Well life is not boring these days. July 17 Doug had a nuclear medicine cardiac stress test. (This was because he had been having very occasional tightness in his chest - no pain.) July 18 the cardiologist called us to say the test showed a blockage, and we were told to show up the next day to talk to him; and that we might want to prepare to stay overnight. So the next day, after spending the morning at the Salida hospital for Doug's Zometa infusion, off we went to Colorado Springs with the duffle bag packed.
Dr. Malone showed us the stress test pictures, said the stress test results could be a mistake, but he didn't think so. He said it would be necessary to do an angiogram, and very likely put in a stent. Because of Doug's compromised kidney function, he decided to admit Doug to the hospital right away to start IV fluids, and he planned to use a contrast that would be safer for kidneys. He also put Doug on an oral drug called "muco-mist" that can help protect the kidneys (it has other uses also). He said he was "picking the best bad choice".
July 20th Doug had the angiogram which showed a 100% blockage of the 'left anterior descending' coronary artery. Dr Malone inflated the vessel with a balloon, put in a stent to keep it open, and the artery immediately filled with blood. The before and after pictures are pretty dramatic. Malone said it went easier than he thought; I told him that's because he had an angel on his shoulder. He kept Doug in the hospital for another night just to make sure everything was okay. Blood work showed his kidney function was better than before! Creatinine had been 1.4 but lowered to 1.0 after the procedure. The team did an excellent job. This was at Penrose Hospital. They do have a nice outpatient temporary residence, but it was full, so I stayed two nights at a rather tacky run-down hotel. A small price to pay for such a successful procedure. Doug is now on Plavix to avoid a clot and will stay on it for at least a year. I think he has more color in his face now. Praise God for that fix.
Meanwhile, the Oxycontin did nothing for Doug's hip pain, even after the oncologist doubled the dose. So today Doug was switched to a 30 mg. morphine pill every 12 hours. The pharmacist said Doug's driving would be up to our judgment; often when a patient has been on a lot of pain meds, morphine does not make them drowsy.
Tomorrow is moving day! Our wonderful volunteers are all lined up. Doug and I have steadily been taking boxes to the new house. We did have some bad news -- the buyers for our little house backed out at the last minute. Very disappointing. Now the house is back on the market and I have to still do the yard work. I usually enjoy gardening, but I'm ready for a rest.
Day after tomorrow we go to Edwards, to the Shaw Cancer Center, so Doug can be all 'mapped out' for a third round of radiation. We pray this will stop the hip pain so Doug can get off the morphine. The radiation treatments should start next Monday. This Friday we go back to Colorado Springs - I am being referred to a special dentist to check out a painful tooth. He will do some kind of special CT scan to try to see if there is a fracture in a tooth. I think that will be painful to the wallet.
What we both need is a week of rest and relaxation. Not going to happen for now, but we are very thankful for good medical care, great friends, and most importantly, God's faithfulness. Doug looks good "on the outside" and he never complains.
Love to all.
Tuesday, July 24, 2012
Friday, July 13, 2012
House work, low neutrophils, more radiation
Lots to report. July 11th Doug had his oncology appt. His shoulder pain is subsiding; x-rays were negative and we are now thinking it was from him turning the hand crank to raise the cargo trailer. So no action needed there. His MM blood panel shows the myeloma is still controlled - good news there. His neutrophil count is down to 1.2, so the Revlimid is on hold for two weeks. Neutrophils are an infection fighting component of the white cells. He will have a repeat CBC in two weeks to recheck the neutrophils.
Doug's left hip pain persists - he says at times with weight bearing the pain level gets to 8 or 9. (See radiation oncology report below.) The oncologist started Doug on long-acting Oxycontin 15 mg every 12 hours with 800 mg ibuprofen for breakthrough pain. He had a bad reaction to Oxycontin last November but that was 20 mg; so far he has just slight stomach upset this time.
Upon consulting with our "super myeloma specialist" in Denver, the oncologist says Doug can start increasing the Zometa infusion intervals to three months instead of every six weeks.
On July 12th, Doug had his follow up appt. with the radiation oncologist. She was disappointed to hear that the radiation on his left sacrum did not halt the pain. Even though that turned out not to be the spot causing the pain, the sacrum did show lesions on the CT, so the treatment was not a 'wash'. We'll just think of it as preventative, as a problem would have turned up there eventually. The radiation oncologist now has come to the conclusion that we need to re-treat the original left hip field. We agree with that. She will shrink the treated area slightly to insure that the bladder, bowel and rectum are not in the radiation field. Doug has decided to postpone the radiation for a couple of weeks. We are swamped with so much going on with the selling and buying of the new and old house.
Our son Kelly and grandson Brendan (age 16) came from Denver Tues and today to help paint and hang light fixtures in the new house. They were both a huge help; Brendan is such a good kid and a good worker. Both Doug and I have been painting, etc. Doug has probably been doing too much but I can't get him to stop. We are both exhausted and so thankful for offers from friends to help. I think I will take them up on their offers. One good friend, Jim, sprayed the gravel landscape today to kill the big weeds that were threatening to take control of the yard.
I am posting a photo of Doug, Kelly and Brendan. I apologize for the poor quality of the photo. I think the light from the ceiling fan caused the blur. Didn't think to turn it off.
"No one enters into the real joy of the Lord in spite of the hard times —- but squarely through the door of the hard times." Ann Voskamp
Love to all.
Doug's left hip pain persists - he says at times with weight bearing the pain level gets to 8 or 9. (See radiation oncology report below.) The oncologist started Doug on long-acting Oxycontin 15 mg every 12 hours with 800 mg ibuprofen for breakthrough pain. He had a bad reaction to Oxycontin last November but that was 20 mg; so far he has just slight stomach upset this time.
Upon consulting with our "super myeloma specialist" in Denver, the oncologist says Doug can start increasing the Zometa infusion intervals to three months instead of every six weeks.
On July 12th, Doug had his follow up appt. with the radiation oncologist. She was disappointed to hear that the radiation on his left sacrum did not halt the pain. Even though that turned out not to be the spot causing the pain, the sacrum did show lesions on the CT, so the treatment was not a 'wash'. We'll just think of it as preventative, as a problem would have turned up there eventually. The radiation oncologist now has come to the conclusion that we need to re-treat the original left hip field. We agree with that. She will shrink the treated area slightly to insure that the bladder, bowel and rectum are not in the radiation field. Doug has decided to postpone the radiation for a couple of weeks. We are swamped with so much going on with the selling and buying of the new and old house.
Our son Kelly and grandson Brendan (age 16) came from Denver Tues and today to help paint and hang light fixtures in the new house. They were both a huge help; Brendan is such a good kid and a good worker. Both Doug and I have been painting, etc. Doug has probably been doing too much but I can't get him to stop. We are both exhausted and so thankful for offers from friends to help. I think I will take them up on their offers. One good friend, Jim, sprayed the gravel landscape today to kill the big weeds that were threatening to take control of the yard.
I am posting a photo of Doug, Kelly and Brendan. I apologize for the poor quality of the photo. I think the light from the ceiling fan caused the blur. Didn't think to turn it off.
"No one enters into the real joy of the Lord in spite of the hard times —- but squarely through the door of the hard times." Ann Voskamp
Love to all.
Monday, July 9, 2012
New Pain Rt Shoulder
Doug woke up this morning with a fairly severe pain in his right shoulder. We know, from the bone survey, that he has a lesion in the right humerus. He toughed it out all day - we are in the process of moving to a new home. We are hiring a moving company, and painters, but there is still a lot to do, and I think he overdid. Darn stubborn Hungarian!
He has an appointment with the Oncologist this Wed, and an appointment with the Radiation Oncologist on Thursday. And his left hip still hurts despite the radiation. I am praying he doesn't fracture the right arm. Tonight he finally consented to stay in his chair and take an Oxycodone.
Tomorrow our son and our youngest grandson are coming to help carry boxes and do whatever else they can. Please pray for pain relief and no fractures, and for Doug to take it easy.
"I know the Lord is always with me. I will not be shaken, for He is right beside me." Psalm 16:8
He has an appointment with the Oncologist this Wed, and an appointment with the Radiation Oncologist on Thursday. And his left hip still hurts despite the radiation. I am praying he doesn't fracture the right arm. Tonight he finally consented to stay in his chair and take an Oxycodone.
Tomorrow our son and our youngest grandson are coming to help carry boxes and do whatever else they can. Please pray for pain relief and no fractures, and for Doug to take it easy.
"I know the Lord is always with me. I will not be shaken, for He is right beside me." Psalm 16:8
Wednesday, June 27, 2012
Radiation on sacrum finished
Doug finished his radiation treatments Monday; he had a short course of five treatments this time. The treated area was the left sacrum. No pain relief yet, but we are still hoping. The biological effects of the radiation continue for a week or more after treatment is completed, so it could still kick in. At least the pain is not continuous like last November, when he had to take heavy duty narcotics. He gets pain relief when not weight bearing. We have a follow up appointment with the radiation oncologist July 12. If Doug has not had any pain relief by then, we'll go to step 2 - don't know what that is yet!
I did ask Dr. H, the Radiation Oncologist, this question: How can Doug be in remission and still develop new bone pain? She said - since the damage to the bones was already done before he was diagnosed, new pain can develop even though he is technically still in remission. Kind of makes sense, though not terribly reassuring.
We are slowly packing a few things, getting ready for the move. Moving is stressful in itself. Especially in today's economic climate, and we are praying for a successful closing with our buyers. I have had to really work to stay calm lately. Doug seems much better at that than I am sometimes.
Love to all.
I did ask Dr. H, the Radiation Oncologist, this question: How can Doug be in remission and still develop new bone pain? She said - since the damage to the bones was already done before he was diagnosed, new pain can develop even though he is technically still in remission. Kind of makes sense, though not terribly reassuring.
We are slowly packing a few things, getting ready for the move. Moving is stressful in itself. Especially in today's economic climate, and we are praying for a successful closing with our buyers. I have had to really work to stay calm lately. Doug seems much better at that than I am sometimes.
Love to all.
"Fix
attention on the task at hand, not on its potential consequences." Robert Brody
Monday, June 18, 2012
Radiation Therapy again
Today we had the consult with Dr. H., the Radiation Oncologist at Shaw Cancer Center. She could see a couple areas that she thinks are causing the pain in Doug's left hip. When Doug's hip was radiated last November, he got excellent pain relief then, so we expect good results this time too. We really like Dr. H and her excellent staff - it was good to see them but we'd rather see them some other place. Doug starts radiation this Wed, and it will be a short course. Since there will be no sensitive tissues (like bowel) in this field, the radiation can be given in larger daily doses. Could be as few as five treatments, but we won't know for sure until Wed.
We are so thankful that Doug has not had any fractures from any of his bone lesions, and this time he has been able to endure the pain without taking any pain meds. Our spirits are high and both of us feel so blessed, especially for God's timing. We have sold our house, and Doug should be pain-free for the moving process into the 'new' lower maintenance house. We have peace of mind.
Love to all.
We are so thankful that Doug has not had any fractures from any of his bone lesions, and this time he has been able to endure the pain without taking any pain meds. Our spirits are high and both of us feel so blessed, especially for God's timing. We have sold our house, and Doug should be pain-free for the moving process into the 'new' lower maintenance house. We have peace of mind.
Love to all.
"You Lord will keep in
perfect peace all who trust in You, whose thoughts are fixed on You." Isaiah 26:4
Wednesday, June 13, 2012
Another CT on left hip
Doug still has pain in the left hip, so he called the oncologist, who ordered a CT scan of the hip and femur. Plain X-rays don't show the lesions very well. The CT was done without contrast due to compromised kidney function; if looking at soft tissue, contrast is needed, but bones show up well without it, thankfully.
The radiologist thought that one lesion might be "a millimeter" larger than before, but his reading was inconclusive. So the oncologist has sent both the previous and new scans to the radiation oncologist at the cancer center in Edwards. She is excellent and we have faith that she can read the scans better than the local radiologist. We are waiting for a call from the radiation oncologist, to find out if we have to go for a consult.
Meanwhile Doug is coping well and still doing work around the house in small spurts. The pain is manageable with rest, and he is not taking any pain meds. He enjoyed the river trip with his brother.
Love to all.
The radiologist thought that one lesion might be "a millimeter" larger than before, but his reading was inconclusive. So the oncologist has sent both the previous and new scans to the radiation oncologist at the cancer center in Edwards. She is excellent and we have faith that she can read the scans better than the local radiologist. We are waiting for a call from the radiation oncologist, to find out if we have to go for a consult.
Meanwhile Doug is coping well and still doing work around the house in small spurts. The pain is manageable with rest, and he is not taking any pain meds. He enjoyed the river trip with his brother.
Love to all.
Wednesday, May 30, 2012
Maintenance Therapy
All has been well lately. Doug is eating well, and his weight is where it should be. He finished six courses of 25 mg Revlimid and weekly dexamethasone, and is on his rest week now. On June 5 he starts maintenance therapy, which is 10 mg Revlimid daily and no dex! He won't get any rest breaks from the Rev. The oncologist will do a MM blood panel every two months to see that things are under control. Doug will still be getting a Zometa infusion every six weeks since he has multiple bony lesions.
I am very glad that the heavy duty Revlimid is over; Doug has been so easily fatigued. Hopefully he will have a bit more energy with the lighter dose.
The only problem right now is hip pain. The same hip that had radiation last November. Doug has no pain unless he walks over two blocks or is on his feet a lot. Once he sits for a while, the pain goes away, so we have been trying to ignore it. It's a bummer that we can't go for walks together. If it gets worse we will have to address it.
We are moving to a 'new' house - one with less upkeep. We'll be less than a mile from where we live now. Once we get settled, we will have almost no yard work. We think it is best that we move while we can - before a new crisis hits. Worrying is not good - planning ahead is good.
Doug and his brother are going on a river float trip on the Arkansas this Friday. His brother Jeff will be fly fishing; Doug will be on the boat just enjoying the trip and the scenery.
Love to all.
I am very glad that the heavy duty Revlimid is over; Doug has been so easily fatigued. Hopefully he will have a bit more energy with the lighter dose.
The only problem right now is hip pain. The same hip that had radiation last November. Doug has no pain unless he walks over two blocks or is on his feet a lot. Once he sits for a while, the pain goes away, so we have been trying to ignore it. It's a bummer that we can't go for walks together. If it gets worse we will have to address it.
We are moving to a 'new' house - one with less upkeep. We'll be less than a mile from where we live now. Once we get settled, we will have almost no yard work. We think it is best that we move while we can - before a new crisis hits. Worrying is not good - planning ahead is good.
Doug and his brother are going on a river float trip on the Arkansas this Friday. His brother Jeff will be fly fishing; Doug will be on the boat just enjoying the trip and the scenery.
Love to all.
"Your life is a
journey you must travel with a deep consciousness of God."
1 Peter 1:18
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