Hi gang-
Our patient is doing quite well. He's feeling stronger every day. His appetite is back, and his taste buds are very slowly coming back.
We had a long and busy week. Went to Tulane on Mon, Tues, and Wed.
Thursday, Dom decided that he wanted to come with me to Poplarville. What a LONG day.....80 mile drive to check on the kitties, then another 50 miles to Slidell to visit his maw. I had her sit in the car with him to visit..... mask on. Then, another 25 miles to Mandeville, and across the Causeway to the apartment. (another 25 miles). I was absolutely exhausted.
Headed back to Tulane on Friday. They called that afternoon to tell Dom to lay off the blood thinners and eat alot of broccoli this weekend. Luckily, Rouses was selling it for only a buck a bunch.
Had hoped to spend the day at the pool today, but alas, the skies are black. *pouting*
Back to Tulane on Monday. Thank gawd we've got this apartment only 8 miles away!
Happy Saturday, gang. Have a delightful weekend.
XOXO
Saturday, August 15, 2009
Tuesday, August 11, 2009
Dom's Blood Work Looks "Good...REALLY Good"!
Just returned from our appointment with Dr. Safah. She's very pleased with Dom's numbers. "Good- really good." (Music to our ears!)
Went in for lab work yesterday. They took him off of his 2 blood thinners, and gave him Potassium...a 2 hour drip.
Back in tomorrow for more of the same..... then they'll advise about blood thinners.
I'm heading into Poplarville for the night on Thursday. Chris is going to spend the night with Dom. In another week, I'll be able to leave him alone..... home alone!
Oh, yeah.... today is Dom's 64th Birthday!
Went in for lab work yesterday. They took him off of his 2 blood thinners, and gave him Potassium...a 2 hour drip.
Back in tomorrow for more of the same..... then they'll advise about blood thinners.
I'm heading into Poplarville for the night on Thursday. Chris is going to spend the night with Dom. In another week, I'll be able to leave him alone..... home alone!
Oh, yeah.... today is Dom's 64th Birthday!
Saturday, August 8, 2009
Multiple Myeloma Description from '04- easy to understand-
DEAR DR. DONOHUE: A close relative is in the early stages of multiple myeloma. He has no symptoms and is still quite active. He plays golf and takes long walks. He is 79. He is not under treatment. Please explain what this disease is. Can it be cured? Is research being done on it? - I.J.
ANSWER: Multiple myeloma is a cancer that begins with a single renegade cell in the bone marrow. That cell begins to multiply at extremely fast rates and has a prolonged longevity. The progeny of that single cell crowd out other cells in the bone marrow, and that leads to all the complications of this disease.
Anemia is common, because myeloma cells disrupt red blood cell production. The same happens to white blood cells. Infections are a common consequence because of the drop in white blood cells and because there's a diminished production of antibodies. Myeloma can affect the kidneys.
The cause of this cancer, as is true of so many other cancers, has eluded detection.
Symptoms of myeloma include bone pain, especially back or rib pain. Bones are weakened by the rampant growth of myeloma cells, and they break easily. Another consequence of bone involvement is a rise in blood calcium, and the high levels of calcium can create their own problems.
Anemia symptoms are part of the myeloma picture. Fatigue and breathlessness are two examples.
The cure for myeloma has not yet been discovered, but there are treatments that slow its course, make patients more comfortable and can prolong life. Chemotherapy drugs are the usual treatment.
Your relative has not reached the point that calls for treatment. It's usually begun when people develop symptoms or when there is a rise in a blood protein that is generated by myeloma cells. Research on myeloma is being conducted throughout the world.
http://www.sunjournal.com/node/74401
ANSWER: Multiple myeloma is a cancer that begins with a single renegade cell in the bone marrow. That cell begins to multiply at extremely fast rates and has a prolonged longevity. The progeny of that single cell crowd out other cells in the bone marrow, and that leads to all the complications of this disease.
Anemia is common, because myeloma cells disrupt red blood cell production. The same happens to white blood cells. Infections are a common consequence because of the drop in white blood cells and because there's a diminished production of antibodies. Myeloma can affect the kidneys.
The cause of this cancer, as is true of so many other cancers, has eluded detection.
Symptoms of myeloma include bone pain, especially back or rib pain. Bones are weakened by the rampant growth of myeloma cells, and they break easily. Another consequence of bone involvement is a rise in blood calcium, and the high levels of calcium can create their own problems.
Anemia symptoms are part of the myeloma picture. Fatigue and breathlessness are two examples.
The cure for myeloma has not yet been discovered, but there are treatments that slow its course, make patients more comfortable and can prolong life. Chemotherapy drugs are the usual treatment.
Your relative has not reached the point that calls for treatment. It's usually begun when people develop symptoms or when there is a rise in a blood protein that is generated by myeloma cells. Research on myeloma is being conducted throughout the world.
http://www.sunjournal.com/node/74401
Dom is HOME!
Happy Saturday, Gang.
Sitting with my laptop, taking a break from cleaning/disinfecting and sanitizing. It's a rainy day. Dom's out of bed, got sick of television, and is now reading a "dirty rotten biker" book.
He was released from the hospital (to our Metairie apartment) on Tuesday afternoon. John took the pic line out of his arm. He's still on 2 different blood thinners for the blood clot that had developed, as well as a bunch of antibiotics.
Dom is wiped out. It's a physical effort to walk from our living room to our bedroom. He gets winded. He has no appetite. I've been "forcing him" to choke down cold sandwiches. Today, at almost 2 pm, all he's had is a half of a peanut butter/jelly sandwich. Again, Tulane expected this, and said that he's doing well.
As he has to have a "sitter", his buddy Chris came over for the night on Wed., so I could go overnight to Poplarville for the mail and feeding of cats. I was delighted to see that I still have 4 sassy kitties! Tough country cats.
Chris waited til I returned home on Thursday morning before he left. Said that nothing was going to happen to him on "his watch". (Had called when I was about an hour away and told him that he could split).
We had a 10:30 am appointment for bloodwork. Unfortunately, Dom had forgotten to take coumadin for a couple of days, so they sent us home until Monday. Then an appointment with Dr. Safah on Tuesday. I'll be curious to see his newest numbers. I got such a kick out of watching them come up.
Yesterday, Friday, I spent a couple of hours at the pool with my new buddy, running back to the apartment every half hour to check on Dom. He's fine, other than exhausted.
Got nothing planned for the rest of the weekend. Hope his appetite returns for Tuesday.... he'll be a "birthday boy". (his OLD birthday..... now he's got 2 of 'em!)
Have a great weekend!
Sitting with my laptop, taking a break from cleaning/disinfecting and sanitizing. It's a rainy day. Dom's out of bed, got sick of television, and is now reading a "dirty rotten biker" book.
He was released from the hospital (to our Metairie apartment) on Tuesday afternoon. John took the pic line out of his arm. He's still on 2 different blood thinners for the blood clot that had developed, as well as a bunch of antibiotics.
Dom is wiped out. It's a physical effort to walk from our living room to our bedroom. He gets winded. He has no appetite. I've been "forcing him" to choke down cold sandwiches. Today, at almost 2 pm, all he's had is a half of a peanut butter/jelly sandwich. Again, Tulane expected this, and said that he's doing well.
As he has to have a "sitter", his buddy Chris came over for the night on Wed., so I could go overnight to Poplarville for the mail and feeding of cats. I was delighted to see that I still have 4 sassy kitties! Tough country cats.
Chris waited til I returned home on Thursday morning before he left. Said that nothing was going to happen to him on "his watch". (Had called when I was about an hour away and told him that he could split).
We had a 10:30 am appointment for bloodwork. Unfortunately, Dom had forgotten to take coumadin for a couple of days, so they sent us home until Monday. Then an appointment with Dr. Safah on Tuesday. I'll be curious to see his newest numbers. I got such a kick out of watching them come up.
Yesterday, Friday, I spent a couple of hours at the pool with my new buddy, running back to the apartment every half hour to check on Dom. He's fine, other than exhausted.
Got nothing planned for the rest of the weekend. Hope his appetite returns for Tuesday.... he'll be a "birthday boy". (his OLD birthday..... now he's got 2 of 'em!)
Have a great weekend!
Thursday, August 6, 2009
Amy's Visit.....NONSTOP FUN!!!!!
Hi gang....
Sorry for the 1 week lapse in posting....been really busy. Let me catch you up:
Friday: Went a.m. to visit Dom. His bloodcounts were going through the roof! They were very happy.
Best childhood friend, Amy, flew into town around 1pm. We went to Oscar's for an Oscarlotta and a couple of beers, then came home and hung out at the pool until dark.
Saturday: I let Amy moan and groan in bed (hungover), while I, being the good wife, drove in for a visit. All of infections had almost cleared up. Doctors were pleased.
Best Southern friend, Lovely Linda, came over around noon.... brought the rain with her. The 3 of us took a cab to Taco San Miguel. Enjoyed multiple margaritas on the rocks that one could actually taste tequila! EXCELLENT FOOD. I need to write a review on NOLAEATS.com before I forget!
Came back (Nan now has a "personal driver"!!!!) and the 3 of us hung out at the pool for much of the afternoon.
Sunday: Another visit to Dom in the morning.....gawd, I'm good! Then, Amy and I took a cab to the Swamp Room for a highly over-hyped cheeseburger. Never again. Stupid sandwich. Kind of a stupid crowd, too. *grinning*
Chris drove over to meet us, then the 3 of us came back here for big fun.... multiple martinis...... broken furniture......Chris spent the night. It's a good thing that he was here to babysit us. *grinning and rolling my eyes* (DOM said, "great....it's like having THREE Newbury Girls instead of two of you!)
Monday: A Dom visit. More rain. Linda picked us up and we went to Oscars, and then the little Tapas joint next door. We three old broads were drooling over the 20-something new bartender..... a little tenderoni.
Tuesday: Had Amy at the airport for around 8am, then headed to the hospital to bring him home.
To be continued....
Sorry for the 1 week lapse in posting....been really busy. Let me catch you up:
Friday: Went a.m. to visit Dom. His bloodcounts were going through the roof! They were very happy.
Best childhood friend, Amy, flew into town around 1pm. We went to Oscar's for an Oscarlotta and a couple of beers, then came home and hung out at the pool until dark.
Saturday: I let Amy moan and groan in bed (hungover), while I, being the good wife, drove in for a visit. All of infections had almost cleared up. Doctors were pleased.
Best Southern friend, Lovely Linda, came over around noon.... brought the rain with her. The 3 of us took a cab to Taco San Miguel. Enjoyed multiple margaritas on the rocks that one could actually taste tequila! EXCELLENT FOOD. I need to write a review on NOLAEATS.com before I forget!
Came back (Nan now has a "personal driver"!!!!) and the 3 of us hung out at the pool for much of the afternoon.
Sunday: Another visit to Dom in the morning.....gawd, I'm good! Then, Amy and I took a cab to the Swamp Room for a highly over-hyped cheeseburger. Never again. Stupid sandwich. Kind of a stupid crowd, too. *grinning*
Chris drove over to meet us, then the 3 of us came back here for big fun.... multiple martinis...... broken furniture......Chris spent the night. It's a good thing that he was here to babysit us. *grinning and rolling my eyes* (DOM said, "great....it's like having THREE Newbury Girls instead of two of you!)
Monday: A Dom visit. More rain. Linda picked us up and we went to Oscars, and then the little Tapas joint next door. We three old broads were drooling over the 20-something new bartender..... a little tenderoni.
Tuesday: Had Amy at the airport for around 8am, then headed to the hospital to bring him home.
To be continued....
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