Howdy. Just Checking In.
Hello everyone. I'm just checking in for a few minutes while I have a minute. June has settled down for a little while and I'm bushed but as usual I have a hard time sleeping. I'm still living in my recliner beside June's hospital bed that I set up between the kitchen and living room because our bedrooms are all upstairs. She can't walk up stairs plus being in the living room area she doesn't feel isolated like being in a bedroom plus I can keep an eye on her while I cook, clean etc. While the recliner is comfortable it's still not like going to bed so I feel like I have a perpetual hangover most of the time.
We had a disaster 2 weeks ago. I was helping June change her gown and when I turned to pick it up off of the table she passed out and fell on the floor. I took her to the hospital and by the grace of god she didn't break any bones and didn't mess up the rods and screws that were placed in her neck during the surgery to remove the vertebrates that had been eaten up by the cancer that spread from her lungs. She just has one giant burse on her left hip that goes all the way down to the calf of her leg. We spent 5 days in the hospital while they did more test and tried to get her pain under control. I don't have any idea how she didn't hit her head on the floor but thank the lord she didn't.
One good thing came out of the ordeal. The radiation treatments on her neck had caused it to close up to where she could hardly swallow and made it difficult to breath. They did a procedure on her to expand her throat. She can eat regular food now if it's not to coarse and she breaths a lot better.
June started her first round of chemo with the Tagrisso pills about a week ago. It's been bad but starting yesterday it got worse as she started having even worse panic attacks and her hands now shake constantly. The Morphine and Dilaudid pills control her pain somewhat but it never goes away completely. The only good thing about it is she's not dealing with nausea. After her spine/neck surgery if she were to have to throw up it would be a killer since she can't bend her head forward very far. She completed her radiation treatments a few weeks ago and that radiation was rough on her. It's like they microwaved her throat and the dead tissue in her throat made her think she was smothering to death.
Keeping track of her medications is almost a full time job in it's self. I have a chart I made up where I mark the time and amount of medication she takes and when the next round is due. I'm up all hours of the night and morning making sure she takes them on time. She has 14 different meds that she takes once to three times a day.
My weight loss has leveled off now. It's a diet plan I wouldn't recommend to anyone. I lost about 40 pounds during the 6 weeks she was in the hospital. I gained about 5 of it back now and have leveled off. I had to order new pants because my old ones were to baggy to wear anymore. I wear tee shirts because my button up shirts are about a size and a half to big now. Even my hats got to big. I never thought my head got that much bigger as I gained weight but evidently it does.
That's about it from here for now. I hope you guys are doing OK and had a Merry Christmas and hopefully a Happy New Year.
Greg
Comments
Prayers for strength and healing Ros
I've been wondering about you and your wife. Thank you for taking the time to share how you all are doing.
Bless you both.
Yes thanks for letting us know. Tell her we’re still thinking of you two.
Glad the work on the throat helped, that would have to take its toll to feel like you were unable to breath for so long.
Thanks for the update Greg.
Prayers continue for you and June.
prayers
encouraging that she is tolerating the treatments . We offer our continuing prayers for her recovery
Good to hear from you, smitty. I thought about you guys lately Have you checked into getting some help with her care?
Very sad, and yet hopeful. Hang in there and believe there are many praying for continued healing.
Prayers sent
You and June are in my daily prayers. Have you seen the ottomans that fold out into a bed? It might be the ticket for getting more restful sleep. Large variety in style and price:
https://tinyurl.com/ybxk9hn8
Prayers sent..
Thanks Smitty for the updates! My prayers continue for you both.
Prayers continue for you and June!
If you can't feel the music; it's only pink noise!
Prayers for you both from here.
And fiery auto crashes
Some will die in hot pursuit
While sifting through my ashes
Some will fall in love with life
And drink it from a fountain
That is pouring like an avalanche
Coming down the mountain
Thanks for the update Greg, You might check with your insurance co., and see if they will pay for a nurse to come in daily or on a schedule to help with June's care. It will do you good to be able to relax and not worry about June for a while.
Joe
Ain't easy, been there. Stay strong.
Prayers continue
You're a good man, Smitty. That's no easy thing to get through.
Prayers continue.