Well, I must say, I am ready for some spring, even summer at this point. Ordinarily, I would be all for winter, but it has been or seems to have been a long winter. Maybe, just maybe, I want Roger out of the house. I am hoping he goes fishing soon. The fishing license has been renewed and the lake level (1120) is just right. Now, if the weather would just cooperate. It needs to be 70 degrees ambient temperature, no wind, and the lake temperature needs to be around 50 degrees. Roger has developed very strict criteria for fishing. He wants to be comfortable. I understand this, however, there are times when I want to shove the fishing pole and tackle box in his hands and push him out the door. You see, the first fishing season after I met Roger, he had me out on the pontoon when it was barely above freezing. I held out, when you are catching crappie, you don't notice the cold so much until the trip home. Then you start to get cold, really cold. Well, anyway, I toughed those days out and you know the rest of the story.
Today was a visit to see Roger's general doctor. He's had a "cold" of sorts and started coughing. To avoid the COPD emergency (such as what occurred in December) I thought it best to get him to a doctor. (Roger likes to see the doctor who has known him for 30+ years, since now Roger can brag about quitting smoking cigarettes, after 30+ years of this doctor ragging on him to quit smoking.) We return home with a prescription for antibiotics. I have the same thing going on, but am about over it, and did not have the cough Roger has, and being a sickly sort of child (I was the runt of the litter, so to speak) had enough antibiotics as a child to become rather immune to their restorative effects. And so, Roger has started a 10 day regimen of amoxicilian. (No, I just don't want to look up the correct spelling and would rather write an entire sentence about looking up the correct spelling, than to actually look it up.) After the December incident where upon Roger developed a heart flutter from all the coughing, I convinced him it would be best to make an appointment for a regular visit with the doctor rather than risk the 80 mph, 11 mile trip to the ER in the middle of the night. I get a little antsy with slight irregularities when it comes to Roger's health--something about all those trips down New Hope Road at 80 mph, passing ambulances and all that.
Roger is not feeling great, still having trouble breathing, gets out of breath easily, but the report is- Roger is doing okay. He has a CT scan the second week of April. It has been six months. The Zytiga and prednisone he is currently on was/is working well enough to have skipped one CT three months ago. The cancer side of things are going rather smoothly, no increase, no decrease--stable.
And that is the way it is-March 27, 2014.
Love to all.
Roger and his sister, Becky relax by the creek
Friday, March 28, 2014
Thursday, February 6, 2014
Fire tending February 6, 2014
Here I am again, 2 am this time. I am tending the fire tonight, low of 4 or so. It is cold out, Shasta is in the laundry room. Shasta and Roger are both sleeping. I have Turner Classic Movies on the TV, love old movies. Tho I don't pay much attention to the TV. It is quiet in the house. It is good. Have cleaned up most of the kitchen with Caldera- lemon, sea salt, neroli cleaner. It is good. It smells wonderful. I love cleaning without interruptions. Although, I do have to keep it quiet, so as not to wake either of the sleeping giants (Roger and Shasta in case you did not catch that.) Lot of thoughts go through my mind, but alas, when I finally get to put words down, they allude me. If you have not tried Caldera cleaning products, you should. They are VERY expensive, but I found some at Dollar Saver in Rogers, at 1/2 cost and another 20% off some time ago. $8 for a quart of concentrate. Makes about 64 gallons, lasts a long while. Good stuff.
Roger is starting to have problems breathing again. Gets out of breath easily, tried to load the wood in our indoor cart and had to take a break getting it loaded. Feels bad about me having to do so much around the house. He does not like being dependent on anyone much less being dependent on a woman. He has not had a cigarette since the hospital stay in December. He is using his e-cigarette tho comments about how he would like a Salem cigarette. The statement from the doctor about drowning in his own juices, really made an impact on Roger. He is good about taking his breathing treatments and I try to keep tabs on his meds, between the two of us, he rarely misses any doses of all the things he is taking. He is a good example of staying alive with modern medicine. Each time he has had prostate cancer issues, there is a new treatment to try and there are more in the works. The prostate cancer is the least of his problems now. It is what it is.
Don't know what tomorrow will bring, just day to day matters.
God's grace is with us.
Love to all.
Roger is starting to have problems breathing again. Gets out of breath easily, tried to load the wood in our indoor cart and had to take a break getting it loaded. Feels bad about me having to do so much around the house. He does not like being dependent on anyone much less being dependent on a woman. He has not had a cigarette since the hospital stay in December. He is using his e-cigarette tho comments about how he would like a Salem cigarette. The statement from the doctor about drowning in his own juices, really made an impact on Roger. He is good about taking his breathing treatments and I try to keep tabs on his meds, between the two of us, he rarely misses any doses of all the things he is taking. He is a good example of staying alive with modern medicine. Each time he has had prostate cancer issues, there is a new treatment to try and there are more in the works. The prostate cancer is the least of his problems now. It is what it is.
Don't know what tomorrow will bring, just day to day matters.
God's grace is with us.
Love to all.
Sunday, February 2, 2014
Early Sunday 1 am
Pat is up tending the fire tonight. We keep the woodstove going on nights when it gets below 32 F. The heat pump relies on electric strips to heat below 32, greatly increasing the electric bill. The man who sold us the unit has the same unit with no other source of heat and his electric bill was over 400 one month this winter (our house is about the same size as his and our electric bill runs around 140 and even with the cost of wood, it is far from 400. It has been a winter with some really cold nights.
So, I am here at 1 am tending the fire. I like the wood heat, it takes the chill out of your bones. True, it is very drying for your body, just drink lots of water and use a good lotion.
There are days, here at home, when I wonder what I am doing. I find it hard to keep up with anything, much less everything. Some days I am worse at taking my meds than Roger is at taking his, simply because I am more adept at taking care of him than I am myself. It has come to my attention though other caregivers, family, friends, and my doctor. At least I am still at the point of only having to deal with one doctor, I would prefer to keep it that way. Roger has 6 on the present roster,4 other doctors are in his background, having been replaced or out of their care for one reason or another. And each of those doctors has his/her set of drugs- for cancer, heart, lungs, sleep, and aches and pains that occur with each of those and the interactions of those. It is confusing and to add to the pile, there is the dealing with health insurance, medicare (for Roger) and prescription coverage.
Roger received a letter from medicare stating his current sleeping medication was not on the formulary list. I call the number on the letter to find out what I need to do. The first person takes the info, then transfers me to another person "a dedicated team member for AT&T", who then suggests 2 other drugs for Roger to take. I then call the oncologist, who is currently prescribing the sleeping meds, and talk with the phone nurse about the situation and she calls in a prescription for one of the new drugs. I have to call 2 different pharmacies to find the prescription and I find it and go pick it up. And a couple of days later, Roger gets another letter. The new drug is not on the formulary. I call back the number on the letter, talk with the first person, who transfer me to the second person. This time the second person tells me the AT&T coverage pays for the drug and even tho medicare does not, it will still be available for Roger, and so will the drug he was taking previously. I think to myself about the hours on the phone, the drive to town to pick up the new drug and more hours on the phone, well, I just don't know what to think...
And now since I am getting bleary eyed, I bid adieu. The fire needs tending.
So, I am here at 1 am tending the fire. I like the wood heat, it takes the chill out of your bones. True, it is very drying for your body, just drink lots of water and use a good lotion.
There are days, here at home, when I wonder what I am doing. I find it hard to keep up with anything, much less everything. Some days I am worse at taking my meds than Roger is at taking his, simply because I am more adept at taking care of him than I am myself. It has come to my attention though other caregivers, family, friends, and my doctor. At least I am still at the point of only having to deal with one doctor, I would prefer to keep it that way. Roger has 6 on the present roster,4 other doctors are in his background, having been replaced or out of their care for one reason or another. And each of those doctors has his/her set of drugs- for cancer, heart, lungs, sleep, and aches and pains that occur with each of those and the interactions of those. It is confusing and to add to the pile, there is the dealing with health insurance, medicare (for Roger) and prescription coverage.
Roger received a letter from medicare stating his current sleeping medication was not on the formulary list. I call the number on the letter to find out what I need to do. The first person takes the info, then transfers me to another person "a dedicated team member for AT&T", who then suggests 2 other drugs for Roger to take. I then call the oncologist, who is currently prescribing the sleeping meds, and talk with the phone nurse about the situation and she calls in a prescription for one of the new drugs. I have to call 2 different pharmacies to find the prescription and I find it and go pick it up. And a couple of days later, Roger gets another letter. The new drug is not on the formulary. I call back the number on the letter, talk with the first person, who transfer me to the second person. This time the second person tells me the AT&T coverage pays for the drug and even tho medicare does not, it will still be available for Roger, and so will the drug he was taking previously. I think to myself about the hours on the phone, the drive to town to pick up the new drug and more hours on the phone, well, I just don't know what to think...
And now since I am getting bleary eyed, I bid adieu. The fire needs tending.
Monday, January 27, 2014
Update from October 2013-present (January 2014)
On December 26, 2013, while Roger's son Kyle was here, Roger was having trouble breathing, really raspy and sleeping most of 2 days. After a couple of calls to United Healthcare nurse and Oncology nurse, Kyle drove us to the ER. Oxygen was really low and he was admitted. Treated for COPD and a respiratory infection. Roger was at the hospital for 3 days or maybe 4 (don't really remember). This hospital visit resulted in Roger laying down his Salem cigarettes. He has taken up vaping, the e-cigarette thingys and he has not lit up a cigarette since those 3 cigarettes he smoked when I had to go to town to get a new e-cigarette. (the first e-cigarette did not last very long)l During the time Roger was in the hospital and for two weeks after discharge, he was on a high dose of predisone, resulting in quite an increase in his energy level, both physically and mentally. If you did not receive a call or visit with him during this time, I am sorry you missed it. He remains to this day very jittery and restless, the result of all the steroids he is taking in breathing treatments- nebulizer, advair and inhaler. Cancer remains in check, nothing new, but emphyzema continues continues to be bothersome. He does not yet have oxygen at home, that would be the next step, as he is once again having troubles breathing even with all the drugs. Please visit or call, it is a delightful distraction for him and a chance for me to breathe. Love to all.
Saturday, October 26, 2013
Friday October 25,2013
Friday-appointment with oncologist
discussed bloating in abdomen, doc looks at scan, Roger might
and be a bit blocked
Roger will be taking 10 doses of miralax each day for 3 days
that is 30 doses of Miralax.
Rest of news is great, PSA remains at 2.6 and cancer is stable.
Saturday-Day one of Bowel Performance
After the 5th dose today, Roger begins to complain.
I tell him, I could just give him a "bomb" and call it a day.
A "bomb" is 6 oz of prune juice, heated, and 2 tablespoons of Milk of Magnesia.
Roger says no, he loves me and he will behave.
He does not like the hot prune flavored chalk.
I feel like I have a new lease on life with this new threat.
Will update, I suppose I do not need to tell you where Roger is at this time. It should be apparent.
Love to all!
discussed bloating in abdomen, doc looks at scan, Roger might
and be a bit blocked
Roger will be taking 10 doses of miralax each day for 3 days
that is 30 doses of Miralax.
Rest of news is great, PSA remains at 2.6 and cancer is stable.
Saturday-Day one of Bowel Performance
After the 5th dose today, Roger begins to complain.
I tell him, I could just give him a "bomb" and call it a day.
A "bomb" is 6 oz of prune juice, heated, and 2 tablespoons of Milk of Magnesia.
Roger says no, he loves me and he will behave.
He does not like the hot prune flavored chalk.
I feel like I have a new lease on life with this new threat.
Will update, I suppose I do not need to tell you where Roger is at this time. It should be apparent.
Love to all!
Saturday, October 5, 2013
Saturday October 5, 2013
About 4 weeks ago, Roger was getting short of breath easily, just getting up to move to another room had him out of breath, and after only a small plate of food. His abdomen looks like it will bust, whether you call it swollen or distended or what. So, I call the oncologist to see if they have suggestions for what to do. Mainly, whether I should schedule him to come in to the clinic earlier than his end of October scheduled visit, or check with his primary doctor, or perhaps the cardiologist. Roger ended up at the cardiologist for a couple of different test, to check for heart problems that might be causing the problem. Since we did not received any news after the 2nd test, and the NP said they would call if something showed up, we assume his heart is okay. So I call back to the oncologist this week and they suggest coming in to see the NP there. and we do. and they take blood and do the blood magic thing to see if any anomalies show up. and no. and Roger's CT scan is moved up to Friday 4th (he was scheduled for his regular 3 month scan on the 26th). and they take more blood on Friday, and do the IV for the scan. (Roger feels like a pin cushion, and his arms look like years of shooting up drugs.) at 11 am and we received a call back at 3 pm. nothing new shows up, no fluid build up, no new lesions, suggestion that it is gas, but the oncologist will review the scan and we should get a call back. So, we wait. Have given and giving Roger natural remedies (charo tabs and pro-biotics) to try to help in case it is gas.
Wednesday, September 25, 2013
September 25, 2013
Worsening lower back pain, taking hydrocodone on a regular basis for a couple of days. Heating pad helping. No news on the echo cardiogram.
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