Well, hopefully not the actual last outing.
Angie had been watching the weather and picked Monday to go shopping and eat out. We ate first and it was a okay meal with bad service. I'm not sure how many of us got sick afterward. Angie did. April made a quick trip to the restroom as did I, when I got home.
We went to the mall and April and I walked around while Angie and her mom shopped for warm nightgowns. Apparently right after we left them Angie got sick but they made it to the restroom at Penney's before she was threw up. She wanted to continue shopping though, and they did! Luckily I wasn't there.
Angie slept on the way home and doesn't remember the trip home or the rest of that night. The next day was a big day of visits from the nurse, social worker, and hospice volunteer; and Angie did remarkably well!
Today she is sleeping well, but did wake up to take her pills. Her friend will be here soon with donuts!
Thank you Lord for everything you've given us!
Wednesday, October 26, 2011
Monday, October 17, 2011
Not to Good Today
She is cold today. She is hurting a lot today. She is nauseated a bit.She coughed a little last night. She did just ask me to get her something to eat and take off some covers, so I think she is feeling better.
At 10:00am I took her to the bathroom and afterward I rubbed her arms and legs with Biofreeze. I think it is great stuff. An extra pain pill and a promethazine. Some tea. Love. Prayer. I hope I'm not forgetting anything.
I am going to go to town and pay my property taxes and get stuff to make a cherry cobbler thing:
2 can cherry pie filling in a 9X12 pan
1 box of yellow cake mix with
a little cinnamon added, fork into
1 stick of melted butter until crumbly.
Bake @ 350 until the topping is light brown.
At 10:00am I took her to the bathroom and afterward I rubbed her arms and legs with Biofreeze. I think it is great stuff. An extra pain pill and a promethazine. Some tea. Love. Prayer. I hope I'm not forgetting anything.
I am going to go to town and pay my property taxes and get stuff to make a cherry cobbler thing:
2 can cherry pie filling in a 9X12 pan
1 box of yellow cake mix with
a little cinnamon added, fork into
1 stick of melted butter until crumbly.
Bake @ 350 until the topping is light brown.
Sunday, October 9, 2011
Dreams
This morning was the third time that I have woken up dreaming about crying. The only thing I can think of right now is that she's dying and there is nothing I can do about it.
Friday afternoon she wanted to go to Cheeseburger in Paradise. Saturday she was in a lot of pain. She was struggling to sit up yesterday evening. Her only good hand had a remote control in it, so I took it and tried to help her up. She got mad and yelled at me for "treating her like a baby". I thought then that I couldn't take it anymore, but I guess I'll have to.
I've been moving pictures off of our cell phones, recalling all of the wonderful times we've had. I have much more important things to do; but I can't seem to do them.
Here is a picture of Angie on Beale Street in Memphis, about a year and a half ago.
Friday afternoon she wanted to go to Cheeseburger in Paradise. Saturday she was in a lot of pain. She was struggling to sit up yesterday evening. Her only good hand had a remote control in it, so I took it and tried to help her up. She got mad and yelled at me for "treating her like a baby". I thought then that I couldn't take it anymore, but I guess I'll have to.
I've been moving pictures off of our cell phones, recalling all of the wonderful times we've had. I have much more important things to do; but I can't seem to do them.
Here is a picture of Angie on Beale Street in Memphis, about a year and a half ago.
Saturday, September 17, 2011
Running the Race
After 2 rounds of chemo the tumor had shrunk nicely. Then two more rounds of chemo. There was however no improvement of the paraneoplastic symptoms. We both noticed she was getting worse.
There were more tests earlier this week and the tumor was growing again. This happened so soon after chemo that the doctor said that there was no reason to believe that more chemo would help, and that chemo treatment would only make her more miserable.
On Monday we will be signing up for hospice care. We are not unfamiliar with hospice as my wife was a hospice nurse for several years. As a matter of fact, My wife helped train the nurse that will likely be coming.
We both are Christian, and know that in order to start our eternal life we must shed this temporary body. We have run a good race together and it may soon be time for us separate for a while, but we will be together again soon... and for now, we will share, and live this life, as much as it has to offer.
There were more tests earlier this week and the tumor was growing again. This happened so soon after chemo that the doctor said that there was no reason to believe that more chemo would help, and that chemo treatment would only make her more miserable.
On Monday we will be signing up for hospice care. We are not unfamiliar with hospice as my wife was a hospice nurse for several years. As a matter of fact, My wife helped train the nurse that will likely be coming.
We both are Christian, and know that in order to start our eternal life we must shed this temporary body. We have run a good race together and it may soon be time for us separate for a while, but we will be together again soon... and for now, we will share, and live this life, as much as it has to offer.
Friday, September 2, 2011
Worry... It Won't Help
I had a little problem today. I was trying to pay some bills, which causes me much stress. I called one of the people I owed money too and my right eye started blacking out on me. It only lasted a couple of minutes. and went back to normal. I checked my blood pressure afterward and it was up to 155/102 for a while. I took my blood pressure medicine and a little later I to 1/4 of one of Angie's lorazepams. in two and a half hours it was down to 114/74. I'm sure that it is just stress now.
This happened a few months ago... the second week of February. It happened on and off for three or four days. It's called "amaurosis fugax" and may signal the possibility of a stroke. I pray God watches over me so I can care for my wife.
This happened a few months ago... the second week of February. It happened on and off for three or four days. It's called "amaurosis fugax" and may signal the possibility of a stroke. I pray God watches over me so I can care for my wife.
Friday, August 26, 2011
So Long Since I was Last Here
First of all I have to say that I have had a lot of help from so many friends! This week our Pastor and four deacons from our church came to talk and pray and serve us the Lords Supper. Right after that another old friend came by with some beautiful cupcakes. My sisters husband has be SO helpful in many ways. Yesterday he took off of work to help me get an air conditioner ready to pick up and then helped install the new one. Before that he took me all over the place trying to find a new air conditioner, then he paid for it, then he installed it with me.
Of course my Mother in Law has been here helping a LOT, and others that will remain anonymous.
Angie was sleeping a little. She decided that I could make her some lunch now. Last week one of her doctors mentioned hospice. He also said that a he would put her in a median survival bin of 6 months. Her family doctor said not to even think about that and thinks she had picked up a bug that was making her feel bad. I took her temperature with a digital touch thermometer and said she was "normal". He touched her and said she had a little over 99 degrees. I used a regular thermometer and it verified what he said... 99.3 degrees. He gave her some antibiotics. She had already quit throwing up then, and feels better now.
She had quit walking for about a week due to the illness and pain. Now she has started again. 70 steps the day before yesterday, and about 35 yesterday.
Bills continue to come in and sometimes I feel like I'm drowning. She has asked me to stay home and care for her and that is more important than money. I need to worry lest and pray more... but it is hard.
Of course my Mother in Law has been here helping a LOT, and others that will remain anonymous.
Angie was sleeping a little. She decided that I could make her some lunch now. Last week one of her doctors mentioned hospice. He also said that a he would put her in a median survival bin of 6 months. Her family doctor said not to even think about that and thinks she had picked up a bug that was making her feel bad. I took her temperature with a digital touch thermometer and said she was "normal". He touched her and said she had a little over 99 degrees. I used a regular thermometer and it verified what he said... 99.3 degrees. He gave her some antibiotics. She had already quit throwing up then, and feels better now.
She had quit walking for about a week due to the illness and pain. Now she has started again. 70 steps the day before yesterday, and about 35 yesterday.
Bills continue to come in and sometimes I feel like I'm drowning. She has asked me to stay home and care for her and that is more important than money. I need to worry lest and pray more... but it is hard.
Saturday, May 28, 2011
No Beef!
A few days after the last post we tried to shave her head. That is a job!!!
She has a lot of trouble with her neck when she wakes up. Yesterday she almost couldn't get in the shower. I was wanting some faster improvements. At the end of the month we get a CT scan and find out if the chemo is helping.
Lord give me patience and give it to me RIGHT NOW!
She wants to go to the cemetery today... I hope that is a good idea.
She seems to prefer chicken and fish over pork and beef. The taste of meat is not a good thing for her. So many things don't taste right to her.
She has a lot of trouble with her neck when she wakes up. Yesterday she almost couldn't get in the shower. I was wanting some faster improvements. At the end of the month we get a CT scan and find out if the chemo is helping.
Lord give me patience and give it to me RIGHT NOW!
She wants to go to the cemetery today... I hope that is a good idea.
She seems to prefer chicken and fish over pork and beef. The taste of meat is not a good thing for her. So many things don't taste right to her.
Friday, May 13, 2011
Fallout
16 days after the first chemo treatment, Angie's hair began falling out ... a lot. Two days later we cut it off.
After I shampooed her hair and gave her a shower we found that it was very hard to brush out. That was because of all of the loose hair that was tangled up with what was still attached. It's kind of It is kind of all different lengths now, but all less than an inch. I like it. She wore a turban to the doctor's office.
After I shampooed her hair and gave her a shower we found that it was very hard to brush out. That was because of all of the loose hair that was tangled up with what was still attached. It's kind of It is kind of all different lengths now, but all less than an inch. I like it. She wore a turban to the doctor's office.
Sunday, May 8, 2011
Paraneoplastic Syndrome
Para... along side
Neo...new
Plastic... pertaining to plasm... material forming cells
Syndrome...association of several clinically recognizable features
So Paraneoplastic Syndrome is an association of several clinically recognizable features that go along side of new growth tissue (tumor).
My wife has numbness, pain, loss of sensory nerve function including extreme dis-coordination. As it turns out the sensory nerves have SO much to do with normal coordination and it is an automatic response. She can walk much better if she concentrates on it. Add talking and it gets much worse. Either way her balance is so bad right now that she must have help walking. However just 3 days ago she wasn't walking at all.
The first chemo treatment was April 25, 2011. Next chemo is on the 16th. Her chemo is IV and is three days in a row with 3 weeks in between. As the cancer shrinks the coordination will hopefully return.
Neo...new
Plastic... pertaining to plasm... material forming cells
Syndrome...association of several clinically recognizable features
So Paraneoplastic Syndrome is an association of several clinically recognizable features that go along side of new growth tissue (tumor).
My wife has numbness, pain, loss of sensory nerve function including extreme dis-coordination. As it turns out the sensory nerves have SO much to do with normal coordination and it is an automatic response. She can walk much better if she concentrates on it. Add talking and it gets much worse. Either way her balance is so bad right now that she must have help walking. However just 3 days ago she wasn't walking at all.
The first chemo treatment was April 25, 2011. Next chemo is on the 16th. Her chemo is IV and is three days in a row with 3 weeks in between. As the cancer shrinks the coordination will hopefully return.
Friday, May 6, 2011
In the Beginning
Okay fans! I started a blog! Hmmmmm.
I'll start with this: My wife and I just found out that she has small cell lung cancer. I am SO thankful we found it. It isn't great, but she has it and now we know. Now we can start working toward a goal! Now we can name it in our prayers! Now we can tell others what we need prayer for!
Next blog: Paraneoplastic Syndrome
I'll start with this: My wife and I just found out that she has small cell lung cancer. I am SO thankful we found it. It isn't great, but she has it and now we know. Now we can start working toward a goal! Now we can name it in our prayers! Now we can tell others what we need prayer for!
Next blog: Paraneoplastic Syndrome
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