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| I know...I've used this before. But, Sarge started it! |
Well, Campers, Mrs. J finally got all the hoops jumped in the planning and scheduling phases of her treatment. Friday was the first day of her actual chemo treatment regime.
Yes, Beans, that means as you read this on Monday she's completed three days of it. Only 18 more days in this first cycle. Thanksgiving will be a very special day this year as that is the day of the last pill. She will then get a week off to "get her strength back" to quote the oncologist.
Then another infusion will be administered and 21 more days of pills. Follow that with another week of "get her strength back". Rinse and repeat for a total of 6 times.
I know it's kinda weird, but I actually feel a little relieved. At least we're (they're) doing something about it. The doing nothing yet knowing the thing is growing was getting on my nerves.
I know, the Docs gotta figure out the right strategy, tests have to be run, coordination between the various providers gots to happen. But....
And, please don't take that to mean I blame them. They were all excellent answering our questions, even my somewhat stupid ones, without batting an eye. All very pleasant and professional.
I guess it's just the fighter pilot in me. Bad Guy id'd? Fox 1! Splash! Problem solved.
I'm learning that's not the case here and their way is probably best.
Lord, I hope so.
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| Sucking on a Tootsie pop and sketching flowers in a sketch book sent by MBD. Keeps her busy. Me? Bloons on the iPad. Mindlessly simple, just what I need. |
BTW, Suz, you called the symptoms spot on. Mrs. J was about half way through the infusion and took a sip of room temp water. (The water bottle to her left in the photo above.)
The nurse happened to take a look at her and rushed over asking what was going on. Mrs. J described it as swallowing ice shards.
As Suz (Beans mentioned it also) had advised, low to no tolerance of cold objects is a frequent side effect. Mrs. J now has a pair of gloves with her and drinking water is heated first. Live and learn.
In the good news side of things, MBD and León* will be visiting for a few days. Hopefully, that will give her a bit of strength and something to look forward to.
She's been napping since I got home from Church. Think I'm gonna go check on her.
Bit of pause in the writing here.
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| Best blood pressure medicine known to mankind! (Picture taken Sunday PM) |
Daughter and Grandson arrived safely. Think their presence will do wonders for ALCON!
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| Not quite the whole gang here to "treat" Mrs. J, but a good start! |
Peace out, y'all!
* The Call Sign committee has decided that León meets the required specifications and has made its pronouncement. León he is, León he shall be. May you bring honor to Lions, Grandson!
The healing has commenced!
ReplyDeleteStB,
DeleteWell, I'm praying that's the case. But the probability of healing just went up quite a bit from Thursday's level.
juvat
Good to read that treatment has started, waiting for SOMETHING to be initiated is probably the hardest part of medical treatment juvat. A new call sign! So let it be written, so let it be done.......... :)
ReplyDeleteNylon,
DeleteYeah, I've never been good at waiting. "Git 'er done" is closer to my modus operandi. Got me into a lot of sticky spots also, though.
juvat
I wish her the best, here's is something for your consideration https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W8gYFg3aOFA
ReplyDeleteAnon,
DeleteThanks, I'll keep that in mind.
juvat
Reliefband for nausea. It is a quality of life force multiplier when undergoing chemo. Best wishes on healing and recovery.
ReplyDeleteAnon (2),
DeleteCan't hurt. On order, Thanks.
juvat
Hang in there, Mrs. J! Prayers ongoing.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Sarge.
DeletePrayers up for Mrs. J. You are not alone in your frustration, Juvat. Patience comes hard to most of us.
ReplyDeleteAll hail to León, and may his tribe increase!
THBB,
DeleteThanks, Yeah, Sitting Air Defense Alert in Osan 24 on, 24 off, rinse repeat for 2 weeks, did NOT improve my patience at all. That hasn't gotten better with retirement either. Drives Mrs. J crazy.
Re: León. He had a fussy night so Mom didn't get much sleep. Mrs. J remained asleep at my normal wakeup time (0630-0645 for the pedantics out there). So I got up, had my normal morning decaf Iced coffee and was reading through my blog roll. His Mom comes in to the kitchen and asks if I'd like to feed him so she could get a bit more sleep. I said sure. First hold and feed in a couple of years and solo! We had a long discussion on "Things". I'm sure he'll take my advice to heart.
Right?
juvat
Juvat, nothing wrong with starting early on such things - as you and I demonstrate, it can take "a long time" to learn things like patience.
DeleteTHBB,
DeletePatience....What's that? Apparently. ..Learning it...Not yet!
juvat
Healing and comforting prayers for Mrs. J. Cheers and prayers for León!
ReplyDeleteHtom,
DeleteThanks.
juvat
Hang in there... we're all out here pulling for you!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Rob!
DeleteWE know that Mrs. J, now on that road to recovery, wil continue to have you with her for prayer and daily care some many ways (you'll find out). Having finished the whole with Miss Jeanie five years back I don't see how we could have done it apart.
ReplyDeleteThis morning, I get my "groin-inserted" pacemaker! Yaaay! Hope it works for me. I seem to be pretty darned tired all the time.
It is about the size of a plastic straw, stainleess steel, about 1 1/2 inches long. I'll let you know tomorrow.
LtFuzz
DeletePraying that all goes well for you.
Doing it apart is my biggest fear right now.
Hang in there.
juvat
Shifting prayer intensity from LJD to YBW, starting....NOW!
ReplyDeleteActually started the other day with a rosary, 😉which will continue. I wasn't all that regular at chonkin on the peas (as a fave Uncle called it), but there's a lot of need out there. One decade for Strickland also.
Tuna,
DeleteThanks, deeply appreciated.
For those, like me, who were confused about his comment about "Strickland". He's referring to Bishop Strickland from Tyler Texas whom the Pope removed from office
Details can be found here. https://www.npr.org/2023/11/11/1212468525/vatican-removes-conservative-texas-bishop-who-was-critical-of-pope-francis
Glad to hear things started well. And expect the unexpected with Mrs. Juvat. These will be trying times, so since she's put up with an idiot for so long, now it's time for you to stick it out.
ReplyDeleteLeon? Really? Did you call him that just so you can drop the occasional "Sir Poopy Pants" comment? And how did the moniker really appear? Inquiring minds want to know.
Give her our love. And you got yours coming, too.
Most important thing about this whole thing? If you feel jammed up, find someone, even one or both of the horses, and talk it out. Don't be too stoic (a trait that seems to be doubly strong in pilots, I have noticed.)
Peace out.
Beans,
DeleteAgreed (with the entire first paragraph ;-) ) will endeavor to persevere.
I'll email you the background as I don't want to make his name public.
I spend a lot of time lately talking to the horses as their eating their dinner. Good listeners, whinny at all the appropriate times, stomp their hoofs and occasionally poop and pee in order to make their point.
Appreciate the advice, my Friend.
juvat
juvat
Good news from the north. A lady a church just completed her course of radiation. Prayers up for the Missus. IFF is our friend. Keep your head on a swivel there Lead. And good news on Lima-1. Keep the dialog ongoing. We read Proverbs to our boys from womb to when they were able to read it themselves. LOTS of good pointers in re: felons, fools and floozies. He'll need all the silhouette recognition cards he can get growing up. God only knows what he'll encounter as a man....
ReplyDeleteSTxAR,
DeleteAll good advice/ideas. Thanks!
juvat
Switching from helpless defense into aggressive offense is good. After the first round, you will know what to expect (but certainly not enjoy) for successive rounds. Yeah, it is a beating and the tiredness is depressing, but they have great results killing all those nasty C cells.
ReplyDeleteBut, lots of people are going through this all over the world, and millions have completed their treatments and are back to fully normal lives, so the future should be bright.
You can do this! My wife has been cured for 10 years.
Start planning some fun stuff for the future.
Prayers up for the patient, and also the caregiver and the medics.
John Blackshoe
JB,
DeleteThanks for the reminder that "There is a way". Glad to hear about your wife.
juvat
Juvat, Prayers continue for Mrs. J., León, you and the entire family. As I mentioned previously the barn, with livestock present, is a good place to have serious discussions with the Shepherd.
ReplyDeleteHope it won't be long before you and Mrs. J. are back to frequenting Texas Sunrise for Sunday breakfast!
Cletus
Cletus,
DeleteThanks, Yeah, me and the horses do some serious praying out there.
I'm starting to feel the effects of Chicken Fried Steak withdrawal. We'll see what she feels like Sunday.
juvat
my wife went though this 30 years ago, this AM she went to play tennis and after lunch she went running with our grandson on the beach (in the soft sand). my prayers and hopes for your wife that she should have the same outcome.
ReplyDeleteBoron,
DeleteThanks, As I mentioned earlier, it's nice to hear that "There IS a way". Glad things worked out for you and yours.
juvat
Tell Mrs J not to be stoic, take the nausea meds as needs, and if nauseous---even slightly queasy--take the meds, and continue to take for a day or so. The doctor types prescribe the meds so that folks can be at optimal ability for eating and drinking, which helps with healing/getting better. The fatigue is because her body is fighting it's hardest, so naps are a good thing.
ReplyDeleteAnd remember: There IS a light at the end of the tunnel, and IT IS NOT a train!!!
Continued prayers up for Mrs J, you, and the rest of the clan.
Suz
Suz,
DeleteWill do.
Thanks, more than you can imagine. Good info!
juvat
Know there are many out here saying a prayer or two. God bless.
ReplyDeleteAnon,
DeleteThank you, much appreciated!
juvat
My prayers too for Mrs. J. I offer a Bible verse Matthew 6:34 that comforts me (It is a strange one because it doesn't fit in with the other verses). Take one day at a time.
ReplyDeleteDon,
DeleteAin’t that the truth? Tomorrow will worry about itself.
Thanks
juvat
Juvat, on a much more mundane note. Keep a log of day-to-day events. Things like food eaten (type, calories, reaction). Other reactions or lack thereof). Medicine taken (purpose and reason). Weight. Blood pressure. How one feels. It helps the Docs, and one does not feel like a fool stumbling to try to remember.
DeleteDon, thanks. You and the oncology staff are on the same sheet of music. They gave her (which is Greek for “insurance paid for”) a whoe kit of things to “ease the pain”) included was a log book with the treatment schedule and all the rest of the info you suggested. Nice to have a second opinion though thanks!
Deletejuvat
Prayers for the Mrs.
ReplyDeleteOldNFO,
DeleteThanks
juvat