she goes to bed for the night. She also has continued to take her nausea medication to stay ahead of any onset.

I am taking John to the airport tomorrow morning for his flight to San Francisco where he will be renting a car and driving up to the Napa Valley in preparation for his art exhibition at the Robert Mondavi Winery which opens on June 24 (and runs through to September, I believe). I will be staying with Mother while John is gone. He will return home the evening of Monday June 25th. In the interim, I will be working on compiling a chronological notebook of Anita's medical papers; a daily diary recording her general condition and symptoms, all medications taken at what time and what dosage, any doctor's appointments or other related appointments, what and how much food and beverages consumed; and a typed-up list of all of her medications.

I have been working to make things more comfortable for her, and John, around the house, by getting various sundries, bath supplies, hair towels, organizer trays and baskets for her personal things by her bedside and in her bath, cleaning products for the cleaning lady, nutrient fruit shakes and food products that I think may tempt her like herb teas, etc.

Today, acting on a great suggestion by my cousin, I purchased a voice-activated wireless intercom with four stations. It will allow Anita to call us (without having to yell or to phone us on her cell phone, which she has been doing when we are out of earshot) as well as function as a "baby monitor" and allow us to constantly monitor her condition while she is sleeping. The fact that it has a "voice activation" feature is wonderful. That means that we can set it so that all she has to do is speak and we will hear her. She won't have to punch any buttons. We will place one unit in her room, one in John's room, one in his studio (where I am currently sleeping), and one in the kitchen-dining-living room area which can be carried outside on the patio or into the yard. Mother was pleased with this idea so I will set it up tomorrow. It is also a relief to John and me. Mother expressed frustration the other day when both John and I were on the phone and she couldn't get in touch with either of us. So this is a great remedy.

Anyhow, it is disappointing - and very disheartening to John - that Anita is apparently having a "down day" for the most part today. But it seems that this ebb and flow of up-days and down-days may be typical in chemo-therapy patients. If she is not improved by tomorrow, I will call the oncologist as soon as possible. The most important thing now is to discover the cause of the dizziness and shortness of breath and get that taken care of.

Melissa