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Post by Jedimom/Cor-Al Gelkar on Feb 10, 2005 8:05:40 GMT -5
it seems that Mark will be put on the infusion for his new medication. What this will entail will be going through the cancer center to basically have he medication put through an IV like chemotherapy. He will have to go once a week to have this done. The good news is that it SHOULD only be a four-week period he will need to have this done. They will try it for 4 weeks and see how he does. If he doesn't improve they'll probably do another 4 weeks. But we would have to get it done once a week for those four weeks.
He starts his infusions on Fri. Feb. 18. Then he goes Sat. Feb. 26, Sat. March 5 and the last one will be Fri. March 11
He is just really starting to annoy me by insisting I stay home and take care of Karm. (Feb. 18 Karm has no school, and that's the day of his first infusion, and that's the one they say they get sickest on). He doesn't realize that he is going to be sick and not feeling well enough to drive. Nor does he realize that I am not going to be affective parenting that day since I will be worrying about him. My father has insisted he will watch Karm anytime during this, even keep him overnight, but Nerf doesn't want him too. Argh! We even have Church families willing to watch Karm, but Nerf just doesn't want to put anyone out. Doesn't he realize he's putting me out by not wanting me to be there! ARGH!!!
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Post by Shatir Lavan on Feb 10, 2005 12:01:23 GMT -5
I know from when my grandpa had leukemia that sometimes we men can be ashamed of sickness, and refuse help. When my grandpa got sick, he wouldn't go to see a doctor, so my dad had to pretty much stick him in the car and drive him to the doctor himself. If Mark is having feelings like these, it might be best to just tell him, "I'm going to take care of you whether you want me to or not." Besides showing how much you love him, it might also show him that he really does need the help.
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Mon-Jas Charan
Message Board Member
"Poena Vigoratus. Pullus cavo vix. Palma , est eternus"
Posts: 2,630
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Post by Mon-Jas Charan on Feb 10, 2005 15:13:05 GMT -5
[shadow=red,left,300]
Our thoughts and prayers are with both of you.
[/shadow]
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Post by Xana on Feb 10, 2005 22:15:24 GMT -5
I'll be saying prayers for you. There's no harm in asking for help! It sounds like your little one will be much happier with some one who wnats to "hang out and spoil him" for a day or two. It's like an extended family, and people WANT to help with things like this. It makes THEM feel better more than it helps you, sometimes. Heck, I asked my mom and my niece to help with me with my dog on a Sunday as they were on their way to Mass. My mom is quite the Catholic and poor Emma had just been to a wake for a friend of hers, but they came to help me and I much appreciated it! It wasn't the most convemient thing for them, but they were glad they came. Maybe tell Nerf that and he'll feel better? That people want to help and all? I hope? I hope he agrees, and you aren't as overwhelmed. And I'm sure Karm will have more fun with Grandpa, or another couple who can take to see a cute movie, than around a tense situation. ;D
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Post by Jedimom/Cor-Al Gelkar on Feb 11, 2005 5:46:52 GMT -5
Yeah I think I finally convinced Nerf of that. But we'll see what happens. Its been really hard on him, being sick for 8+ years when he's used to being a breadwinner. He feels useless. He has a few things he does for our Church and it makes him feel a little better doing those, but he also gets a little zealous over them and doesn't want people to help him (maybe he thinks they'll take over and he won't have anything to do). And now he has to put his life on hold for a month for this. Its really hard on him.
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Post by Xana on Feb 11, 2005 19:53:19 GMT -5
I can understand that. My dad got sick in his late 50's and then retired. I guess he felt the same way.
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Post by lazlototh on Feb 11, 2005 23:29:25 GMT -5
My thoughts go with you...
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Post by Nova Darklighter on Feb 12, 2005 0:45:57 GMT -5
You know our best thoughts & wishes go with you, and our hopes for the success of these treatments as well. My stepfather was never sick in his life, but when he got sick after he retired, he was really impossible to deal with, how my mother put up with him during that time is beyond me.
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Post by Leda EmBorr on Feb 12, 2005 2:43:06 GMT -5
Yeah Cor-Al... sending sunny thoughts your way...
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Post by JediMistressDragon on Feb 13, 2005 17:46:30 GMT -5
My thoughts and prayers with you. JMD
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Post by Jedimom/Cor-Al Gelkar on Feb 17, 2005 8:41:19 GMT -5
Just a reminder that I will begone from late this afternoon until possibly Saturday. Nerf's first chemo treatment is tomorrow.
From what I've heard though, side-effects are pretty mild. Some nausea and tiredness, but it seems most are able to return to normal activities within a day or so.
I'll keep you updated when I get back
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Post by Shatir Lavan on Feb 17, 2005 16:33:36 GMT -5
May the Force be with you. (encourages Jedi healing trance)
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Post by Whinter Fenlynn on Feb 17, 2005 20:36:51 GMT -5
Our thoughts and prayers are with you.
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Post by Jedimom/Cor-Al Gelkar on Feb 18, 2005 20:50:07 GMT -5
We drove up to Ann Arbor last night and got a hotel room just to make sure we would be well-rested for this. This morning we got to the hopital around 8:00 a.m. (our appt. was at 8:30) We were in a infusion room with two other patients (one left at noon and another came in after that) (two were getting Remicade). I had to basically sit in a waiting room across the hall but checked on him frequently. They gave him Tylenol and Benadryl by mouth before starting him on saline IV first. They had to call down to the pharmacy to get his dose. It took about a half hour for the pharmacy to send it up. They started him on a very small bag (a test dose the infusion nurse said, to make sure he could tolerate it before they sent down for the full big bag -- that way they wouldn't waste it or money if he couldn't tolerate it). It took a few minutes longer because they thought they had started the small bag, but discovered it was not dripping so they had to restart it. Mark did very well. His blood pressure continued to drop, however. At one point it was 108 over 58. By the end though it was back up to normal. He had no chills, no fever, no shakes and no nausea. He even ate a sandwich they called down to the cafeteria for him. He read a little and watched some TV but basically just rested. He didn't really nap although the nurse thought he was sleeping because he had his eyes closed (I know better than that.) All together we were there for 7 1/2 hours though. We out of the room at 3:30. They said the next appt. will be about 5 hours. The drive home today was tolerated very well. He started out driving but I took over after we stopped for dinner. By the time we got home, he was pretty well worn, though. Right now he feels like he was run over by a truck, he said. Kind of sore inside. No nausea or anything as of yet. We will monitor him for the next 24-48 hours.
Next Saturday, round 2
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Post by Whinter Fenlynn on Feb 18, 2005 22:37:24 GMT -5
Sounds like a good start. Sending many good wishes your way for continued success!! Hope he's feeling better soon!
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