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