Kate was up and about today after spending most of yesterday horizontal. So it seems that the effects of the chemo are wearing off, which is great news!
She went for a drive this morning for the first time in her modified car. While it will take a bit of getting used to driving with one hand, independence has been restored, a great outcome only 6 weeks after the surgery.
We are all hoping she will remain relatively well and the next two weeks will be uneventful.
Saturday, March 19, 2011
Friday, March 18, 2011
18 March
Kate is home today, very ill, the chemo has taken its toll.
Thankfully we have two weeks to recover now.
Thankfully we have two weeks to recover now.
Thursday, March 17, 2011
17 March
Four down, one to go and we are 36% there, more than a third of the way.
Kate is feeling exhausted by the chemo treatment and too tired for visitors. It does take a huge toll. But the nausea has stayed away so far and this set of treatments has been far easier than the last set.
Discharge from hospital is planned for Friday afternoon, once the final treatment of this 5-day block is complete.
We are hoping the recovery will be swift and that the next two weeks before the next treatment starts will be back to normal. The car has been adapted and the new license received in the mail, so as soon as she feels up to it she can start driving again.
Kate is feeling exhausted by the chemo treatment and too tired for visitors. It does take a huge toll. But the nausea has stayed away so far and this set of treatments has been far easier than the last set.
Discharge from hospital is planned for Friday afternoon, once the final treatment of this 5-day block is complete.
We are hoping the recovery will be swift and that the next two weeks before the next treatment starts will be back to normal. The car has been adapted and the new license received in the mail, so as soon as she feels up to it she can start driving again.
Tuesday, March 15, 2011
15 March 2011
28% done with the chemo after day 2 of session 2. Almost a third of the way there!
This week has been much easier than the first chemo week. The lower dosage and increased nausea medicine have made things much more manageable. It looks like they 'oveercooked' her the first time around!
Unfortunately, she is not feeling up to having visitors just yet. Hopefully the recovery time will be much quicker than after the last session.
We are just so glad that it is so much easier this time around. What a relief, as we were all very anxious going into this week.
This week has been much easier than the first chemo week. The lower dosage and increased nausea medicine have made things much more manageable. It looks like they 'oveercooked' her the first time around!
Unfortunately, she is not feeling up to having visitors just yet. Hopefully the recovery time will be much quicker than after the last session.
We are just so glad that it is so much easier this time around. What a relief, as we were all very anxious going into this week.
Monday, March 14, 2011
14 March
24% down on the chemo. Kate was re-admitted to Hollywood hospital today (very appropriate name - they show James Bond movies on the TV) and had her first set of chemo of week 2.
The dosage is lower this time so hopefully the impact won't be as severe as the previous time. Also, they have pre-administered some serious anti nausea medicine.
Kate had a 'pic line' inserted to avoid having needles stuck into her arm. This provides a semi permanent entryway for the intravenous drugs.
She was quite happy today and the nurses were very familiar and happy, so it is a friendly environment. We are holding thumbs that this week will be easy!
The dosage is lower this time so hopefully the impact won't be as severe as the previous time. Also, they have pre-administered some serious anti nausea medicine.
Kate had a 'pic line' inserted to avoid having needles stuck into her arm. This provides a semi permanent entryway for the intravenous drugs.
She was quite happy today and the nurses were very familiar and happy, so it is a friendly environment. We are holding thumbs that this week will be easy!
Saturday, March 12, 2011
12 March
Kate made a wonderful curry dinner using the newly acquired thermo-mix today. This is an amazing machine that cooks and mixes all in one at the push of a few buttons. Ideal for our situation.
I think we will be able to cope perfectly well, one arm notwithstanding. As long as everyone helps a bit in the kitchen (chopping onions and peeling garlic is a little hard with one hand) it should be fine. The boys are very helpful, with Peter chopping vegetables and David laying the table.
The phantom pain seems to be easing periodically now, at least during the day. Hopefully it will gradually decline... that would make life a whole lot more pleasant.
Off to watch the clarinet concerto tonight - Peter's main instrument (he also plays the saxophone!). Hopefully also some violins, which are David's favourite.
I think we will be able to cope perfectly well, one arm notwithstanding. As long as everyone helps a bit in the kitchen (chopping onions and peeling garlic is a little hard with one hand) it should be fine. The boys are very helpful, with Peter chopping vegetables and David laying the table.
The phantom pain seems to be easing periodically now, at least during the day. Hopefully it will gradually decline... that would make life a whole lot more pleasant.
Off to watch the clarinet concerto tonight - Peter's main instrument (he also plays the saxophone!). Hopefully also some violins, which are David's favourite.
Friday, March 11, 2011
11 March
Kate passed her driver's license test today. A huge step to living independently again! The car needs some minor modifications - a knob on the steering wheel and some electronic gadgets for the indicators / windscreen wipers - and then she is ready to drive again. What a relief!
Wednesday, March 9, 2011
9 March
The hair is gone now, as was expected about two weeks after the first chemo session. We have already gotten used to the 'GI Jane' look underneath the beautiful wig that looks very natural and pretty.
Went for a driving lesson today - hopefully have the license test on Friday, bureaucrats willing. That will be a great step towards regaining independence!
The phantom limb is still ever present; two days ago, the pins and needles disappeared for a whole afternoon. We are hoping that they will disappear for longer and longer intervals and vanish completely eventually. Kate is continuing with the mirror box on a daily basis as it affords much relief.
We are not looking forward to next week - next set of chemo - trying to enjoy the chemo free time in the meantime.
Went for a driving lesson today - hopefully have the license test on Friday, bureaucrats willing. That will be a great step towards regaining independence!
The phantom limb is still ever present; two days ago, the pins and needles disappeared for a whole afternoon. We are hoping that they will disappear for longer and longer intervals and vanish completely eventually. Kate is continuing with the mirror box on a daily basis as it affords much relief.
We are not looking forward to next week - next set of chemo - trying to enjoy the chemo free time in the meantime.
Saturday, March 5, 2011
6 March
Back home now, Kate was released from hospital late last night. Hoping for a hospital free week this week! and then re-admission for the next set of chemo week after next.
Went for a lovely walk down to the river with Margaret this morning. Out to lunch this afternoon, stamina permitting. We are trying to do things as normally as possible under the circumstances. Kate is putting on a very brave face!
Went for a lovely walk down to the river with Margaret this morning. Out to lunch this afternoon, stamina permitting. We are trying to do things as normally as possible under the circumstances. Kate is putting on a very brave face!
Friday, March 4, 2011
5 March
Still in the hospital today and hopefully discharge tomorrow (Sunday).
Feeling fine other than a little bit of infection in the arm; hopefully that will go soon. The white blood cell count, which was close to 0 on Thursday, is improving as the body recovers from the first chemo week. Apparently this is the normal course of events.
The doctor still recommends going ahead with the second chemo treatment a week from now. However, the dose will be lightened - apparently the first treatment is always a bit of a guess and one can reduce the dose without impacting the effectiveness. We hope it will be easier the second time around.
Feeling fine other than a little bit of infection in the arm; hopefully that will go soon. The white blood cell count, which was close to 0 on Thursday, is improving as the body recovers from the first chemo week. Apparently this is the normal course of events.
The doctor still recommends going ahead with the second chemo treatment a week from now. However, the dose will be lightened - apparently the first treatment is always a bit of a guess and one can reduce the dose without impacting the effectiveness. We hope it will be easier the second time around.
Thursday, March 3, 2011
3 March
Back in hospital today, running a temperature and needing to be cautious of infections. So the doctor has ordered antibiotics and hospital stay for a few days.
Apparently this is not unusual in chemo patients, as the immune system is weakened substantially by the chemotherapy drugs.
Not a fun way to spend Thursday evening - we continue to take it one day at a time. Poor poor Kate.
Apparently this is not unusual in chemo patients, as the immune system is weakened substantially by the chemotherapy drugs.
Not a fun way to spend Thursday evening - we continue to take it one day at a time. Poor poor Kate.
Wednesday, March 2, 2011
2 March
We have definitely turned the corner. Today was a very busy day, with morning tea with the ladies and lunch at the Duck.
Amazing what difference a couple of days has made, from being man down on Monday to feeling almost normal (although a bit exhausted).
Tomorrow some more OT with the mirror box therapist. The mirror box seems to have helped hugely with the phantom pain. Then Friday to see the oncologist and plan the next chemo session ... enjoying life while we are free of chemo and hospitals temporarily.
Amazing what difference a couple of days has made, from being man down on Monday to feeling almost normal (although a bit exhausted).
Tomorrow some more OT with the mirror box therapist. The mirror box seems to have helped hugely with the phantom pain. Then Friday to see the oncologist and plan the next chemo session ... enjoying life while we are free of chemo and hospitals temporarily.
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