Chemo next week

Finally......chemo treatments start next Monday. I have a schedule of three weeks on and one week off. Right this minute I can't remember how many cycles the treatments last. Also somewhere down the road is radiation. WooHoo....there are only two appointments this week (a chemo prep appointment Wednesday and an appointment with the surgeon on Thursday). As important as the chemo appointment is, I'm more looking forward to the surgeon's appointment as I should get the last drainage tube removed. Wow, being able to bathe when you want, not just when Kaye is available to untie and tie things up, retape the tube entry point, etc. I'm betting she's pretty happy herself. :-)))

Kaye and I worked in the yard Sunday and wore ourselves out. There are many things left to prune, but we had to stop. It felt good to work outside although a few rest periods were 'required'. Yesterday, we had our entire clan over for swimming and a bbq. We had just had a new bbq installed on Friday and once past a minor gas regulator problem, the bbq worked perfectly. To my co-workers......the pool and bbq are ready for you. :-)))

I finally did get the golfs clubs out........pitched and putted around the yard. I hit a few plastic balls with my 3-wood (low line drives slightly hooking to the right.....remember, I play sports as a lefty) and pronounced myself ready to play with Brad in the tournament this Saturday. Actually, my plan is to play as long as I can (there's no meat on my bones) then just ride in the cart and putt when required. Geez, how many mulligans am I going to have to buy before we start???

To all who have replied to one or more of my blogs, called, visited, sent emails (work or home), sent cards..........thank you so much. Kaye and I are amazed at the size of our support group.

Doctor Updates

We had appointments with both the surgeon and oncologist on Thursday. The surgeon was first....one tube (J-tube) removed...Yippee. The second tube draining the abscess still has to remain for a week or two. The wet-to-dry bandage we were changing everyday is now down to band aid size. I asked about golf (not yet), asked about driving (not until pain pills ar gone), asked about work...AND I CAN START 1/2 DAY FROM HOME NEXT WEEK!

The oncologist recommended waiting until all the tubes are gone before starting chemo. She also wants to review heart stuff with my cardiologist because he's still wanting to place another stent. We'll see who wins. I will be having both chemo and radiation, then we'll see where we are. We're obviously hoping for the best.

Not much more news except I'm going to try and do some light yard work today. I also need to get the clubs out (pitching and putting should be okay) as Brad has me scheduled for a best-ball tournament on June 3rd....I'll be the one dozing off while driving the cart.

Quite a few co-workers visited yesterday....it was great to see you all. Can't wait to get back to seeing you all at 1201 J Street.

Back Home...........AGAIN

Wow.....what a whirlwind five days. From an early visit (2am) Tuesday to the Sutter-Roseville ER (they turn people around much faster than UC), we left somewhere around 4:30 because fever had subsided...back again at 9am because it was back around 103. We then wait for two days at Sutter because UC had no beds. Finally, around 8pm Wednesday night, I'm transfered to UC. Thursday (nothing happens). Friday, I was promised I would be the first case......well I had the procedure done around 3pm. I know have a second tube that I will have to wear 2-3 weeks. Docs initially said maybe Sunday as a get out day, but we convinced them Satuurday would be nice also. It's great to be home again. I don't want to see UC (or any other hospital) for a long time.

Happy Mother's Day to those desrving of the honor. I miss you all and can't wait to see you. We're having our entire clan here today and I will probably be the only one not joining in the pool.

Jim

The Latest! 5/11

We have lost a few days, but appreciate all of the kind calls and well wishes that you are sending our way. The flowers and cards are so heart warming. Ya just never stop to think until....

A special thanks to Chris and Mark for tending to the lawns when I wasn't looking....that includes Ali for hitting the front lawn. Thank you Ali for all of your attention to house keeping details, what a relief especially when it was garbage day and I had no clue. Jim will learn later that Ali 'washed' his Mustang...she is hoping to recharge the battery.

Where to start. Monday 2am... 103 fever took us to Sutter Roseville ER. Many hours/days later admitted to hold for transfer to UCD. "Capitated" came up.....not good... but we still had our heads. UCD had no room for us...go figure.....(we have a PPO)...until very late Wednesday. Jim is holding well on antibotics with a small infection near the pancrease...hopefully tomorrow it will be removed and with 1-2 days of observation he will be released. Tonight there was a warm glimmer in his smile... we can see the end of this one soon..(maybe it was just the speghetti dinner). He is most upset about possibably missing Matthew's Birthday party.


IMPORTANT NOTE: I hope to share with all of you later (if you wish) the importance of patient advocacy. I have grown to understand every patient needs someone, at their side, to assure guality of care. Please remember this for all of your loved ones, show up, pay attention to each detail...it does make a difference!

My First Weekend Home

Everything is "on the mend" here. A little more stamina each day. If my feet would only allow me to get around more (they're still very swollen). Late Friday after noon, my work-daughter (Melissa) and my work-wife (Cathy) visited Kaye and I for about an hour. Nice to stay in touch with the work group. Yesterday (Saturday), I was able to put on a pair of sandles (barely) and Kaye drove me around to three of her construction design job sites....pretty neat stuff. We even stopped at a nasty place (In and Out) and had a bunless cheesburger (well at least part of one). Today I had the pleasure of coaching Kaye how to cut the back lawn. She had obviously manuvered a lawn mower before, but with the slopes and angles....a little bit of muscling upp was needed. Later today (sister-in-law Sunzanne and brother-in-law Gary) will be paying a short visit. It will be good to see them.

Take care to family, friends, and co-workers..............Jim

Home Cooking

First of all, let me thank all you who wrote, sent cards, flowers, gift,s etc., while I was "out of touch". To see so many of you respond to Kaye's and Jeff's updated posts is very heartwarming. Yes. I'm home and actually feeling pretty good (if napping the day away qualifies for feeling good). I have a good nurse at home and we've become pros at changing what are called wet to dry bandages twice a day. The mountain of pills I'm taking seems to make everything taste the same and it's a struggle to eat much of anything.

I want to thank my Nurse Kaye who has had her own struggles these last 11 days. I know only to well to go through something like this and not be able to help. She's been a trooper. I love her very much.

As far as my work mates who visited me in the hospital, thank you (Jan, Hermia, Lava, Mary and Raj). I was good for me although I may have seemed (and probably was) out of it.

For those of you who want to visit us at home.....it's 8767 Bronson Drive, Granite Bay, 95746.....use mapquest if you need it (916-791-1026).

Geez...I was thinking....I'm sitting here, writing this blog, why don't I log into work and see how things are going..............................just couldn't do it.

Jim

Home at Last

I am pleased to let you know Jim is home. He was unplugged, unstappled (25), flushed, re-dressed, stripped of tape (he says there is no hair left to pull) de-tubed & released late yesterday afternoon. You can imagine the shock, the freedom -- sunlight, fresh air and the comfort of being home. The reality of living at home without a full nursing staff has been an adjustment. I told the Doctor, when she surprized me with the release info, that I was quite excited to have him home but she better plan on coming with him.....she just laughed... I was worried. I am growing more comfortable but realize I am much better at designing than nursing (I won't be making a career change). The latest is swelling and an irritated nerve in Jim's foot/ankle making it difficult to get around slowly with a walker. This started in the hospital (actually reoccuring condition) which hopefully new medication will minimize. I believe if it wern't for this foot pain he would be moving quite easily. He is very comfortable on a minimal abount of pain meds though he tires very quickly. Amazing to think of his major replumbing 10 days ago and eating what ever (or so they say)....in small quanities. I hope he will soon be up to taking over my post. Thank you all again for your caring and good thoughts! Kaye