Yes, after being lectured more strongly by the chemo nurses and right after I published the last blog entry and after all of you read that gave out the collective thought, "Drink!" Janette has flipped her attitude and is now drinking much more. Whew!
I took Janette in for fluids this morning. We weren't sure if she really needed them. She wasn't showing any of the normal symptoms, but I didn't want her to get so dehydrated again. She was fine, so what we did instead was have a long conversation with the nurse. Janette is hydrated well enough for now, not great or perfectly, but well enough to keep taking fluids the way the rest of us do. If she keeps up this level of drinking and increases a bit more, she should stay hydrated enough. Good job! So, instead of another drinking lecture, Janette got a lecture about eating.
OK now everyone, all together, "Janette/Aunt Blackie, Eat!!"
Janette had backed off on her eating when she started drinking more. Her weight today was 119 lbs. Yes, she weighed so little last week, but that was dehydration. Fluids weight a lot! One liter of saline added 2.5 lbs each visit. But this 119 lbs is lack of food. It was a good lecture: Why she needs food and what type of food and how to eat small meals and how often and why food over vitamins and how her weight is much too low. Janette hates hearing this. You can see it in her face when we get to the part where she has to eat a little bit every two hours. Maybe it's the part where we say "have to" and "on this particular schedule." Whatever the block has been, she seems to be trying to get past it.
After this morning's lecture and no fluids, I suggested, as I often do, we get something special to eat. Today she said, yes. We picked up Aunt Eliska from around the corner and went out for breakfast. Janette ate 2"x5" piece of pancake with butter and syrup and about 10oz of orange juice. (I also got Aunt Eliska to eat an egg, protein, with her carbs, grits.) Ultimately, she wants to eat separately from drinking so she can do more of both, but the timing was bad for this morning. Before, she would take two bites and say, "I'm full," with the energy of (in my mind; she would probably disagree), "and I'm not going to eat anymore." Today she really, truly kept trying. And Aunt Eliska just called: Janette woke up from her short nap over there and is willing to try to eat some clam chowder. Gold star for attitude! We've been teasing her with this and she laughs with us.
Why is she over at Aunt Eliska's? First, Eliska made it safely back from Golden Meadow, though she's even more tired now. I'm a little worried about her health, too, but she is trying to rest more and not do too much walking or work right now. She thought the service for Aunt Sis was beautiful and she greatly enjoyed visiting with everyone. She was also very grateful for the opportunity to say good-bye to her sister. Second, we're having all the 43 year old windows replaced for hurricane season! Boy, those old panes popped out so easily! The only ones staying are the two sliding glass doors--they are good, tight fitting safety glass--and the kitchen window because it's an odd size. The new windows arrived to be installed just in time for Sybil's visit tomorrow afternoon. It's a noisy, hot process and they'll be finished sometime today.
Friday, July 24, 2009
Saturday, July 18, 2009
Deaths and Births
We are all very sad. Janette's eldest sister, Elenore "Sis" Theroit died this afternoon with all her family around her. Aunt Eliska flew to Louisiana early today to be with Aunt Sis. Janette is staying in Florida with me.
Two weeks ago, their cousin and foster brother "Dickie" also died. Aunt Sis went into the hospital and critical care soon after. They are the first siblings, out of the 10, to leave them.
Earlier this week, we were happy for Aunt Eliska. Her granddaughter, Rebecca, gave birth to an 8 pound 13 ounce baby boy, Zigmund or "Ziggy." I'm not sure of the baby's last name or if I correctly spelled his first name.
Last night, we also learned that Jill's daughter, Lacie, gave birth prematurely to an almost 2 pound baby boy, Kaden. Mother and baby are doing fine, though we were worried about both when we learned the day before that Lacie had gone into labor.
Also yesterday, Jochen flew in from Oregon to spend 3 weeks with us here. Aunt Eliska and I drove to the airport to bring him home and then at 4:30 this morning, Jochen and I drove Aunt Eliska to the airport to send her to Louisiana.
To make an understatement, the Plaisance-Theriot clan has had a very stressful week.
Stressful Week in Clearwater
Last blog entry, I wrote that Janette was not feeling well after her compounded treatments. The next day she felt even worse--vomiting, running a fever, sleeping most of the time and not able to eat or drink. The oncologist prescribed antibiotics, just to be sure, though the fever may have been from dehydration. Her weight dropped from 126 that Thursday to 119 on Monday. This Monday through Thursday, we went each day for Janette to get a liter of IV fluids and an IV dose of Tagemet, steroids and antinausea meds. They call that a "Happy Meal." By Wednesday, Janette was feeling much better. But still, she is not eating or drinking much and is dehydrating too quickly, too often. Early this morning while I was napping after my airport run, I heard her calling out to me. She was mildly disoriented, gaunt and lightheaded--all signs of dehydration. So, once again we drove to the cancer center for a liter of saline and a small dose of steroids.
I've avoided writing about this because it upsets her so much when we all tell her: Janette is not eating and not drinking anywhere close to enough to be healthy. She's not nauseous; she just doesn't feel like putting anything in her stomach. Cancer does that. Now her stomach has shrunk so much, she feels full after a few bites or sips. I think the lack of nutrients, fuel, electrolytes and water is her biggest health challenge. IV fluids are not the answer. The nurses say she needs fluids in her digestive system. The nurses have explained also that one liter is not enough even for one day. I think Janette is drinking about three cups a day on average and never more than four. And dehydration and maybe chemotherapy also cause her to pass more fluids than what she takes into her body. She is never taking in enough to stay even mildly hydrated and each week has at least one dehydration "crisis."
Two weeks ago, their cousin and foster brother "Dickie" also died. Aunt Sis went into the hospital and critical care soon after. They are the first siblings, out of the 10, to leave them.
Earlier this week, we were happy for Aunt Eliska. Her granddaughter, Rebecca, gave birth to an 8 pound 13 ounce baby boy, Zigmund or "Ziggy." I'm not sure of the baby's last name or if I correctly spelled his first name.
Last night, we also learned that Jill's daughter, Lacie, gave birth prematurely to an almost 2 pound baby boy, Kaden. Mother and baby are doing fine, though we were worried about both when we learned the day before that Lacie had gone into labor.
Also yesterday, Jochen flew in from Oregon to spend 3 weeks with us here. Aunt Eliska and I drove to the airport to bring him home and then at 4:30 this morning, Jochen and I drove Aunt Eliska to the airport to send her to Louisiana.
To make an understatement, the Plaisance-Theriot clan has had a very stressful week.
Stressful Week in Clearwater
Last blog entry, I wrote that Janette was not feeling well after her compounded treatments. The next day she felt even worse--vomiting, running a fever, sleeping most of the time and not able to eat or drink. The oncologist prescribed antibiotics, just to be sure, though the fever may have been from dehydration. Her weight dropped from 126 that Thursday to 119 on Monday. This Monday through Thursday, we went each day for Janette to get a liter of IV fluids and an IV dose of Tagemet, steroids and antinausea meds. They call that a "Happy Meal." By Wednesday, Janette was feeling much better. But still, she is not eating or drinking much and is dehydrating too quickly, too often. Early this morning while I was napping after my airport run, I heard her calling out to me. She was mildly disoriented, gaunt and lightheaded--all signs of dehydration. So, once again we drove to the cancer center for a liter of saline and a small dose of steroids.
I've avoided writing about this because it upsets her so much when we all tell her: Janette is not eating and not drinking anywhere close to enough to be healthy. She's not nauseous; she just doesn't feel like putting anything in her stomach. Cancer does that. Now her stomach has shrunk so much, she feels full after a few bites or sips. I think the lack of nutrients, fuel, electrolytes and water is her biggest health challenge. IV fluids are not the answer. The nurses say she needs fluids in her digestive system. The nurses have explained also that one liter is not enough even for one day. I think Janette is drinking about three cups a day on average and never more than four. And dehydration and maybe chemotherapy also cause her to pass more fluids than what she takes into her body. She is never taking in enough to stay even mildly hydrated and each week has at least one dehydration "crisis."
Saturday, July 11, 2009
All Is Well
Hello again, everyone. Thanks for the break. I know it wasn't one you agreed to, but it was one I needed to step back a bit from crisis mode. Thank you.
Janette has been doing well. Each day she is eating a little better and finding a little more energy. She believes the negative effects of radiation are wearing off. July 4, she went to a friend's house for several hours and ate two slices of pizza.
We were happy to see Aunt Judy, Jill and Casey. Janette still was tired often, but that was when her appetite improved. Aunt Judy brought and cooked some delicious crab patties and made a pot of red beans and a pot of white beans to freeze and eat later. Thank you!
Radiation is over but chemo begins. Janette had her second chemo session Wednesday. These treatments are 21 days apart. The first treatment left her mildly nauseous and a little tired. It also depleted her red and white blood cells just to the edge of the acceptable levels. She had, at different times, a shot to increase white blood cell production and a long lasting one to increase hemoglobin production. You know, I'm not sure I got the wording right on that, but it's the essence of what they want her body to do. Her reactions to both were minimal.
Thursday she had another long lasting shot, this time for white blood cell production. It's a different drug than the first time, stronger and longer lasting. Between this shot and the second chemo treatment, Janette is not feeling well at all. More nausea, no vomiting, and much more fatigue. I wanted to tell everyone she was ready to take your short phone calls and very short visits, but now I'm not sure. Let's see what happens.
The oncologist ordered the second white blood cell shot not because Janette's count was so low but because we thought we may drive to Louisiana. Her eldest sister is in the hospital, very ill. We are waiting to see what happens to decide what we will do. Please include Aunt Sis and her family in your prayers along with Aunt Judy and Uncle Carrol and their family. I don't know if I mentioned this before in my blog: my Uncle Carrol also has lung cancer, a different form, diagnosed around the same time as my mother's. Aunt Judy's visit was a special gift.
And for the family who are reading, Aunt Eliska is now a 20 year cancer survivor! Last month she had several tests, including a PET scan, to look for any traces of cancer growth. Last week we met with Aunt Eliska's new oncologist: not a trace of cancer found! Some good news for this family. She also had an ultrasound for vascular blockage in her neck, none found! And the oncologist (and I) pushed her to get a blood sugar monitor and check her levels every hour for one day. Again, no problems, no sign of pre-diabetes!
And also congratulations to the new babies born and about to be born to our friends and family! Janette was (and is) checking her email each day for the news.
Janette has been doing well. Each day she is eating a little better and finding a little more energy. She believes the negative effects of radiation are wearing off. July 4, she went to a friend's house for several hours and ate two slices of pizza.
We were happy to see Aunt Judy, Jill and Casey. Janette still was tired often, but that was when her appetite improved. Aunt Judy brought and cooked some delicious crab patties and made a pot of red beans and a pot of white beans to freeze and eat later. Thank you!
Radiation is over but chemo begins. Janette had her second chemo session Wednesday. These treatments are 21 days apart. The first treatment left her mildly nauseous and a little tired. It also depleted her red and white blood cells just to the edge of the acceptable levels. She had, at different times, a shot to increase white blood cell production and a long lasting one to increase hemoglobin production. You know, I'm not sure I got the wording right on that, but it's the essence of what they want her body to do. Her reactions to both were minimal.
Thursday she had another long lasting shot, this time for white blood cell production. It's a different drug than the first time, stronger and longer lasting. Between this shot and the second chemo treatment, Janette is not feeling well at all. More nausea, no vomiting, and much more fatigue. I wanted to tell everyone she was ready to take your short phone calls and very short visits, but now I'm not sure. Let's see what happens.
The oncologist ordered the second white blood cell shot not because Janette's count was so low but because we thought we may drive to Louisiana. Her eldest sister is in the hospital, very ill. We are waiting to see what happens to decide what we will do. Please include Aunt Sis and her family in your prayers along with Aunt Judy and Uncle Carrol and their family. I don't know if I mentioned this before in my blog: my Uncle Carrol also has lung cancer, a different form, diagnosed around the same time as my mother's. Aunt Judy's visit was a special gift.
And for the family who are reading, Aunt Eliska is now a 20 year cancer survivor! Last month she had several tests, including a PET scan, to look for any traces of cancer growth. Last week we met with Aunt Eliska's new oncologist: not a trace of cancer found! Some good news for this family. She also had an ultrasound for vascular blockage in her neck, none found! And the oncologist (and I) pushed her to get a blood sugar monitor and check her levels every hour for one day. Again, no problems, no sign of pre-diabetes!
And also congratulations to the new babies born and about to be born to our friends and family! Janette was (and is) checking her email each day for the news.
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