Hello all,
Unfortunately today Anita is not feeling too well. The nausea of this morning is gone, but she has developed a bad stomach ache and what feels like swollen lips - like she has cold sores. She still has some pain in her chest area over her heart. She seems to be alternating between feeling "shivery and cold" and then "too warm." In general, she says she feels lousy. She no sooner gets up than she wants to go back to bed. The good note in all this is that she has no shortness of breath and she is still alert. John gave her a new pain patch about 45 minutes ago and she took a couple of swallows of Mylanta.
So far today, following the orange juice episode this morning, she has eaten a hard boiled egg, saltine crackers and milk, a few pieces of apple and a couple of slices of cheddar cheese and taken her vitamins. A few minutes ago she had some strawberry jello with whipped cream. She is trying to drink plenty of water.
What it seems, to me as well as to her, is that the Rituxan is kicking in along with the latest chemo treatment. It is also fairly certain that she really overdid yesterday. She says that she felt so good yesterday, and coupled with her unflagging energy, she did go overboard. I think the "feeling lousy" is all part of the healing process. Nasty things in her are being destroyed, so of course at some point she is going to feel awful. We were fortunate that she had two days of respite Saturday and Sunday. So we are keeping steady watch today and I will keep you all informed with the latest as the evening progresses.
Melissa
Monday, 9 July 2007
Post #40: A little sick this morning . . but overall OK
Just a quick note,
Anita slept well during the night and woke up early this morning still very excited about the changes she and John had made in the living room last night. So, before John and I were up, realizing that she was very thirsty, and in her continued excitement, she "jumped" out of bed and was off to the kitchen to get some OJ. As soon as she got to the kitchen, she started feeling woozy and like "this is not such a good idea." So she grabbed her glass of OJ and headed back to bed - but not before hanging up some of her clothes!!!
Well, the OJ and the activity didn't sit very well so she got sick. However, realizing the error of her ways, she promptly got back in bed, took a nausea pill and is now recovered. I commented on the fact that she looks very alert and she replied: "I be alert. I just be stupid and too impatient!!"
So, she is SLOWLY learning that her mind is racing ahead of her body and she's got to be mindful (no pun intended) of that. As I keep telling her, "Mom, you've got to mosey!" Other than that episode early this morning she has recovered from the nausea and has very little shortness of breath. She still has the pain in her chest over the heart area that she has been experiencing the past few days as well as the numbness in her left hand. However, the pain is on the low intensity side and the numbness has not increased or spread.
However, she was so happy this morning: "Yes! I got to boss all day long yesterday!!" She did have fun!
Until next time,
Melissa
Anita slept well during the night and woke up early this morning still very excited about the changes she and John had made in the living room last night. So, before John and I were up, realizing that she was very thirsty, and in her continued excitement, she "jumped" out of bed and was off to the kitchen to get some OJ. As soon as she got to the kitchen, she started feeling woozy and like "this is not such a good idea." So she grabbed her glass of OJ and headed back to bed - but not before hanging up some of her clothes!!!
Well, the OJ and the activity didn't sit very well so she got sick. However, realizing the error of her ways, she promptly got back in bed, took a nausea pill and is now recovered. I commented on the fact that she looks very alert and she replied: "I be alert. I just be stupid and too impatient!!"
So, she is SLOWLY learning that her mind is racing ahead of her body and she's got to be mindful (no pun intended) of that. As I keep telling her, "Mom, you've got to mosey!" Other than that episode early this morning she has recovered from the nausea and has very little shortness of breath. She still has the pain in her chest over the heart area that she has been experiencing the past few days as well as the numbness in her left hand. However, the pain is on the low intensity side and the numbness has not increased or spread.
However, she was so happy this morning: "Yes! I got to boss all day long yesterday!!" She did have fun!
Until next time,
Melissa
Sunday, 8 July 2007
Post #39: Another Fascinating Day!
Dear Everyone,
Well, she's finally tired and going to bed and it's ten minutes to 11:00! It's been that kind of day! One hour ago she was directing John in rearranging the living room. And she wasn't even feeling that well earlier!
Specifically, she has eaten well today, taken her vitamins, and drunk fluids to stay well hydrated. Her shortness of breath problem appears to be abating. She has been up and about more today than I have seen her since early May, and this is despite feeling some pain and nausea today. Her pain was in her chest area and we believe is associated with the drug Rituxan - as well as the chemotherapy - working on the bad stuff in her lungs and upper stomach area. She took some morphine drops to help with the pain, but after a while the drops made her feel nauseated, so she took her nausea medication. She also has experienced some numbness in her left hand. We are watching this closely.
Today all three of us re-read the adverse reactions section of the prospectus on Rituxan. It includes rhinitis (which she has to a certain extent), brochospasm, and other pulmonary related reactions. So we are keeping a close eye on current symptoms increasing and/or additional symptoms appearing. She "had" to go back to bed today a few times. However, by eveningtime she emerged in full throttle! She was "directing" John like a drill sargeant! Move this painting here, shove the piano over there! Truly remarkable.
As I type, just now, she got up out of bed and announced to John that he's right - the new sheers in the master bedroom shouldn't be the darker shade that we got yesterday, they should be the lighter taupe color!! She just now informed me of that decision and said "On that note, good night!" That's Anita! So, although she had some tired or painful or nauseated moments today, her spirits are high. When she is awake and up she is acting more "normal" than I have seen her for a long time. It is a blessing to see . . . and hear . . . and enjoy!
On another note, I must inform you all that I am leaving here on Tuesday July 10th (plane leaves in the late afternoon) for the San Francisco Bay Area to spend a few days attending to personal matters (e.g. my annual dentist appointment), seeing friends and my brother and sister, and then finally departing for Spain on Saturday July 14th. But this is not farewell. I intend to keep the blogsite going for awhile. I will be calling Mother and John daily and getting their verbal updates, and believe me, I know the questions to ask and I take good notes! So there may be a small hiatus here and there in my postings, particularly while I'm mid-air over the Atlantic, but the friends I am staying with have computers and I will update the blogsite whenever I am able to. Eventually, however, and as and if Mother's condition continues to improve, I will discontinue the daily updates. But, I will let you know in advance when that will occur.
So sleep well nighttime readers or have a good morning morning readers! And it is a good night and a good morning in that she continues to improve throughout!
Melissa
Well, she's finally tired and going to bed and it's ten minutes to 11:00! It's been that kind of day! One hour ago she was directing John in rearranging the living room. And she wasn't even feeling that well earlier!
Specifically, she has eaten well today, taken her vitamins, and drunk fluids to stay well hydrated. Her shortness of breath problem appears to be abating. She has been up and about more today than I have seen her since early May, and this is despite feeling some pain and nausea today. Her pain was in her chest area and we believe is associated with the drug Rituxan - as well as the chemotherapy - working on the bad stuff in her lungs and upper stomach area. She took some morphine drops to help with the pain, but after a while the drops made her feel nauseated, so she took her nausea medication. She also has experienced some numbness in her left hand. We are watching this closely.
Today all three of us re-read the adverse reactions section of the prospectus on Rituxan. It includes rhinitis (which she has to a certain extent), brochospasm, and other pulmonary related reactions. So we are keeping a close eye on current symptoms increasing and/or additional symptoms appearing. She "had" to go back to bed today a few times. However, by eveningtime she emerged in full throttle! She was "directing" John like a drill sargeant! Move this painting here, shove the piano over there! Truly remarkable.
As I type, just now, she got up out of bed and announced to John that he's right - the new sheers in the master bedroom shouldn't be the darker shade that we got yesterday, they should be the lighter taupe color!! She just now informed me of that decision and said "On that note, good night!" That's Anita! So, although she had some tired or painful or nauseated moments today, her spirits are high. When she is awake and up she is acting more "normal" than I have seen her for a long time. It is a blessing to see . . . and hear . . . and enjoy!
On another note, I must inform you all that I am leaving here on Tuesday July 10th (plane leaves in the late afternoon) for the San Francisco Bay Area to spend a few days attending to personal matters (e.g. my annual dentist appointment), seeing friends and my brother and sister, and then finally departing for Spain on Saturday July 14th. But this is not farewell. I intend to keep the blogsite going for awhile. I will be calling Mother and John daily and getting their verbal updates, and believe me, I know the questions to ask and I take good notes! So there may be a small hiatus here and there in my postings, particularly while I'm mid-air over the Atlantic, but the friends I am staying with have computers and I will update the blogsite whenever I am able to. Eventually, however, and as and if Mother's condition continues to improve, I will discontinue the daily updates. But, I will let you know in advance when that will occur.
So sleep well nighttime readers or have a good morning morning readers! And it is a good night and a good morning in that she continues to improve throughout!
Melissa
Saturday, 7 July 2007
Post #38: Continued Progress
Well folks, the amazement continues. I was beautifully treated this afternoon to a movie and dinner out by a dear friend of Anita and John's. I had a great time and it was a very relaxing break for me. I got home around 9:00 p.m. Anita was propped up in bed avidly doing her crossword puzzle, John came into the room, and we proceeded to discuss the day's activities.
When last I wrote Anita was resting in bed after having tackled the water mounds, the table setting and rearrangements in the house. Well, after I left for the movie, she made John a Manhattan and then she and John had dinner together and it wasn't just John that was eating. Mama told me that she "ate like a pig!" She had filet mignon, 1/2 tomato with basil and onion broiled with the steak, white rice with a little chicken broth (for moisture) and curry, peas with butter, jello with whipping cream, and ice cream!! That's our girl!!!
She had a few pains here and there today, some in the chest, some along her sides and some aching in her shoulders, but nothing bad. She is feeling some aching in the lymph nodes in her neck under her jawline. So she took two Tylenol and all subsided. (Apparently her oncologist had give her two Tylenol right before her Rituxan treatment on Friday, so it is safe for her to take it.) She has had no nausea at all. Her main concern right now is her weight. It is far too low, so she and we are working on getting her weight back up. If she keeps eating as heartily as she did today she will reach that goal!
She took a tranquilizer before bedtime tonight. She is sipping water - no fitness drinks, no Lexapro today, and no B vitamins other than what comes in the multi-vitamin she takes and a sublingual B-12 tab. So a good day all around. She was yawning when I closed her door, so I think she will sleep well tonight.
As I wish for all of you. Until tomorrow,
Melissa
When last I wrote Anita was resting in bed after having tackled the water mounds, the table setting and rearrangements in the house. Well, after I left for the movie, she made John a Manhattan and then she and John had dinner together and it wasn't just John that was eating. Mama told me that she "ate like a pig!" She had filet mignon, 1/2 tomato with basil and onion broiled with the steak, white rice with a little chicken broth (for moisture) and curry, peas with butter, jello with whipping cream, and ice cream!! That's our girl!!!
She had a few pains here and there today, some in the chest, some along her sides and some aching in her shoulders, but nothing bad. She is feeling some aching in the lymph nodes in her neck under her jawline. So she took two Tylenol and all subsided. (Apparently her oncologist had give her two Tylenol right before her Rituxan treatment on Friday, so it is safe for her to take it.) She has had no nausea at all. Her main concern right now is her weight. It is far too low, so she and we are working on getting her weight back up. If she keeps eating as heartily as she did today she will reach that goal!
She took a tranquilizer before bedtime tonight. She is sipping water - no fitness drinks, no Lexapro today, and no B vitamins other than what comes in the multi-vitamin she takes and a sublingual B-12 tab. So a good day all around. She was yawning when I closed her door, so I think she will sleep well tonight.
As I wish for all of you. Until tomorrow,
Melissa
Post #37: Amazing Lady!
Good Afternoon Anita Fans,
Well, she doesn't fail to please! Last night she stayed up watching TV, no pain, no nausea, no nothing except a little shortness of breath. This morning we found that she had been up half the night and had finally gone to sleep at 3:00 a.m.! A little deduction this morning and we pinpointed the cause. She had taken the drug Lexapro mid-morning yesterday (an upper), and had taken all of her B vitamin supplements, and that evening and night had been guzzling Propel Fitness Water which is full of added nutrients including more B's and C's. Then she had a tranquilizer before she went to bed. Talk about wired! She said she got up and fixed herself a glass of hot half-and-half and ate half a banana (Quote: "The way I like it - not brown anywhere - not even a brown spot!!) in an attempt to get her sleep endorphins going. Didn't help much, but sure tasted good!
So today, we cut back on the B vitamin intake. In the future she will take a Lexapro tablet only once a day early in the morning, likewise take her B vitamins only in the mornings and sip water at night instead of fortified drinks. We are very conscious of the dangers of mixing various drugs, particularly Lexapro. So consulting with a good doctor friend, we are setting up a specific regimen of when she takes when.
While her brain was racing last night, she says she came up with a complete letter to Barrak (spelling?) O'Bama in her mind! Couldn't remember all of it this morning, but she said it was a great letter nonetheless!
This morning she had coffee, electrolyte solution mixed with OJ, and ate a whole papaya. Then she sent John and I out to Penny's to finish off the "curtain caper mission" by buying up their stock of sheers in the pattern and color Anita picked out yesterday. I'm happy to report that the mission was a complete success! When we got back home this afternoon, Anita reported that she had been out in the garden digging holes!!!! She has some new fruit trees. The ground around the base of the trees was wet, so she went out there (in 108 degree heat) and dug water mounds around the base of four trees!!! Then she came inside and set the table for lunch, brought in some statues and paintings that had been stored in the garage, rearranged the objets d'art on top of the piano, and rehung paintings on the wall "her way!" Yes, I reprimanded her when I got back to the house, but frankly folks, it doesn't do any good!!!! She has the most incredible energy and will of anybody I know!
However, she finally had to admit that all that effort caught up with her and she is "aching from all the action and has shortness of breath." So she now - and finally sensibly - is back in bed resting (as she should have been all morning in my opinion!) But as she stated most emphatically to me: "Use it or lose it!!" She is truly amazing!
She has had no nausea since her Rituxan treatment yesterday. She is still short of breath and gets dizzy if she bends over much. She also has some aches/pain in her back rib area. But she's sitting up in bed writing away and ever so much, just being Anita!
Melissa
Well, she doesn't fail to please! Last night she stayed up watching TV, no pain, no nausea, no nothing except a little shortness of breath. This morning we found that she had been up half the night and had finally gone to sleep at 3:00 a.m.! A little deduction this morning and we pinpointed the cause. She had taken the drug Lexapro mid-morning yesterday (an upper), and had taken all of her B vitamin supplements, and that evening and night had been guzzling Propel Fitness Water which is full of added nutrients including more B's and C's. Then she had a tranquilizer before she went to bed. Talk about wired! She said she got up and fixed herself a glass of hot half-and-half and ate half a banana (Quote: "The way I like it - not brown anywhere - not even a brown spot!!) in an attempt to get her sleep endorphins going. Didn't help much, but sure tasted good!
So today, we cut back on the B vitamin intake. In the future she will take a Lexapro tablet only once a day early in the morning, likewise take her B vitamins only in the mornings and sip water at night instead of fortified drinks. We are very conscious of the dangers of mixing various drugs, particularly Lexapro. So consulting with a good doctor friend, we are setting up a specific regimen of when she takes when.
While her brain was racing last night, she says she came up with a complete letter to Barrak (spelling?) O'Bama in her mind! Couldn't remember all of it this morning, but she said it was a great letter nonetheless!
This morning she had coffee, electrolyte solution mixed with OJ, and ate a whole papaya. Then she sent John and I out to Penny's to finish off the "curtain caper mission" by buying up their stock of sheers in the pattern and color Anita picked out yesterday. I'm happy to report that the mission was a complete success! When we got back home this afternoon, Anita reported that she had been out in the garden digging holes!!!! She has some new fruit trees. The ground around the base of the trees was wet, so she went out there (in 108 degree heat) and dug water mounds around the base of four trees!!! Then she came inside and set the table for lunch, brought in some statues and paintings that had been stored in the garage, rearranged the objets d'art on top of the piano, and rehung paintings on the wall "her way!" Yes, I reprimanded her when I got back to the house, but frankly folks, it doesn't do any good!!!! She has the most incredible energy and will of anybody I know!
However, she finally had to admit that all that effort caught up with her and she is "aching from all the action and has shortness of breath." So she now - and finally sensibly - is back in bed resting (as she should have been all morning in my opinion!) But as she stated most emphatically to me: "Use it or lose it!!" She is truly amazing!
She has had no nausea since her Rituxan treatment yesterday. She is still short of breath and gets dizzy if she bends over much. She also has some aches/pain in her back rib area. But she's sitting up in bed writing away and ever so much, just being Anita!
Melissa
Friday, 6 July 2007
Post #36: Rituxan Smuxan!!
Hello Everyone!
Sorry you had to wait all afternoon for the update, so cut to the chase: Anita is doing FANTASTICALLY!!!! You would not believe her! (I think I've typed that sentence at least 10 times in the past couple of weeks.)
First off she was up and cranking early. Had 1/2 papaya, 1/2 piece of toast with butter, OJ, coffee and all of her vitamins (Multi, B-Complex, B-12, B-6, Selenium). No nausea, no pain but she has had stuffed up sinuses for the past couple days. She also had some shortness of breath.
Off we went to the treatment center for her "appointment" at 10:00 a.m. (We've discovered that an appointment there is a very fluid concept - she didn't go in until 11:00!) Walking into the clinic, she had to stop to catch her breath, but it was not as bad as the first time that happened to her. There was no gasping but she did have to sit down and recover a bit before she walked into the front door. During her treatment John and I both went out to do errands (separate cars), but John returned to the clinic to stand by while she finished up. Once in, they administered the following combination: Decadron 10 mg IV, Benadryl 50 mg IV, and Rituxan 500 mg IV. About 35 to 40 minutes into the treatment she started getting nauseated. So they put something into her IV to control the nausea and it knocked it right out. She was finished at 3:10 p.m. When she stood up from her treatment, she was not out of breath!
During the treatment she said she read an entire New Yorker magazine. In it, she found a great cartoon which showed a doctor in his office at his desk with a patient sitting opposite. The caption reads: "I'm a doctor. I can add "-ectomy" to any word I choose!" So Anita ripped out the cartoon and wrote a note on it to her oncologist that said " Dear Doctor, any chance that you can do a B-1-Cell lymphoma-ectomy to save my hair?" She gave the edited cartoon to her doctor's assistant to give to him. For the eleventh time, can you believe her?!!! Anyhow, I think the Doctor's day has been significantly improved. How many of his patients would have that kind of attitude I wonder?!!!
So, after she got out of there, she and John went . . . NO not home . . . they went out to look for an artificial plant for the master bedroom (which Anita just last week rearranged). Got home finally around 4:30 p.m (with plant in tow) and Anita proceeded to prepare lunch! First she ate a 1/2 cup of baby carrots and 6 bites of filet mignon. Then she made a big salad. A whole tomato, whole avocado, lettuce and Anita's Secret Homemade Vinagrette Recipe. She ate a whole bowlful of it!!!
Meanwhile, I was out shopping, getting some items for Anita as well as some things for me. I was standing in the Penneys luggage department (they have a great sale going on right now) when the phone rang. It was Mama informing me that she had just got home and was resting. When she found out I was at a department store, her voice jumped excitedly and she exclaimed: "Go to the curtain department and check out the window sheers. They're on sale and I need to see samples to see what will look good in the master bedroom. You know the color scheme in that room so look for . . . . . [You all get the picture!] !!!" So I bought my suitcase and headed over to the curtain department. Found a selection of sheers in different shades and patterns, bought them, stuffed them into the suitcase and away I rolled!
Needless to say, when I got home with the treasures, Mama was ecstatic. She quickly started pulling sheers out of their packages, found one type she really liked, and then walked into the master bedroom (calling us to follow her) so that she could see what it would look like! During all this she had a couple sips of beer and some chips. Again, no nausea, no pain, and slightly stuffed up sinuses. It seems almost impossible that she underwent cancer treatment today.
Of course, she is not 100%. There may well be side effects from this Rituxan drug that won't manifest themselves for a while. She mentioned a few moments ago that she really hopes there are no big side effects to this. In the meantime, it is so joyful to see her like this. Talking, planning, DOING!!! As only Anita can do. So far, I would bet my bottom dollar that she is well on the way to complete remission. I have a feeling in my bones, in my gut, and in my heart that that is so. May I be right!!!
Melissa
Sorry you had to wait all afternoon for the update, so cut to the chase: Anita is doing FANTASTICALLY!!!! You would not believe her! (I think I've typed that sentence at least 10 times in the past couple of weeks.)
First off she was up and cranking early. Had 1/2 papaya, 1/2 piece of toast with butter, OJ, coffee and all of her vitamins (Multi, B-Complex, B-12, B-6, Selenium). No nausea, no pain but she has had stuffed up sinuses for the past couple days. She also had some shortness of breath.
Off we went to the treatment center for her "appointment" at 10:00 a.m. (We've discovered that an appointment there is a very fluid concept - she didn't go in until 11:00!) Walking into the clinic, she had to stop to catch her breath, but it was not as bad as the first time that happened to her. There was no gasping but she did have to sit down and recover a bit before she walked into the front door. During her treatment John and I both went out to do errands (separate cars), but John returned to the clinic to stand by while she finished up. Once in, they administered the following combination: Decadron 10 mg IV, Benadryl 50 mg IV, and Rituxan 500 mg IV. About 35 to 40 minutes into the treatment she started getting nauseated. So they put something into her IV to control the nausea and it knocked it right out. She was finished at 3:10 p.m. When she stood up from her treatment, she was not out of breath!
During the treatment she said she read an entire New Yorker magazine. In it, she found a great cartoon which showed a doctor in his office at his desk with a patient sitting opposite. The caption reads: "I'm a doctor. I can add "-ectomy" to any word I choose!" So Anita ripped out the cartoon and wrote a note on it to her oncologist that said " Dear Doctor, any chance that you can do a B-1-Cell lymphoma-ectomy to save my hair?" She gave the edited cartoon to her doctor's assistant to give to him. For the eleventh time, can you believe her?!!! Anyhow, I think the Doctor's day has been significantly improved. How many of his patients would have that kind of attitude I wonder?!!!
So, after she got out of there, she and John went . . . NO not home . . . they went out to look for an artificial plant for the master bedroom (which Anita just last week rearranged). Got home finally around 4:30 p.m (with plant in tow) and Anita proceeded to prepare lunch! First she ate a 1/2 cup of baby carrots and 6 bites of filet mignon. Then she made a big salad. A whole tomato, whole avocado, lettuce and Anita's Secret Homemade Vinagrette Recipe. She ate a whole bowlful of it!!!
Meanwhile, I was out shopping, getting some items for Anita as well as some things for me. I was standing in the Penneys luggage department (they have a great sale going on right now) when the phone rang. It was Mama informing me that she had just got home and was resting. When she found out I was at a department store, her voice jumped excitedly and she exclaimed: "Go to the curtain department and check out the window sheers. They're on sale and I need to see samples to see what will look good in the master bedroom. You know the color scheme in that room so look for . . . . . [You all get the picture!] !!!" So I bought my suitcase and headed over to the curtain department. Found a selection of sheers in different shades and patterns, bought them, stuffed them into the suitcase and away I rolled!
Needless to say, when I got home with the treasures, Mama was ecstatic. She quickly started pulling sheers out of their packages, found one type she really liked, and then walked into the master bedroom (calling us to follow her) so that she could see what it would look like! During all this she had a couple sips of beer and some chips. Again, no nausea, no pain, and slightly stuffed up sinuses. It seems almost impossible that she underwent cancer treatment today.
Of course, she is not 100%. There may well be side effects from this Rituxan drug that won't manifest themselves for a while. She mentioned a few moments ago that she really hopes there are no big side effects to this. In the meantime, it is so joyful to see her like this. Talking, planning, DOING!!! As only Anita can do. So far, I would bet my bottom dollar that she is well on the way to complete remission. I have a feeling in my bones, in my gut, and in my heart that that is so. May I be right!!!
Melissa
Thursday, 5 July 2007
Post #35: Who Would'a Thunk!
Greetings All!
Well . . . one would think that she would be in bed . . . languishing! That is . . . anybody other than Anita would be!!! Today we really celebrated the Fourth. We had the red, white and blue decorations out, the dining table was set for three, and John cooked up a storm. Mama got up, got dressed in a colorful, bright red pedal pusher/capri pant and jacket outfit with a white blouse, blue and white shoes, and a crystal American flag brooch on her lapel! She had on her fabulous wig and put on her makeup and jewelry!!
While John was slaving away in the kitchen, Mama and I started a DVD movie: "Laura" the fantastic 1944 David Raksin music score film noir classic with Gene Tierney, Clifton Webb and Dana Andrews. I adore this film, and Anita loves it too. Incredible dialog and a performance that only Clifton Webb, Dana Andrews and Gene Tierney could have delivered.
Midway through the movie, John called us into dinner: filet mignon, broccoli and red wine. Anita ate some of the meat, a 1/2 cup of broccoli, a slice of tomato with basil and French dressing (which, by the way, she had prepared earlier), and three sips of red Cotes du Rhone wine. Back to the movie we went - along with a cone of vanilla and capuccino caramel swirl ice cream for Anita! [John, very gallantly, declined to watch the movie and did dishes instead!]
Earlier today she took all of her vitamins, drank two bottles of water and ate 1/2 a chicken salad sandwich for lunch. She has no pain, only the shortness of breath. As long as she walks in a straight line, she does OK. If she turns a lot, or twists from side to side, she gets dizzy. She also has a stuffed up nose and "popping ear." It seems that her eustachian tube/sinuses are creating pressure differentials which are causing the pressure sensation (the same kind of ear popping as when you're in an airplane that is landing). Before bedtime, she took a nausea pill and a tranquilizer, but no morphine drops. She is pysched and ready for the Rituxan session tomorrow at 10:00 a.m.!
If anything today we had to keep telling her to SIT DOWN!!! She never ceases to amaze me. As you all no doubt sense, this bodes very well!
Have a wonderful evening and I'll update tomorrow as soon as I can after her session.
Melissa
Well . . . one would think that she would be in bed . . . languishing! That is . . . anybody other than Anita would be!!! Today we really celebrated the Fourth. We had the red, white and blue decorations out, the dining table was set for three, and John cooked up a storm. Mama got up, got dressed in a colorful, bright red pedal pusher/capri pant and jacket outfit with a white blouse, blue and white shoes, and a crystal American flag brooch on her lapel! She had on her fabulous wig and put on her makeup and jewelry!!
While John was slaving away in the kitchen, Mama and I started a DVD movie: "Laura" the fantastic 1944 David Raksin music score film noir classic with Gene Tierney, Clifton Webb and Dana Andrews. I adore this film, and Anita loves it too. Incredible dialog and a performance that only Clifton Webb, Dana Andrews and Gene Tierney could have delivered.
Midway through the movie, John called us into dinner: filet mignon, broccoli and red wine. Anita ate some of the meat, a 1/2 cup of broccoli, a slice of tomato with basil and French dressing (which, by the way, she had prepared earlier), and three sips of red Cotes du Rhone wine. Back to the movie we went - along with a cone of vanilla and capuccino caramel swirl ice cream for Anita! [John, very gallantly, declined to watch the movie and did dishes instead!]
Earlier today she took all of her vitamins, drank two bottles of water and ate 1/2 a chicken salad sandwich for lunch. She has no pain, only the shortness of breath. As long as she walks in a straight line, she does OK. If she turns a lot, or twists from side to side, she gets dizzy. She also has a stuffed up nose and "popping ear." It seems that her eustachian tube/sinuses are creating pressure differentials which are causing the pressure sensation (the same kind of ear popping as when you're in an airplane that is landing). Before bedtime, she took a nausea pill and a tranquilizer, but no morphine drops. She is pysched and ready for the Rituxan session tomorrow at 10:00 a.m.!
If anything today we had to keep telling her to SIT DOWN!!! She never ceases to amaze me. As you all no doubt sense, this bodes very well!
Have a wonderful evening and I'll update tomorrow as soon as I can after her session.
Melissa
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