Had a number of visitors today, starting with brother-in-law Captain Dan Jagoe, who today was dressed in full uniform. Then, just after noon, Holly and the boys came down with my sister Diane (from Lexington, KY). Diane is helping out quite a bit around the house this week while I’m away. Then my friend and colleague Lynn Akers dropped by and paid me a visit, leaving just as Dr. D'Amato showed up this evening making her rounds.
Here are a few pictures (with apologies in advance for camera shake [the camera man in the family is laid up at this time]):
Kyle, me, Bryce
Me and Holly
Me, my sister Diane
Me, my sister DianeHooked up with the “red juice”
Well, I am now officially running with both types of chemo: the red one called Doxorubicin (a.k.a., Adriamycin) and the one I was on yesterday Ifosfamide. This is definitely going to make for a challenging night I suspect. At the first sign of any nausea, I’m calling my nurse and asking for Ativan, which she said she can give me every 6 hours as necessary. But I really hope I won’t need it and that I can look forward to a nice breakfast in the morning.
If I ever get out of here . . . if I ever get out of here
Given that it’s Tuesday (day 2) and I have 3 more full days of chemo planned (call them day 2, 3, and 4 as Monday was day 1), I’ll be getting chemo through Friday evening. As to when I get out, that part is more complicated. And as I was told by my nurse this evening that I have 24 hours of Mesna (not to be confused with that smart people’s group Mensa) following the chemo (call that day 5, ending Saturday evening). Theoretically, I’ll be leaving the hospital later that night. But then I have to come back the next day for some special shot (forget the name) to help boost my immune levels. Wow, that’s pretty much a full week then. This cycle will repeat every 3 weeks for 6 cycles preceding my surgery (so I’ll be back in the hospital next on August 25 for my next cycle).
I promise not to tell Kelly that Lynn (his pookie) visited you yesterday. It could upset his delicate balance you know.
ReplyDeleteHoping the appetite holds out.
Thumbs up day 2!
Hope you're feeling okay. It sounds like you had quite a day yesterday.
ReplyDeleteHi Dave! I am a friend of Tim's and just wanted to wish you all the best in your fight against this little liposarcoma bugger. Oh yeah, and hair is overrated.
ReplyDeleteGood luck, mang!!
Andy
I hope you got some rest last night despite the Adriamycin. We need to get your appetite back for another round of Tres Leches cake.
ReplyDeleteMy name is Brian Lane and i would like to show you my personal experience with Ativan.
ReplyDeleteI am 30 years old .I started taking this drug about 10 years ago to help with some pretty bad anxiety and depression I was having at the time. I started taking a 1mg dose twice a day 1 in morning and 1 before bed. I tapered myself down to .5mg twice a day and then finally was able to get off it for about 3 months this year. I just started taking it in .5mg doses again due to the anxiety and depression resurfacing after 10 years. I dont know if its coming back because I got off the medicine or just that I am having a relapse but I have to honestly tell you that those years in between when I was taking it were the best years of my life. Just be VERY careful not to take this in larger doses.
Side Effects :
sleepiness, addiction It really helped me for what I was taking it for but it was very difficult to stop.
I hope this information will be useful to others,
Brian Lane
Ativan Side Effects