Mon, Feb 8, 2016

11:07 a.m.

Winter has returned as the snow has begun to fly.

Pap was a night owl last night outlasting Jay at 2am. He did not sleep well. I think he was uncomfortable. He has been out in the chair this morning.

Dr apt at 1:00 to get acquainted with chemo stuff. Jay will go with.

Ma is figuring out the phone and girls showed her all the emojis. I set daily alarm reminders on it for Pap's shots. That phone will prove very handy!

Kenz topped off the morning by making a Grasshopper Cheesecake!

Afternoon

We have to leave in a half hour. Jay is going back to MN tonight as well. We would not all go if we didn't think Polly and John would be ok till Jeff arrives.

They are doing ok and a couple days to be able to break and deal with their own emotions may be good.

Girls have been great distraction but appointment today was a slap of reality I think.

Grateful Jeff and John will be here for chemo Monday.

Leaving today is beyond difficult for me but I will be back in a couple of weeks.

5:58 p.m.

Here is a choppy update from the appointment today - Pap was doing pretty good at the appointment and the person they met with had a good positive demeanor to her

Met with Kelly Amato

The first treatment gives a good indicator for how he will generally handle it

Every 2 week treatment

Starts Monday 15th

Home health nurse every other week - blood work

Longer treatment - 1 drug over 90 minutes

2 drugs over 2 hours

Monday in - Wednesday to get the pump off

All day at the hospital
Breakfast and lunch here

830 or 845 to be at hospital - he will be there until about 3 on the chemo days

Not a friendly treatment - hard hitting drugs to settle the cancer

46 hour window to return to the hospital - example leave at 3 on Monday come back 1 at Wednesday unless there is a complication

Irinotecan /camptizar - can cause cramping and diarrhea -

I did not get the name of the second drug - this can cause the cold sensations - stay away from cold drinks for 5 days after treatment
Cold to hands and feet - good socks and shoes

5FU - the drug that is in the pump

They gave a side-effect Bible - info on all the drugs and side effects

Pap is in charge of his treatment if he wants to change it in any way he can

Nausea/vomiting/excessive diarrhea or really dark urine

Needs to drink 8 glasses of de caffeinated drinks a day -

Do fluids in between the food - needs his calorie intake up but needs to graze all day - no big meals - need calories and protein

Carnation instant breakfast - smoothies - needs whole milk

Skin will dry out

Chemo will cause memory changes

Fatigue will be an issue - needs to keep himself moving in short spurts

He needs to keep taking iron because he is anemic

Probiotic and yogurt to put the good bacteria back into the stomach

The belief is that he is in good overall health in liver and kidneys etc so they are going to push him and see what kind of treatment he can take

They also filled out the form that allows John, Jeff, or Jay to call the hospital and to talk to someone there about his condition, treatment etc if we ever needed to