Hi, Everyone...
Tom had his last round of chemo on Friday and the weekend went pretty darn well. The last three days, however, have been just horrible; he can't keep anything down - not even water - and I think he vomits all the pain meds he takes. He's gotten sick immediately after getting off the radiation table and has lost 10 lbs in the past week. The radiation doc is having me bring him in early tomorrow for some intravenous nourishment and meds......
Needless to say I'm worried and feeling less than helpless. I was not happy, either, that when they did his weekly blood draw, the did not include a clotting sample....although I told them the one doctor ordered it, they said they only had orders for the CBC...sigh...I know that means they'll poke him again tomorrow...

The ride has wiped me out (drizzly rain makes me sleepy, anyway.....and 90 minutes of it is ucky..) so I'm going to open a can of soup and crash.

Just thought I'd vent.
Love you all
Nicki

Hi Nicki

Sorry you and Tom are having such a tough time at present. Such a long drive to treatment also. You are in my thoughts and I wish you both a better day tomorrow.

Love and light from Helen

Hang in There Nicki
I know how tough this is on you and Tom , what he is going through is about par for the course.
They will be able to give him some meds before his treatment, just make sure he stays hydrated.
You are doing well girl, wont be long till this worst part is over.
Love
Marica

Hey Nicki,
Prayers are with you. Dan really felt worse for the two weeks after treatment than he did during the last week. Seems like it all just catches up with the body. The oncologist had told Dan he would feel real bad for a few weeks before even beginning to feel any better at all...that turned out to be too true. Hang in there and know that it does get better...it's what keeps one going...him and you!
Take care, God bless,
Debbie

Hang in there Nicki!!

No one ever said this trip is easy. Please remember things will start to get better. It's a slow process. One day you will be looking back on these diffucult times. They will be just a memory.
Radiation & chemo the gift that keeps on giving.
It lessens in a couple of weeks and Tom WILL start to notice improvement. We all went through
similer treatments and we all react diferently
to similer treatment. You are doing a great job as Tom's caregiver. Vent here all you want. You are not alone in this battle.

God Bless, Danny Boy

Love to all of you. He's sound asleep, and I'm feeling lonely.......You remind me daily that we WILL get through all this and be happy on the other side.
The soup tasted flat and now I have a tummy-ache! Probably should have passed on dinner, anyway.
The house is so incredibly quiet - Tom isn't even snoring! The dogs are all asleep, too, so even my 'talking' one isn't here to carry on a conversation. (I REALLY DO have a talking dog!...and if you ask her to "start the Harley," she'll grumble, grumble, grumble and then, finally, come out with a great sounding growl!...puts visitors into fits of hysteria!)
Heavy sigh...
I'll go watch the political game alone, I guess.
Have a good evening all - May God watch over you as you sleep, work and play.
Nicki

Hi Nicki,
Give Tom a hug for me. Reading your posts took me back to radiation. I did not get as sick as Tom is right now but I do remember how it felt to be at his point in treatment. Also, a hug for you.
Love,
Minnie

Nicki,
Hang in there. I know it's easier said than done, but ya gotta do it. Say hi to Tom, wish him my best and please take care yourself!
D

Hi Nicki,
I was sick a lot in the end of treatment. Lost over 60 lbs and got very weak also. It's actually fairly common but hard to watch. Like others have said this is the home stretch and it might continue to get worse for several weekd post Tx. The thing to remember is that this is to be expected - it is not a sign of worse things going on. My second chemo Tx was far worse than the first. They decided to skip the last one altogether (I was originally scheduled for 3 Cisplatin treatments). I also had to be rehydrated a couple of times, which always makes you feel better. It is vital to stay on top of the 2-3 liter of water a day rule because the kidneys can be damaged from the chemo if the toxicity levels get too high.

The doctors have to do a better job managing the nausea. Has Tom tried compazine suppositories? They worked well for me when I couldn't keep anything down. One of the most powerful anti nausea drugs, Zofran, only works for a few days at a time so you have to keep shifting around to different drugs to control it. It surprised me how many people in oncology didn't know that.

I have put half the weight back on and I'm feeling pretty good these days - just had a clean 22 month post Dx exam and after the next one in December, I will be moving to 3 month intervals. Hang in - believe it or not, Tom is on the brink of turning around. Progress will be slow - measured in 3 week intervals.

Congratulations! - you got post #1000.

Hooray, Gary! Post #1000! I feel special now! (And I remember that I was Member #1500, too!)

I've got myself in a better frame of mind now, gang. It really is a help to know that many of you went through all this and are doing well now. They have scheduled him for daily infusions of fluid and liquid meds...and we are changing up the nausea drugs. I do know that the Zofran was labeled to be taken only the first few days post Cisplatin....and we had Dexamethasone and Compazine to work into the regimen. I'll have to review what they gave him today in the IV.
The radiation doc really did warn us that this 4th infusion of Cisplatin was going to be a butt-kicker....he definately knows what he's talking about!

I think I'll bake cookies again tonight...housework is just too boring I don't know who breaks into the house each day to make it such a mess, but I sure wish they'd STOP!
Nite-nite...

Nicki,

I am glad that they have moved Tom to daily hydration and IV feeding. With all the vomiting, he has to be severely dehydrated and as Gary mentions, kidney damage can easily occur with the Cisplatin. Make sure the doctors are checking the creatinine daily. I had 3 liters of fluids a day for almost 3 months plus TPN feedings for 2 months. It wasn't fun but just kept me on this side of the grass for sure!

Enjoy the cookies, hug Tom and tell the dog to fire up the Harley! You really are doing great and unfortunately, right on track. It will get better.

Nite-nite.

Ed