2nd round of Chemo

#2

 June 19th

Chemo #2

Becky was her nurse today. She was a bit rough with cleaning around the port so my mom was nervous that she was going to hurt her while putting the needle in.  Luckily, she said it was only like a small bee sting.   

My Dad sat with her the whole time due to me having a sore throat that morning and needing to get my kids to different places. 

No problems with the treatment and off she left with "Sherry" along with her. This time her calf muscles hurt a bit and she had a metallic taste when she ate. So along with the pins and needles she has a bad taste.  Who would want to eat or drink with all of that?? Well she persevered and continued to do both. We visited for a bit in the evening and played a game. 

June 20th

Metallic taste has gone away mostly and her calves are feeling better. My Dad went to work today for the first time and my mom did well resting.  We played some games and she watched the video that we made for her. She did a good ole belly laugh and that was so nice to see and hear. 

June 21st

She has been tired, she did not sleep well last night. We did not visit today just to let her rest. She went at 1pm and returned "Sherry". She had lost 1/2 a pound again and that really want her to try hard to not lose that much each visit. They went grocery shopping after getting the chemo removed and she was very tired from that small outing.  My dad went to work again today and I think that has been good for him.

So far it seems that the same cycle as before is happening. Today and tomorrow were her hardest days with the first chemo.   She's a fighter though and tough as nails.  

June 22-23 We enjoyed visits and playing games. She has a dr. appointment on Monday with Dr. Verra GI specialist about the drain /stent.

June 10-18th

 June 10th 

I picked her up to go shopping this morning. She was feeling up to it and we took advantage of that. We stopped at McDonalds to get her an egg mcmuffin and off we went.  She was able to do shopping at 2 different stores. She still gets tired quickly. But it was a successful day and she energy is getting better and she is feeling better all around. 

She wouldn't drive it but this is her race face.. so beware if she does ever use one..

June 11th

Today we went to the mall, we did 3 laps around the mall walking.  She said that this was her best feeling day with energy so far since the chemo.  She continues to eat and drink but still the desire is not there. She rested some and then the kids came to swim and play games. 

At the Anderson Mall

June 12th 

She was not feeling too good this morning. She didn't sleep well and had little energy.  She did play a game this afternoon, but this was a day more of resting. 

June 13th

She had 2 drs appointments today. First was with Dr. Stokes to check on the port and how it was healing. This appointment went well and he explained more about the drainage tube and that all her symptoms were normal. She has lots of gas and gasps for breath every so often.  He did encourage her to get more calories. 

The second appointment was with Dr. Doster, the oncologist. He was pleased with her white blood count (7) and her liver panel looked great.  He talked about all the symptoms she was having from the chemo and he too said that those symptoms were normal. He told her that she would have to have 6 treatments instead of 4 (he said this chemo is always 6, so miscommunication somewhere down the line).  But he said she was clear to have her next treatment on Wed. June 19th.They also did another CA 19-9 which is a tumor marker. Her first one done was 4 weeks ago before the pet scan and it was 981.  Today it was 1,632. He had said that there would probably be an increase in this number. 

While she was pretty bummed about getting 2 more treatments, we are grateful for 2 really good dr. visits and reports. 

June 14th

She and my Dad came to the kids last day of tennis camp. They had an awards ceremony. She was very careful to be out of the sun and use our big umbrella.  It did get too hot for her feet while she was standing so after it was over she went to the car to get some cool air.  We all ate at culvers for lunch and she was not impressed with the mashed potatoes but it was sure good to have her there with us.  We swam and had dinner with my parents.

Culver's for lunch

June 15th

Today was good, she rested some in the morning and we came over to visit and swim that evening. She got in the pool (with her feet on the 2nd step) just to say that she had been in the pool and to cool off her feet.   We went inside so I could go to the grocery store and she could rest and her blood sugar was low. She felt shaky inside and her hands were shaking, I got her some orange juice and cottage cheese and she was able to get it back to normal.  

June 16th

Fathers Day... 

We made a video for Scott and PA and we watched it before dinner. Sherry made ribs and we made the sides. We enjoyed gifts and jumping on the trampoline. Cathy and Keith Busby came by for a visit. 

June 17th

The kids, my Dad, and I went to carowinds today. My mom said that she felt comfortable staying home and that Cathy Busby would visit her for a bit.  We called and check in on her and she said it had been a great day. No stomach pains, good energy, and spirits.  She even drove to get pizza and wings for dinner. This was a huge success!! She has not driven since May 11th.

Carowinds

June 18th

Today was good, she sat by the pool while the kids swam. She was enjoying one more day before starting chemo again. We gave her hugs since we can't do that again until next Tuesday.

June 1-9th

 June 3rd: 

This was the original day of Chemo to start, but due to some insurance mix up it was pushed back to Wednesday. 

This was such a sweet tender mercy.  My mom had such a good day and was up doing things around the house.  This continued on into June 4th.  It was great to see her smile, joke, and seem like her self again. 

Her chemo is Folfirinox. 

Also I forgot to mention that my kiddos could never remember the name of my moms problems (pancreas), so they called it her PLATYPUS.  Hence the name of the blog.  We are now Team Platypus!

June 5th:

First day of Chemo.... we all held our breath to see how bad it was going to be to get the needle in the port, thankfully it was not painful and she had no allergic reactions to the meds.  PRAYERS ARE HEARD AND ANSWERED!!!   We had heard from several friends and family that the needle was so painful to go in, and with the port site still being so tender we all worried.  Thankfully they prescribed her some numbing meds to put on before she came.  

My dad sat with her for the first 3 hours and I came and sat the last 3.  It was sad to see all these people having to have chemo but such a beautiful sight that these very people had smiles on their faces, laughing and making jokes.  I needed to see that and realize that life is short but no matter what you get thrown at you, you can smile and enjoy even the small things.  I also was grateful that some very smart people concocted these meds to help save peoples lives. 

She left with a fanny pack (panny pack ) as she calls it to have chemo administered for the next 2 days.  Later this panny pack got renamed Sherry.   

Day 1 went well and she was feeling good. 

June 6th:  

Day 2 was still going well and she was up and walking around. No severe side effects so far other than nothing cold (pins and needles feeling in her throat) and some flushing on her face and neck.

Mimi.. AKA Michael Jackson with Sherry.. her chemo pack..

June 7th: 

Day 3 The fatigue had set in and her mood changed from chipper to more blah. She got her meds taken out at 1:30 and we enjoyed Bojangles to honor Eric.  Energy level was low but she managed to still walk around, eat, drink, and lift her 3 pound weights. 

June 8th:

Day 4 This seemed to be the hardest day so far.  No desire to smile, get up much, or do anything but rest. She did still do her walking around the house and weights but was not in the mood for visitors. 

June 9th:

Day 5 Rested for the first part of the day but around the evening time she seemed to have her energy coming back. She was smiling, laughing,  and making jokes. It was sure good to get that personality back.  

We have not been able to touch her due to the chemo in her and that lasts until tomorrow. She has to eat on paper plates and with plastic spoons.  Nothing cold to eat or drink.  She has been eating but appetite is small. She does a great job at drinking and staying hydrated.  This is all very new to each of us and we are trying our best to do our best in making sure she is comfortable and happy.

Recap of the Month of May

 May 6th:

My mom had a doctors appointment due to have some indigestion and stomach pains for about 3 weeks. They did a blood panel and the results were elevated liver enzymes.  Her P.A. Nina Bridges ordered a CT Scan to be done the following Friday, May 10th.   

May 10th:

It's interesting how life can change in a moment.  She had the CT Scan done in the morning and got the results mid morning.  They had found an L3 fracture in her spine and a mass on her pancreas.    My dad called to inform me and asked me to come to the dr. office at 2pm to see the P.A.

She read over the scan with us and had put into places several things. One of which was a PET Scan that would be done the following week and the other a referral to the GI specialist Dr. Verrabagu.   She had made it possible to have things appointments happen quickly which we are very grateful for. She also gave my Mom more meds to help with the symptoms that seemed to be getting worse. 

May16th:  

PET Scan was done and results came in that afternoon. It showed a bit more due to scanning more than just the abdomen.   The scan showed the mass, the L3 fracture and a lymph node (left thoracic, up by the collarbone).  

May 20th:

Visit with Dr. Verra.   He decided that she needed an endoscopic ultrasound and while looking around he would do a biopsy of the mass. We mentioned that she had jaundice and upon hearing this, he arranged for her to have this procedure done on Friday May 24th. He would also put in a stent in the bile duct that was closed due to the size of the mass and that should clear up her jaundice.  He gave her some stronger stomach meds. and ordered a CMP (comprehensive Metabolic Panel) basically a liver panel and a CA 19-9 which is a cancer antigen or tumor marker.  

The results came back with very high levels on all of the above panels and we were so thankful that her procedure would  be done so quickly. 

May 24th: 

As with all things we were so hopeful for this procedure to reduce her symptoms and pain and be able to enjoy life while waiting on the biopsy and further instructions. 

Little did any of us know but this would be the beginning of a long weekend hospital stay.

Dr. Verra came in to visit with us after the surgery he was very apologetic due to the fact that he was unable to put in the stent as planned. He did find that the pancreatic duct needed a stent as well and was able to do that one. He was also able to see that the other organs looked good and get some good samples from the mass. He was not able to do the stent and said he tried 30 mins longer than normal and different sizes but no such luck.  He also told us that it was indeed pancreatic cancer and the biopsy would let us know what kind.  He said that the nurses were working on getting her transported to the hospital by ambulance and a room was getting ready. She was still in recovery and had a while to wake up from sedation.  

My dad and I went to see her and joked around with her and the nurse while she was still sedated. She wasn't thrilled about going to the hospital but we knew this was something she had to do because it was a serious medical situation with her bilirubin being so high.  

All the nurses and Dr. Verra were so kind and willing to help us out during the time we were in the outpatient surgery area. 

My dad went home to get some necessary items and I followed the ambulance to the hospital.  I was shocked with the emotions of seeing my mom  in the ambulance and knowing that she was having to go through all of this.  Thankfully Sherry answered my phone call to calm me down and remind me that if I got in a wreck while crying and following the ambulance my mom would be very upset with me. So she made me laugh and I carried on.

She was in room 426 and I was able to be in the room once she arrived. 

Once again all the aides and nurses were so nice and kind to us while getting her checked in and situated. 

May 25th: 

A day she doesn't want to remember.  The IR internal radiologist mildly sedated her while doing an internal/external bili
ary drain.  Sadly the duct was still too closed up and she had to have only the external drain and it drained into a bag.  I refer to this as her liver juice and if you are wondering.. it looks brown which is why your poop is brown.  This drain made her levels over the next couple of days go from 11.8 to 4.0.  It was painful for my mom and to add to the pain she had to have blood thinner shots in her belly, blood drawn each day, and an iv filling her with fluids. To put it mildly she was not a happy camper.  

May 26th-28th: 

Each day seemed to be a little less painful but pain meds and visitors seemed to help with keeping her mind off of the current situation.   

On Tues. 28th, she went in again for the procedure to hopefully take out the drain and put in a permanent stent, sadly they could not do that but were able after 3 attempts to have an internal / external biliary drain.  This meant that she would not have to go home with the liver juice bag, but those juices would drain into her bowels and make her poop brown again.  The drain still has to be left out of her body so that they can hopefully go back in and do a permanent stent once the mass has shrunk from the CHEMO. The nurse in the procedure told my mom that the mass was all over the bile duct and it was not the radiologist that got that drain through it was the Lord.  We have seen his hand in so many things that have happened over the last couple of weeks. 

She was able to go home after the mild sedation wore off and so by dinner time she was in her own home again!

While in the hospital she met with her oncologist Dr. Doster. He reminded us all of John O'dell.  

He scheduled her to have the surgeon Dr. Stokes to do her port and they would start Chemo in the following weeks. 

May 30th:

We met with Dr. Dosters P.A. Sarah.  She was very kind and went over all the chemo information with us. So many effects could happen, but it seemed that they had a medication for each one. 

May 31st:

Dr. Stokes put in her port and the procedure went well. She was sore from the surgery but he gave her stronger pain meds once he saw that she couldn't lay back on the hospital table and had to be sedated while sitting up. 

She had her most pain from the drain and the gas that came if she didnt walk around to get it moving around. She is a trooper and as usual proved again to be so strong. 

The month of May didn't turn out as planned and we all wished it was different, but we have grown closer as a family and have seen the hand of the Lord as well as the hands of his servants, my moms friends, step up and serve us so much! We couldn't have done all of this without him and those that have taken time to pray, fast, cook, visit, and listen.