"Tell everybody I'm doing fine"

December 10, 2008

Mom wanted me to tell everyone that "she is doing fine, she misses everyone, and thanks for all of the well wishes".  

A good report this morning from both the surgeon and the oncologist.  The wounds in her collarbone and abdomen are looking better.  They have a long way to go before they heal, but the surgeon was happy that there was some pink color around the wound, which meant that it was beginning to get better.  However, the healing will take a while given the state of her immune system.  They put the wound-vacuum back on her abdomen incision, but have transitioned to gauze in her collarbone wound.  

Mom's white blood cell count is very low - this is expected from the chemotherapy, and her oncologist said that will make her feel crappy for the next few days.  Her white count should bottom out 7-10 days after chemotherapy, and she began chemo last Wednesday, so the timing is now.  These next few days will be crucial to keep her away from any risk of infection.  

Both the nurses and her family are now wearing protective masks in her room to keep our germs away from her.    We have to blow her kisses instead of giving her hugs/kisses, but she understands.  

She had a temperature of 102 this morning, which is obviously not good.  They are trying to get her temperature down, and if it stays elevated they will take her main i.v. line out of her neck as this would be the likely source.  The other big concern is that the skin on her backside is starting to break down since she's been lying in bed for so long.  They are worried about bed sores, and today and tomorrow it is important that she gets out of bed as much as she can.  Bed sores would be another risk of infection, which is the LAST thing she needs.  

Her nurse and I got her into her chair this morning, and she is sitting there now.  She says it's good to be sitting up, and her mood has improved a lot since yesterday.  We'll also keep up her breathing exercises to make sure that her lungs are not getting fluid.  She will also get physical therapy again today to try and minimize her muscles getting weak.  She is pretty weak, but it's really good to see her sitting up.  

No noticeable decrease in her swelling yet, and her hands look a little swollen now.  Maybe this is from all of the i.v.s in both arms.  Hopefully moving around will help reduce the swelling too. 

Her pain is significant when she moves and coughs.  She is doing a better job of giving herself pain medicine today, and she is drinking plenty of water.  Although she is still not eating we got her to drink a little Ensure yesterday by putting chocolate in it.  We'll try this strategy again today.  She will continue to receive nutrients and anti-biotics "around the clock" via her i.v. 

Her only treatment for the next few days is to try and get out of bed, keep getting anti-biotics, and keep her temperature down.  Her oncologist said that today until Friday are the most crucial days for her, so we'll keep pushing her.