Post #63: Chemo Postponement

Dear all,

Anita went in this morning for her chemo treatment but did not have it. Her blood pressure has dropped from an admittedly elevated level of 130 to 140 over 80 down to 95 over 54! No wonder she has been feeling dizzy and super tired! She also has a low fever of 99.5. As a consequence, after telephone consultation with the oncologist, they did not administer her scheduled chemo treatment and sent her to have another blood test. Those results, on an emergency basis, should be available in 24 hours. She was told to come in tomorrow morning at 9:00 a.m. for her chemo treatment. Her oncologist will be there (he is only in town three days a week) and will decide in the morning whether she should undergo chemo now or not.

Anita mentioned that the past few days she has fallen asleep at the drop of a hat. Last night she got into bed to read and watch TV about 7:00 p.m. and almost immediately dozed off. John had to wake her up around 9:00 p.m. to get her to get up and get ready to officially go to bed. She said she had to drag herself out of the bed to do that. Mother thinks that all of this is a side effect of the Rituxan. The prospectus for the drug states that dizziness and sinus infections can occur as side effects. Anita has been experiencing extreme sinus drainage in the mornings and, as you all know, extensive dizziness following the adminstrations of Rituxan.

However, on the bright side, she has a - relatively speaking - hearty appetite and is continuing to get up and do things. Yesterday she was craving rice, so she cooked up a big batch and ate the whole thing. Well . . . not quite the whole thing . . . -Tristan had to have a taste! He also hones in on her morning breakfast. Anita loves Total with raisins and a sliced up banana in the morning. Tristan wants his banana too! Most unusual dog! Today Mama had two crispy fried chicken drumsticks so her elevated appetite is continuing!

Anita and John have found a great person to come and install the new French doors in the living room and a new door in the kitchen which will contain the all-important-top-of-the-priority-list DOG DOOR for you know who!

I will post another update tomorrow as to what happens at her morning appointment as soon as I can.
Melissa