I'll tell you when Chemo Brain has really kicked in. I know I was on the computer today earlier because I had been shakey last night and had to take some pills to make that stop. When that happens to me I can't type because my fingers keep hitting the wrong keys. So I'm sitting in the TV room wondering if I have done my blog yet. I have no F++++++ idea if I have or not. I then look on my watch to see what day it is and because of what's happening to my close up eye sight, I can's tell what day it is for sure. I then firgure out if I go on the blog that I can look on the Edit position and find out what the day was yesterday. Now you know how F+++++ up my mind is. I'm afraid to go on Poker Stars because I lost $500,000.00 with my last Chemo experience. I'm back up again, but it took me three months to do it. So my games are hearts, solitaire, and adlai patients, but I'm not sure if I'm spelling it correctly and frankly Cate, I don't give a damn!!!
What I do remember is the fact that my diabetes doctor Carol Burns and 10 of her people are coming to the Essen House for dinner tonight at 6:30. I've asked Louis and his family to come also and to sing for them. As it turns our Carol and her husband are also singers, so we might have something going on tonight. I'll have to remind them that I need my beauty sleep, so it can't go on all night.
I'm having trouble with my heart beat 114 standing still, blood pressure 112/62, but I am retaining water I can tell. I've
Friday, February 26, 2010
Thursday, February 25, 2010
Thursday 2-25-10
It was a hell of a day yesterday. It was the first day of no more infusion, however Sharon felt that my left arm was getting larger and redder so I went to the Chemo office to have them take one last look. After seeing three different people I was told to keep and eye on it and take to aspirin and call in the morning.
I then went to see Carol Burns my diabetes doctor. I informed her that I have no change my family doctor to her from now on. Dr. John Smith was my family doctor for about 10 year and always told me that Carol was one of the smartest people in the medical profession. So I figured why not choose her rather than some person out of his office.
She gave me the once over and told me that she would do what ever she could for me and try to keep the sugar under control when they give me this next batch of Chemo. She is also bringing her entire staff to the Essen House for dinner on Friday. She has said she was going to do it for a couple years, but this time Sharon was with me. It was the first time that she and Sharon had a chance to meet. Sharon agrees with me that Carol is a wonderful person, and someone you can put your trust in.
After seeing all these doctors and taking the pills they said I was to take, I went upstairs to take a nap and stayed up there the rest of the night. I had no dinner and was not able to watch the Olympics. This morning I didn't feel much better, but it is now 12:40 and I do feel somewhat better.
I've been on line most of the morning looking for a yacht that can take Sharon and I on a cruse up the Sea of Cortez sometime from next October to March. The lady is a doctor and said she would love to take us and thinks I smart to get it done. She also runs one in Alaska in the summer time and said I should do them both. I know Sharon has always wanted to do Alaska, I've sort of wanted to do it, but I'm not big on cold.
I'm thinking about asking Jim Taylor to go with me. He loves to dive, I know and it's always nice to have an Admiral along on a boat. He might also want to go t Alaska since he already lives in Seattle. They said it holds up to six people with three state rooms.
I'll keep you informed. I've got to get through this now, I got places to go people to see, things to do. Love to all. Tom
I then went to see Carol Burns my diabetes doctor. I informed her that I have no change my family doctor to her from now on. Dr. John Smith was my family doctor for about 10 year and always told me that Carol was one of the smartest people in the medical profession. So I figured why not choose her rather than some person out of his office.
She gave me the once over and told me that she would do what ever she could for me and try to keep the sugar under control when they give me this next batch of Chemo. She is also bringing her entire staff to the Essen House for dinner on Friday. She has said she was going to do it for a couple years, but this time Sharon was with me. It was the first time that she and Sharon had a chance to meet. Sharon agrees with me that Carol is a wonderful person, and someone you can put your trust in.
After seeing all these doctors and taking the pills they said I was to take, I went upstairs to take a nap and stayed up there the rest of the night. I had no dinner and was not able to watch the Olympics. This morning I didn't feel much better, but it is now 12:40 and I do feel somewhat better.
I've been on line most of the morning looking for a yacht that can take Sharon and I on a cruse up the Sea of Cortez sometime from next October to March. The lady is a doctor and said she would love to take us and thinks I smart to get it done. She also runs one in Alaska in the summer time and said I should do them both. I know Sharon has always wanted to do Alaska, I've sort of wanted to do it, but I'm not big on cold.
I'm thinking about asking Jim Taylor to go with me. He loves to dive, I know and it's always nice to have an Admiral along on a boat. He might also want to go t Alaska since he already lives in Seattle. They said it holds up to six people with three state rooms.
I'll keep you informed. I've got to get through this now, I got places to go people to see, things to do. Love to all. Tom
Tuesday, February 23, 2010
Tuesday 2-23-10
I had soooo much fun yesterday I just didn't have time to write. I saw Dr. Adami at 8am and he had to talk to two other Dr. before he could clear me for two more hours of Chemo. They decided to give me the same amount as last time to see how I stood up to it. My blood count was in good shape. My blood pressure was 130/78 and my sugar was 134 and 97 on the oxygen. They told me my blood counts too but they said them way to fast. My little brain much time to soak the much info in. It was good enough to get Chemo thought.
As soon as I finished Chemo they wanted me to go to the hospital and get my morning infusion of antibotics however. From their I went to let see, oh yea bed. I got home anout 1:30 took two pills so the symptons were some what lessened and fell asleep until about 3:39 when Sharon go me up to say good buy. I think I feel asleep again until she came home and had me make my dinner. Oh yeah. some people called me during that time also. Chuch Reid, Margo,Bev, Tommy, Brian , Collett, and I'm sure others, but my mind was not working very well. Chemo Brain they call it. You can only remember what you feel like and the rest you say, I have Chemo Brain, (what was it you said, or told me to do????????) It's very selective as I remember any way.
Well I'm off to see the last of the hospital and the infusion. I get this damn needle taken out of my neck and should get a good nights sleep. I may write more today, if I can remember. I have to see Dr. So at eleven thirty, Sharon just called to remind me and to see if I was alive and kicking.
LAter Tom
As soon as I finished Chemo they wanted me to go to the hospital and get my morning infusion of antibotics however. From their I went to let see, oh yea bed. I got home anout 1:30 took two pills so the symptons were some what lessened and fell asleep until about 3:39 when Sharon go me up to say good buy. I think I feel asleep again until she came home and had me make my dinner. Oh yeah. some people called me during that time also. Chuch Reid, Margo,Bev, Tommy, Brian , Collett, and I'm sure others, but my mind was not working very well. Chemo Brain they call it. You can only remember what you feel like and the rest you say, I have Chemo Brain, (what was it you said, or told me to do????????) It's very selective as I remember any way.
Well I'm off to see the last of the hospital and the infusion. I get this damn needle taken out of my neck and should get a good nights sleep. I may write more today, if I can remember. I have to see Dr. So at eleven thirty, Sharon just called to remind me and to see if I was alive and kicking.
LAter Tom
Sunday, February 21, 2010
Sun, 2-21-10
One more day and it will be our 47th anniversary. I still remember the first time I ever saw Sharon. It was at a Xavier vs University of Cincinnati basketball game. Believe it or not she had a cast on her arm. She looked so helpless and cute. I just had to help her out. Actually I had met her on the phone when she called the dorm for another guy and I just started talking to her. The first thing I did was to set her up with a friend of mine, because I already had a date for the dance that we were going too so I fixed her up with my friend from Lima. Thank God it was close to Spring Bread and he met his wife down in Fort Lauderdale and she became free for me to pursue. I then called her a couple of time before school was over, but either she had a date that night or I had a date on the nights she was free. It wasn't until the last day of school that we could finally find time to have an actual date. We went to Cony Island and I actually paid a friend of mine to take her on a rollacoaster(sp) that I was not about to ride. I was an old wooden one and it was in no way safe. The damn cars came off the F++++++ track when it went around the corners and down the first hill. I did pay to take her dancing at the Moon Light ball room and that is where we fell in love.
I then ask her to a party in Lima that we are having and she said she could get a ride over. When she called me to find out how to get to the party etc. she tells me she is coming over with a guy she dates from Fort Wayne. I about shit. Here I think I have a date for the party and now she is coming, but with another guy. I quickly start calling some of my girl friends, to explain the situation, and that I want to make her as jealous as I can. I know she liked me, and had no idea why she was coming with some other guy.
The date that I finally got was with a hot blooded Italian and she was perfect for what I wanted to do. I couldn't believe she wasn't in love with me. She was all over me like white on rice. She was crazy anyway, and that night, she won a academy award, for sure. At the end of the night Sharon and her date Jim, were getting ready to go back to Fort Wayne so we were saying good buy and I invited them to a party at my house the following weekend. That's when Jim said he was going on vacation for a couple of weeks, but maybe when he came back they could come over. RIGHT !!!
That was the last date he ever had with her. She was at my house every weekend for the rest of the summer. And for that matter, just about every weekend until we got married in Feb. on the 22nd. Don't tell anyone, but she was pregnant when we got married. They said it would never last. We also had to get married before Lent, because in those days you didn't get married during Lent. I think Ash Wednesday was the next week.
Thank God I married Sharon when I did, or I would never have passed English. Someone told me they like the way I write this blog, but no one likes the way I spell and the way I murder the Kings English. Sharon will not even read the blog because of how poorly I use the Kings English. As I tell her, it ain't funny if it isn't a little off color, and poor english. I love you anyway Sharon and am so glad to have had you all these years. I hope to God we make it to 50 years.
As for my health, F+++ it, I'm not all that healthy, but my blood pressure was 125/64 my blood sugar 122, the oxygen level 97, heart rate after 30 minutes on the UN-Bike 105. I actually feel pretty good today and got a good nights sleep. I see Dr. Adami tomorrow at 8am and we will see when I can get the Chemo started again. Lets all pray it's soon. I've got to get back killing those F++++++ Sarcoma's so no little ones appear.
Until tomorrow. Tom
I then ask her to a party in Lima that we are having and she said she could get a ride over. When she called me to find out how to get to the party etc. she tells me she is coming over with a guy she dates from Fort Wayne. I about shit. Here I think I have a date for the party and now she is coming, but with another guy. I quickly start calling some of my girl friends, to explain the situation, and that I want to make her as jealous as I can. I know she liked me, and had no idea why she was coming with some other guy.
The date that I finally got was with a hot blooded Italian and she was perfect for what I wanted to do. I couldn't believe she wasn't in love with me. She was all over me like white on rice. She was crazy anyway, and that night, she won a academy award, for sure. At the end of the night Sharon and her date Jim, were getting ready to go back to Fort Wayne so we were saying good buy and I invited them to a party at my house the following weekend. That's when Jim said he was going on vacation for a couple of weeks, but maybe when he came back they could come over. RIGHT !!!
That was the last date he ever had with her. She was at my house every weekend for the rest of the summer. And for that matter, just about every weekend until we got married in Feb. on the 22nd. Don't tell anyone, but she was pregnant when we got married. They said it would never last. We also had to get married before Lent, because in those days you didn't get married during Lent. I think Ash Wednesday was the next week.
Thank God I married Sharon when I did, or I would never have passed English. Someone told me they like the way I write this blog, but no one likes the way I spell and the way I murder the Kings English. Sharon will not even read the blog because of how poorly I use the Kings English. As I tell her, it ain't funny if it isn't a little off color, and poor english. I love you anyway Sharon and am so glad to have had you all these years. I hope to God we make it to 50 years.
As for my health, F+++ it, I'm not all that healthy, but my blood pressure was 125/64 my blood sugar 122, the oxygen level 97, heart rate after 30 minutes on the UN-Bike 105. I actually feel pretty good today and got a good nights sleep. I see Dr. Adami tomorrow at 8am and we will see when I can get the Chemo started again. Lets all pray it's soon. I've got to get back killing those F++++++ Sarcoma's so no little ones appear.
Until tomorrow. Tom
Saturday, February 20, 2010
Sat.2-20-10
Just a couple thoughts on my mind today. First, I had a bad night last night. I went to bed at about 11pm and was up again at 1:30am. I know I was awake until at least 2:30am and up again about 4:30. At about 5:30 Sharon go up so I turned the TV back on and just listened to a re-broadcast of the Olympics. This morning my blood pressure was 130/76, but my heart rate was high at 100. My blood sugar was 115 and my oxygen was 96. So why am I so tired. I wanted to work out again, but I just don't have the energy today to do it. At least not now, maybe later after a nap.
A good thing last night. I went to the Essen House for dinner and picked up Mary and Louis Lengacher. We also saw my friends Larry and Diana. Diana has breast cancer and I was with her in Chemo and Radiation. We all sat down and had the buffet together. What a great buffet for Lent and Friday night. First was the fish, all you care to eat, shrimp, clams, frog legs, chicken, chicken and dumplings, mac and cheese, mashed potatoes and gravy, five different soups, salad bar and brownies for desert. It is the best value for $9.95 there is. Oh yea and the best onion rings I've ever had. Since I'm watching my carbs, I just had the fish and some onion rings, but the rest of the table had a bit of everything else. We had a pretty packed house and was told that one of the other restaurants in town was closing their door March 1st. They have another place in Hicksville and thought they could make it in Antwerp also. They found out as we did, that the restaurant business is not near as easy as everyone thinks. It took us two years to turn a profit. They tried to do it in six months.
I also had the opportunity to watch a lot of the Olympics again. Evan, the skater that took the gold, had been challenged by the Russian that if he could not do a quad, then he should not be the gold metal winner. Evan was a calm as he could be and said that he actually respected this guy and had traveled around the world with him. He also then explained how the judging was done, and how the difference between what he did, a triple, and quad, was very little. He also explained how he actually beat him on his performance and the only thing he didn't do was the quad. It's like the Russian can do a quad and the American can't, so I win. Scotty Hamilton did the interview and asked some pretty pointed questions. In the end Scotty agreed that Evan did have the better all around performance.
Scotty was the last American to win gold since like 1968. But what I love about Scotty is that he beat cancer in the late '80's. The information I received about my cancer was provided by an organization headed by Scotty.
I'm starting to loose a little of my facial hair. I noticed today that I really don't need to shave any more. I'm not going to shave off anything, because they say that I might loose some hair, but it should not make me go bald.
It's now 10:30am and I'm going to try and get a nap so I feel better this afternoon when Sharon get home. Night all Tom
A good thing last night. I went to the Essen House for dinner and picked up Mary and Louis Lengacher. We also saw my friends Larry and Diana. Diana has breast cancer and I was with her in Chemo and Radiation. We all sat down and had the buffet together. What a great buffet for Lent and Friday night. First was the fish, all you care to eat, shrimp, clams, frog legs, chicken, chicken and dumplings, mac and cheese, mashed potatoes and gravy, five different soups, salad bar and brownies for desert. It is the best value for $9.95 there is. Oh yea and the best onion rings I've ever had. Since I'm watching my carbs, I just had the fish and some onion rings, but the rest of the table had a bit of everything else. We had a pretty packed house and was told that one of the other restaurants in town was closing their door March 1st. They have another place in Hicksville and thought they could make it in Antwerp also. They found out as we did, that the restaurant business is not near as easy as everyone thinks. It took us two years to turn a profit. They tried to do it in six months.
I also had the opportunity to watch a lot of the Olympics again. Evan, the skater that took the gold, had been challenged by the Russian that if he could not do a quad, then he should not be the gold metal winner. Evan was a calm as he could be and said that he actually respected this guy and had traveled around the world with him. He also then explained how the judging was done, and how the difference between what he did, a triple, and quad, was very little. He also explained how he actually beat him on his performance and the only thing he didn't do was the quad. It's like the Russian can do a quad and the American can't, so I win. Scotty Hamilton did the interview and asked some pretty pointed questions. In the end Scotty agreed that Evan did have the better all around performance.
Scotty was the last American to win gold since like 1968. But what I love about Scotty is that he beat cancer in the late '80's. The information I received about my cancer was provided by an organization headed by Scotty.
I'm starting to loose a little of my facial hair. I noticed today that I really don't need to shave any more. I'm not going to shave off anything, because they say that I might loose some hair, but it should not make me go bald.
It's now 10:30am and I'm going to try and get a nap so I feel better this afternoon when Sharon get home. Night all Tom
Friday, February 19, 2010
Friday 2-19-10
The Olympics were interesting again last night. The girls half pipe was beautiful and the young lady from Australia was excellent and deserved the win. We had the best looking snowboarder, but she finished 11th. I think. She sure was pretty though. Beauty on a snowboard only gets you so far I guess.
Evan, I can't spell his last name, men's single skater, took the gold and defeated the Russian defending champion. We had that on when we went to bed, but both of us fell asleep before it was over. I actually saw the ending this morning at 4:30am or so on a re-broadcast. I'm not into the skating like Sharon is, but he did skate the best of all the men for sure. This has been the best the US has done in the Winter Olympics for sure. I can remember watching and thinking we will never win a Winter anything. Dick Button has always been around, but hell he won in like '48 and '52. I was still wet behind the ears. The TV coverage wasn't in High Def. either. The color wasn't any good for certain. You couldn't tell the Russians from the Americans by their uniforms. I remember there was plenty of snow all the time though. Much more then than you see now. Hell there were times that's all you could see was snow. Remember that???
About my health. My blood pressure at the hospital was 144/79 and my blood sugar was 166. I didn't ask about anything else, but I think my temp was 97.6. I'm a cold blooded SOB. Or at least that's what I think the nurse said. After leaving the hospital I decided it was time to grab some breakfast and then go to the gym. I actually worked out for 30 minutes on my bikey thing. That's the first time I have felt good enough to last the 30 minutes. My blood pressure was 110/62 when I was finished. My trainer said that was excellent and he was happy to see I lasted 30 minutes. I went home and got there just as Tiger was giving his apology.
I have very mixed feelings about Tiger. I feel he is the best golfer ever, but his attitude has always put me off a bit. He sounded sincere, but he has a hell of a long way to come back. He can't have this attitude that he is superior to everyone anymore. He needs to be more like Phil and sign autographs and talk to common folk. The're the one's paying his sponsors to keep him around. I can't see her staying around for very long. I'm sure he has made some deal with her people to make it look good for a year or so, but I'm sure the love is gone.
Speaking of love, I just want to thank all of you who read this information each day and call me all the time. Cate, I do appreciate hearing from you each day. I know you don't always want to hear my sales advise, but I love hearing about your day and your successes. There is nothing more fun than selling when you are at the top of your game. Once you get it down, it a ball helping people get what they need and want from you. Once you have that figured out, the world is your oyster.
Maura, I love that you are trying to help the artists that do the graffiti. They need someone like you to help them achieve their recognition. If anyone reading this has not yet seen her web site, go see it. Offthewallgraffiti.com. Oh yea, you can donate $10.00 to the cause if you like what she is doing. Even if you don't like it, donate. What the hell, it's tax time, and you can write it off. Next year though.
It's now time for me to fix my lunch and take a nap. I was up way tooooo early today, and have worked sooooo hard, I better rest my little ass for a while. Til tomorrow Tom
Evan, I can't spell his last name, men's single skater, took the gold and defeated the Russian defending champion. We had that on when we went to bed, but both of us fell asleep before it was over. I actually saw the ending this morning at 4:30am or so on a re-broadcast. I'm not into the skating like Sharon is, but he did skate the best of all the men for sure. This has been the best the US has done in the Winter Olympics for sure. I can remember watching and thinking we will never win a Winter anything. Dick Button has always been around, but hell he won in like '48 and '52. I was still wet behind the ears. The TV coverage wasn't in High Def. either. The color wasn't any good for certain. You couldn't tell the Russians from the Americans by their uniforms. I remember there was plenty of snow all the time though. Much more then than you see now. Hell there were times that's all you could see was snow. Remember that???
About my health. My blood pressure at the hospital was 144/79 and my blood sugar was 166. I didn't ask about anything else, but I think my temp was 97.6. I'm a cold blooded SOB. Or at least that's what I think the nurse said. After leaving the hospital I decided it was time to grab some breakfast and then go to the gym. I actually worked out for 30 minutes on my bikey thing. That's the first time I have felt good enough to last the 30 minutes. My blood pressure was 110/62 when I was finished. My trainer said that was excellent and he was happy to see I lasted 30 minutes. I went home and got there just as Tiger was giving his apology.
I have very mixed feelings about Tiger. I feel he is the best golfer ever, but his attitude has always put me off a bit. He sounded sincere, but he has a hell of a long way to come back. He can't have this attitude that he is superior to everyone anymore. He needs to be more like Phil and sign autographs and talk to common folk. The're the one's paying his sponsors to keep him around. I can't see her staying around for very long. I'm sure he has made some deal with her people to make it look good for a year or so, but I'm sure the love is gone.
Speaking of love, I just want to thank all of you who read this information each day and call me all the time. Cate, I do appreciate hearing from you each day. I know you don't always want to hear my sales advise, but I love hearing about your day and your successes. There is nothing more fun than selling when you are at the top of your game. Once you get it down, it a ball helping people get what they need and want from you. Once you have that figured out, the world is your oyster.
Maura, I love that you are trying to help the artists that do the graffiti. They need someone like you to help them achieve their recognition. If anyone reading this has not yet seen her web site, go see it. Offthewallgraffiti.com. Oh yea, you can donate $10.00 to the cause if you like what she is doing. Even if you don't like it, donate. What the hell, it's tax time, and you can write it off. Next year though.
It's now time for me to fix my lunch and take a nap. I was up way tooooo early today, and have worked sooooo hard, I better rest my little ass for a while. Til tomorrow Tom
Thursday, February 18, 2010
Thursday 2-18-10
So I'm already back from being infused and all I can think about is last nigh and the Winter Olympics. What a night, I don't know if it's because I feel I'm fighting hard to beat this cancer, or what, but I have never been so emotional about these athletic's before. When I saw what Lindsey Vonn did on her run for the gold, I could not hold back the tears. Epically when they showed the re-run and how when she landed that last jump she couldn't even put any weight on her right leg. Then when she lost it with her coach and just started balling, it was like everything she did for the past eight years suddenly came to fruition. To think of what she had to overcome to put the pain behind her and just gut it out. She is truly a champion. Julia Mancuso did a great job also, and deserves all the credit in the world. This is the first time I can remember two American woman doing so well in any of the big races.
Shani Davis did a heck of a great job also. He is just such a soft spoken man you would not think he had that killer mentality in him. I thought he was going to be beaten by that Bum guy.
What can you say about Shaun White that hasn't already been said. The cool thing about him is if you live in Carlsbad or Oceanside or any of the beach communities, you can see him just walking around. He usually has a few of his buddies with him, but he will stop and talk to you and sign his autograph no problem. We have seen him many times eating at different restaurants in Carlsbad. I will tell you he seems to like Mexican the best. He's also has been known to stop in to a couple of the hot spots in town in the evening. Since I never go to any of those spots, this is all hear say on my part. But my source's swear it's true.
I found out today that I still have to get these darn infusions until the 23rd. Sharon and I celebrate our 47th wedding anniversary on the 22nd. so I hope I remember to stop in on the 23rd. It's been a wonderful 47 years and I would not change a thing. As a plaque on my wall says " A FISHERMAN LIVES HERE WITH THE BEST CATCH OF HIS LIFE". I couldn't say it better myself. That's why I bought the plaque.
Just so you don't get bored, my blood pressure was 130/72 my blood sugar was 122 and my oxygen level was 98, what ever the hell that means. Why the hell don't I feel better???? I think I'll go take a nap. Night all Tom
Shani Davis did a heck of a great job also. He is just such a soft spoken man you would not think he had that killer mentality in him. I thought he was going to be beaten by that Bum guy.
What can you say about Shaun White that hasn't already been said. The cool thing about him is if you live in Carlsbad or Oceanside or any of the beach communities, you can see him just walking around. He usually has a few of his buddies with him, but he will stop and talk to you and sign his autograph no problem. We have seen him many times eating at different restaurants in Carlsbad. I will tell you he seems to like Mexican the best. He's also has been known to stop in to a couple of the hot spots in town in the evening. Since I never go to any of those spots, this is all hear say on my part. But my source's swear it's true.
I found out today that I still have to get these darn infusions until the 23rd. Sharon and I celebrate our 47th wedding anniversary on the 22nd. so I hope I remember to stop in on the 23rd. It's been a wonderful 47 years and I would not change a thing. As a plaque on my wall says " A FISHERMAN LIVES HERE WITH THE BEST CATCH OF HIS LIFE". I couldn't say it better myself. That's why I bought the plaque.
Just so you don't get bored, my blood pressure was 130/72 my blood sugar was 122 and my oxygen level was 98, what ever the hell that means. Why the hell don't I feel better???? I think I'll go take a nap. Night all Tom
Wednesday, February 17, 2010
Wed 2-17-10
I've got lots to say today so I will start early and end when I damn well feel like it. To start with, today is a kick ass day to watch the Olympics. For those of you that don't know, my daughter Maura was the person who designed the first logo for the X games in 1995. What most people don't know is that they were held in Rhode Island, not somewhere in Southern California. She wasn't even sure if she was going to be paid for her design, or if they would even give her credit for the work. But being the person that she is, she did it anyway. So this family has been watching some of the craziest things that people have ever done on skateboards and what ever else they could go down a hill on. She also has just started another fantastic project called OFF THE WALL GRAFFITI. You can find out all about it at Offthewallgraffitti.com. It's a project to give the artists a place to show off their artistic ability on places other than public property. Sort of the same idea as the X games did for the skateboarders. I want all of us to give this idea of hers the same respect and acceptance that the X games gave to the skateboard outlaws as they used to be considered. I'm saying this today, because you will be able to see one of the most successful skateboard outlaws perform in the Olympics. Believe me, having been part of the Carlsbad community since 1985, I remember when they had signs on the streets saying it was against the law to skateboard on public property. If it weren't for some farsighted citizens, Shaun White and Tony Hawk, would still be OUTLAWS. As it turned out both of them are fabulous athletes and doing very well.
I also want all of you to go to offthewallgraffiti.com and look at all the pictures that are on the site. I'm going to put a picture that hangs in my home that one of my boy's says, that it is the only thing he wants out of our entire house. How well would you have graded this picture?? Would you hang it in your house. How do you think parents of these graffiti artists feel about how well their kids can draw?
I tried to get the picture to follow the last paragraph, but I don't know how to do that. You would think after 109 posts I could figure this damn thing out right.
Well anyway, I went to the hospital today and got my infusion and thank God they took the needle out for a day. I'll have to have it accessed again tomorrow, but tonight I get to sleep with out it being in. Just one more week and then more Chemo. As much as I hate looking forward to having Chemo, I want it to be able to kill any microscopic little sarcoma roaming around in my lungs.
I'm going to go do some honey dues and then watch the Olympics. Thanks again for reading and those prayers. Tom
Tuesday, February 16, 2010
Tuesday 2-16-10
You know I figure life is very interesting as you get older. I've fought my weight all my life and I've had high blood pressure since about 1990 and diabetes since '92. Now I've got cancer and this thing they call Chemo brain has my world completely turned up side down.
I got up today and went over to the hospital to get my infusion and the lady took my vitals and told me my temperature was low, 97.6 and I better be watching my blood pressure because it was 101/62 and my heart rate was 67, and I lost two more lbs since yesterday. They brought in a real comfortable lounge chair that I could actually lay back in and a pillow for my head. I was so comfortable that I fell asleep while I was getting my infusion. When the nurse came in she gently shook me and asked if I was OK. At this point I have no F++++++ idea how I'm supposed to feel. If I say great, Sharon has honey dues for me to do, if I say I don't feel too well they've got another F++++++ pill I can take. My answer from now on will be"Why the F+++ are you asking?" I feel well enough to drive myself over here and get the infusion, but not well enough to do something I don't feel like doing. So no more open ended questions, I will only answer closed ended questions, for those of you who have never attended one of my sales courses, a closed ended question is one that can only be answered with a Yes or a No. Are you old Mr. McLaughlin "Yes". Do I give a shit? NO.
After all this I decided that I would go over to the gym and do my best to try to do about 30 minutes on my exercise biker thingy. At about 25 minutes I started to feel light headed so I went over to the trainer to get my vitals done and he then informed me that my blood pressure was 95/60 and that my blood sugar was 74 and that I should probably not do any more exercising today.
I then drove home and watched a little of last nights Olympics. Bode Miller has certainly turned it around and it's too bad he didn't win a gold. .09 is just way to small a margin to get third place. God bless him for coming back for his third Olympics. It was also great to see the snowboard cross guys come in first and fourth. The girl that won the bumps kicked some ass also. You talk about pressure, the last run of the competition. I love watching that stuff. I have to admit, I cry at shit like that.
The thing that I didn't watch much of, was the ice skating. You know that Sharon was Miss Fort Wayne on Ice, when she was about 16, so she does love to watch, but I understand the American kids didn't score high on the judges scoring, but they both skated their highest scores ever. I hear the winners both screwed up their final performance but won anyway. To me it's all about trying your hardest and not giving up.
Well that all there is today from Mr. Philosopher. Tune in tomorrow for the never ending line of BS he has to share.
Oh yea, Sharon fixed me a salad of hot dogs and lettuce and a piece of rye bread for lunch. Now that' eating!!!!!!!
I got up today and went over to the hospital to get my infusion and the lady took my vitals and told me my temperature was low, 97.6 and I better be watching my blood pressure because it was 101/62 and my heart rate was 67, and I lost two more lbs since yesterday. They brought in a real comfortable lounge chair that I could actually lay back in and a pillow for my head. I was so comfortable that I fell asleep while I was getting my infusion. When the nurse came in she gently shook me and asked if I was OK. At this point I have no F++++++ idea how I'm supposed to feel. If I say great, Sharon has honey dues for me to do, if I say I don't feel too well they've got another F++++++ pill I can take. My answer from now on will be"Why the F+++ are you asking?" I feel well enough to drive myself over here and get the infusion, but not well enough to do something I don't feel like doing. So no more open ended questions, I will only answer closed ended questions, for those of you who have never attended one of my sales courses, a closed ended question is one that can only be answered with a Yes or a No. Are you old Mr. McLaughlin "Yes". Do I give a shit? NO.
After all this I decided that I would go over to the gym and do my best to try to do about 30 minutes on my exercise biker thingy. At about 25 minutes I started to feel light headed so I went over to the trainer to get my vitals done and he then informed me that my blood pressure was 95/60 and that my blood sugar was 74 and that I should probably not do any more exercising today.
I then drove home and watched a little of last nights Olympics. Bode Miller has certainly turned it around and it's too bad he didn't win a gold. .09 is just way to small a margin to get third place. God bless him for coming back for his third Olympics. It was also great to see the snowboard cross guys come in first and fourth. The girl that won the bumps kicked some ass also. You talk about pressure, the last run of the competition. I love watching that stuff. I have to admit, I cry at shit like that.
The thing that I didn't watch much of, was the ice skating. You know that Sharon was Miss Fort Wayne on Ice, when she was about 16, so she does love to watch, but I understand the American kids didn't score high on the judges scoring, but they both skated their highest scores ever. I hear the winners both screwed up their final performance but won anyway. To me it's all about trying your hardest and not giving up.
Well that all there is today from Mr. Philosopher. Tune in tomorrow for the never ending line of BS he has to share.
Oh yea, Sharon fixed me a salad of hot dogs and lettuce and a piece of rye bread for lunch. Now that' eating!!!!!!!
Monday, February 15, 2010
Monday 2-15-10
Sharon and I had our first date for quite a while. We went Mexican. I had nothing that was good for me, but it was very delicious. I did not have any desert however. We are watching the Olympics and enjoying every minute. I can't believe it has been eight years since Park City.
I had some trouble last night with the rashes flaring up. At 2 am I starting itching uncontrollably. I had to get up and apply this location so I could get back to bed. I finally had to take two V's to stop the pain. I'm on my way now to see the hospital to see what might have caused it. Hell maybe it was the Mexican. I'll let you know later. I'm going to Sam's again for the E.H. and then pick up the bread for the week. I don't know why I have to work today, the banks sure as hell aren't. Thank you Mr. Presidents.
I had some trouble last night with the rashes flaring up. At 2 am I starting itching uncontrollably. I had to get up and apply this location so I could get back to bed. I finally had to take two V's to stop the pain. I'm on my way now to see the hospital to see what might have caused it. Hell maybe it was the Mexican. I'll let you know later. I'm going to Sam's again for the E.H. and then pick up the bread for the week. I don't know why I have to work today, the banks sure as hell aren't. Thank you Mr. Presidents.
Sunday, February 14, 2010
Sunday 2-14-10
I actually got to drive my car for the first time in a week or so yesterday. I first went to the hospital to get my infusion. The sad thing about going to the ER on a weekend is that everyone is either part time, or covering someone else shift. When you walk in, they don't know what your doing, or what you want. I tried to explain that I was there for an infusion of antibiotics, but she didn't know what the hell I was talking about. I started walking down the hall towards the infusion area and she had a hissy fit. She said you have to check in here first, I said my name is Tom etc. and kept walking. She finally got out of her seat and had to go through another office to get into the hall. By that time I was at the other reception area giving my name to that receptionist. When the first lady showed up, the lady that I was speaking to looked at her and said, "Can I help you?". The first receptionist just looked at both of us and said, "Well, I guess I not needed here".
I was then checked in and escorted to an infusion room. No more than ten minutes later they were infusion me. It only took about 30 minutes once they got started. That's a lot faster than the 2 hours I was told it would probably take each day.
Today I had the same nurse that I had the first day of my treatments. I haven't gone into that experience yet but it was also quite a cluster f+++. It seems I was released from the hospital because all they were really doing for me medically was giving me infusions of medicine. Now we already know how exciting it would be to have our Government, no matter who would be in charge, run our health care program. Get this, if I stayed in the hospital and let them feed me and have nurses assist me and every f+++++ doctor that even thought he might be able to charge me walked into my room to say, "HOW YOU FEELING". Medicare would be happy to pay the bill. Now if I didn't want to stay in the hospital, but just wanted the infusion for thirty minutes a day, they were not going to pay.
When I heard that from the BOSS of the ER department, I went nuts. I told the nurse to get her BOSS in here, and now. She then tried to explain why she didn't think this would be covered by medicare. After twenty minutes of arguing with me she left in a huff. The nurse came back in and said her boss was very upset and crying. I said I really felt bad that I made her cry, but that she didn't understand how absurd the circumstances were as to why they would not pay. I said, is your bosses, BOSS here?, she just so happened to be in the building. When she walked in to my room she was very nice and explained to me that they had found a provision in the Medicare information that indeed did cover this situation.
So when I came in today the nurse that had seen all this was the nurse on call. She then hooked me up and had my medication ready as I sat down. We chatted for a minute because she had an intern with here and was showing her what she had just done. She asked if I had any questions and left the room. When the infusion was over she came back in and unhooked me and cleared my port and I was getting ready to leave when she said, Mr McLaughlin, may I ask you what you did for a living? I just laughed and said why? She said I figured you had to be a college professor or so sort of high powered business man. I've never seen in all my years anyone intimidate either of the two ladies that you dealt with on Thursday. How did you know to do that. Most people would have just told them to bill them for the treatments. I said, "young lady, you don't get to be where I am if you don't ask a lot of questions." Besides I would rather die than pay for something I didn't have to.
I then gave her a 25% off coupon to the Essen House and told her if her BOSS wanted to come in I would give her one also. Her boss never showed up, but I told here the offer was still open.
I went to Sam's Today for the Essen House and now I'm home and plan to spend most of the rest of the day following the Olympics.
More Tomorrow
I was then checked in and escorted to an infusion room. No more than ten minutes later they were infusion me. It only took about 30 minutes once they got started. That's a lot faster than the 2 hours I was told it would probably take each day.
Today I had the same nurse that I had the first day of my treatments. I haven't gone into that experience yet but it was also quite a cluster f+++. It seems I was released from the hospital because all they were really doing for me medically was giving me infusions of medicine. Now we already know how exciting it would be to have our Government, no matter who would be in charge, run our health care program. Get this, if I stayed in the hospital and let them feed me and have nurses assist me and every f+++++ doctor that even thought he might be able to charge me walked into my room to say, "HOW YOU FEELING". Medicare would be happy to pay the bill. Now if I didn't want to stay in the hospital, but just wanted the infusion for thirty minutes a day, they were not going to pay.
When I heard that from the BOSS of the ER department, I went nuts. I told the nurse to get her BOSS in here, and now. She then tried to explain why she didn't think this would be covered by medicare. After twenty minutes of arguing with me she left in a huff. The nurse came back in and said her boss was very upset and crying. I said I really felt bad that I made her cry, but that she didn't understand how absurd the circumstances were as to why they would not pay. I said, is your bosses, BOSS here?, she just so happened to be in the building. When she walked in to my room she was very nice and explained to me that they had found a provision in the Medicare information that indeed did cover this situation.
So when I came in today the nurse that had seen all this was the nurse on call. She then hooked me up and had my medication ready as I sat down. We chatted for a minute because she had an intern with here and was showing her what she had just done. She asked if I had any questions and left the room. When the infusion was over she came back in and unhooked me and cleared my port and I was getting ready to leave when she said, Mr McLaughlin, may I ask you what you did for a living? I just laughed and said why? She said I figured you had to be a college professor or so sort of high powered business man. I've never seen in all my years anyone intimidate either of the two ladies that you dealt with on Thursday. How did you know to do that. Most people would have just told them to bill them for the treatments. I said, "young lady, you don't get to be where I am if you don't ask a lot of questions." Besides I would rather die than pay for something I didn't have to.
I then gave her a 25% off coupon to the Essen House and told her if her BOSS wanted to come in I would give her one also. Her boss never showed up, but I told here the offer was still open.
I went to Sam's Today for the Essen House and now I'm home and plan to spend most of the rest of the day following the Olympics.
More Tomorrow
Friday, February 12, 2010
Fri. 02-12-10
OK, so if you can follow a Chemo Brained individual, I got up on Thursday and my left arm, where they removed my bicep and sarcoma, was about twice the size that it should have been. I also noticed a rash on my right arm and on my lower trunk area. With diabetes I occasionally would get a rash when I was high, so I just figured it was that. As the day advanced I started the shaking and chills once again and my temperature went up to 102. Sharon called the Dr. and he said take two aspirin and call him in the morning. The next day,Friday, I was sick as S+++ and my left arm was now three times its normal size. My temperature was over 101 so we decided to go to the Dr's office. When we got there Dr. Adami was not there so we talked to a Nurse Practitioner about my condition. She examined me and asked a boat load of questions and then finally said, you need to see a Dr. Twenty minutes or so later I see another Dr. that I have never met before, Dr. Epstein. He looks over my chart and her notes and looks at me and says, Your going to the Hospital now. I love that bed side manor, get your ass to the hospital boy, whats the matter with you!!!
By the time I reach the hospital I truly believe that I might be on deaths door step. I've never felt this way and with all the junk about the whit and red cells and let's risk it anyway, bull s+++, I figured we gambled and I lost big time. I then ask to have Fr. Tony meet me at the hospital and give me the Prayer for the sick to find out he's ON his way to Indy and will not be back until tomorrow sometime. So now not only am I going to die, I'm not going to have that Priest thing at my bed side. Me scared?, f+++ no, what do I have to be scare about. So now they come in and start hanging IV's all over and start my port working once again. They asked if I wanted any pain pills or anything, and I accepted right now. Even though they have all this medicine flowing into me and I'm supposed to be tired and sleepy, I'm wide awake. I guess I want to be wide awake if I was going to die. I stayed that way for the next 48 hours. I might fall asleep for a few minutes, but never more than an hour.
On Saturday, Fr. Tony finally showed up to give me the Prayer for the sick. I felt much better in a spiritual way, but no better physically. They finally decided late Saturday to give me Zaynix, or something like that, for your nerves and to calm you down. I finally fell asleep Sat. night at around 9:30 and sleep until 6am.
I watched the Super Bowl some what, I remember the first quarter was good, but I then lost interest and slept of and on the rest of the day. I was awake for the end of the game. I really like the Colts, but if they have to be beaten, I'm glad it was the Saints.
All I really remember about the day was how badly I felt and how terrible the rash was becoming. I had a rash from head to toe. I itched like a mad man but knew I could not scratch it or break the skin at all. I took a bunch of different pills and went to sleep.
First thing Monday I insisted on seeing a specialist on skin problems or diseases. There happened to be a Contagious diseases specialist in the hospital so he came in to see me first thing Monday. I told him I believed that my problem was that I was allergic to the antibiotic they were giving me. After a full examination and discussion, he agreed with me and decided to change the antibiotic. I was still very itchy and inflamed the rest of Monday, but by Tuesday it was starting to subside. They had started to give me an anti itch medicine and I was able to once again get some sleep.
I must say that the nurses at Park View were excellent. Three of them knew Tom and Cate, so I had to be good and they had to be on their best also. Since the only real problem I had the last couple of days was the rash, it was very easy to take care of me and I was just eating and sleeping while killing time watching TV. Sharon was a saint during all this. She would do her Essen House duties and keep the place flowing and then check in with me to see when she should be there to see any of the doctors who needed to talk to both of us. As you all know by now,"THEY PRACTICE MEDICINE AND IF YOU LET THEM THEY WILL PRACTICE ON YOU" I think I'll make a sign that says TPMAIYLTTWPOY.
As of Thursday it looks like Dr. So, the contagious disease specialist is in charge of when I will receive Chemo again.
So this brings you up to today 2-12-10. In ten days Sharon and I will be married 47 years. Just three more years to reach that 50 mark.
Today by the way I got my infusion at 9:30 and out by 10:30. I then sat in the DMV until noon trying to get a handicapped tag. If you don't have one around these hospitals you can get a parking spot for blocks.
I'll do my best from now on to write each day and keep it light and funny. Anything has to be better than last week. I'm still shooting for the quarterly meeting of the Carlsbad Inn Board, so I hope to see all of you that I can at that time, 03-18-10 to 03-21-10
By the time I reach the hospital I truly believe that I might be on deaths door step. I've never felt this way and with all the junk about the whit and red cells and let's risk it anyway, bull s+++, I figured we gambled and I lost big time. I then ask to have Fr. Tony meet me at the hospital and give me the Prayer for the sick to find out he's ON his way to Indy and will not be back until tomorrow sometime. So now not only am I going to die, I'm not going to have that Priest thing at my bed side. Me scared?, f+++ no, what do I have to be scare about. So now they come in and start hanging IV's all over and start my port working once again. They asked if I wanted any pain pills or anything, and I accepted right now. Even though they have all this medicine flowing into me and I'm supposed to be tired and sleepy, I'm wide awake. I guess I want to be wide awake if I was going to die. I stayed that way for the next 48 hours. I might fall asleep for a few minutes, but never more than an hour.
On Saturday, Fr. Tony finally showed up to give me the Prayer for the sick. I felt much better in a spiritual way, but no better physically. They finally decided late Saturday to give me Zaynix, or something like that, for your nerves and to calm you down. I finally fell asleep Sat. night at around 9:30 and sleep until 6am.
I watched the Super Bowl some what, I remember the first quarter was good, but I then lost interest and slept of and on the rest of the day. I was awake for the end of the game. I really like the Colts, but if they have to be beaten, I'm glad it was the Saints.
All I really remember about the day was how badly I felt and how terrible the rash was becoming. I had a rash from head to toe. I itched like a mad man but knew I could not scratch it or break the skin at all. I took a bunch of different pills and went to sleep.
First thing Monday I insisted on seeing a specialist on skin problems or diseases. There happened to be a Contagious diseases specialist in the hospital so he came in to see me first thing Monday. I told him I believed that my problem was that I was allergic to the antibiotic they were giving me. After a full examination and discussion, he agreed with me and decided to change the antibiotic. I was still very itchy and inflamed the rest of Monday, but by Tuesday it was starting to subside. They had started to give me an anti itch medicine and I was able to once again get some sleep.
I must say that the nurses at Park View were excellent. Three of them knew Tom and Cate, so I had to be good and they had to be on their best also. Since the only real problem I had the last couple of days was the rash, it was very easy to take care of me and I was just eating and sleeping while killing time watching TV. Sharon was a saint during all this. She would do her Essen House duties and keep the place flowing and then check in with me to see when she should be there to see any of the doctors who needed to talk to both of us. As you all know by now,"THEY PRACTICE MEDICINE AND IF YOU LET THEM THEY WILL PRACTICE ON YOU" I think I'll make a sign that says TPMAIYLTTWPOY.
As of Thursday it looks like Dr. So, the contagious disease specialist is in charge of when I will receive Chemo again.
So this brings you up to today 2-12-10. In ten days Sharon and I will be married 47 years. Just three more years to reach that 50 mark.
Today by the way I got my infusion at 9:30 and out by 10:30. I then sat in the DMV until noon trying to get a handicapped tag. If you don't have one around these hospitals you can get a parking spot for blocks.
I'll do my best from now on to write each day and keep it light and funny. Anything has to be better than last week. I'm still shooting for the quarterly meeting of the Carlsbad Inn Board, so I hope to see all of you that I can at that time, 03-18-10 to 03-21-10
Thursday, February 11, 2010
Thurs. 02-11-10
So you guys want to hear my side of this F+++++up mess. So Tuesday morning I arrive at Dr. Adami's office expecting to breeze through the Chemo treatment. Not so fast fat man. First they make me take a blood test to see if I can even have Chemo. On my first go around it was no problem passing the test, without even studying. Hell, this time I studied and damn near failed anyway. It reminded me of freshman Latin. I think they passed me just so she would not have to sit through class with me again. I must have gotten a D-- on the blood test, because Adami's partner, because Adami was on the road to Angola, looked somewhat concerned and said we had a decision to make. We could either wait another week and see what my blood count was, or take a risk and have the Chemo anyway. I said I was not about to make that decision, Adami is who needs to make that decision. She left the room and came back 20 minutes later and said Adami said to go for it. Easy for him to say, he's not going to suffer if the risk doesn't work out. Hell he get paid more if I get in trouble, RIGHT!! So once that decision is made I then asked about the medicine that I didn't take last time that helps if your blood counts are not in order. She damn near fell on the floor at that time. She said you had Chemo and didn't take that medicine. I said I tool it the first time and I got sick as S+++. So back to Adami to see how he wanted to handle this situation. After another 20 minutes she comes back and said Adami said to just give it with the infusion and not to worry about the fact you should receive one shot the day before the infusion, one the day of the infusion and then one the day after the infusion. Just give him a large dose the day of the infusion.
So there I was, feeling really confident that I was working with the best and one partner doesn't really feel good about what her partner just recommended. So now what do you do, S+++ or go blind. Since I already have problems reading the fine print, and I do take one on a regular basis, what did I have to loose.
After the infusion, I felt OK for a while until I started with the chills and shakes. I took a bunch of V's the rest of the day and night and got up early Wed. to go get the shot that will start my bones and muscles to ache. The great thing about this shot, they have to put it in your arm and it has a very large needle and it take about a minute to administer it once she starts it flowing. She then informed me that the reason it takes so long is that it is real thick and if you tried to give it fast, you would probably knock the person out with the pain. As she puts it in she keeps asking if your all right. I guess if they see you can follow them and answer the question, your not going to pass out.
After the shot I drove right home and hit the couch for a bit of a nap..It was almost 2pm when I layed down.
More tomorrow. Tom
So there I was, feeling really confident that I was working with the best and one partner doesn't really feel good about what her partner just recommended. So now what do you do, S+++ or go blind. Since I already have problems reading the fine print, and I do take one on a regular basis, what did I have to loose.
After the infusion, I felt OK for a while until I started with the chills and shakes. I took a bunch of V's the rest of the day and night and got up early Wed. to go get the shot that will start my bones and muscles to ache. The great thing about this shot, they have to put it in your arm and it has a very large needle and it take about a minute to administer it once she starts it flowing. She then informed me that the reason it takes so long is that it is real thick and if you tried to give it fast, you would probably knock the person out with the pain. As she puts it in she keeps asking if your all right. I guess if they see you can follow them and answer the question, your not going to pass out.
After the shot I drove right home and hit the couch for a bit of a nap..It was almost 2pm when I layed down.
More tomorrow. Tom
Thursday 2/11/10
Tom is finally home from the hospital where he's been since last Friday. Following is a day-by day scenario ( or as much as I can type right now and will add more later)
Tuesday Tom received a new chemo medicine called Taxotere along with the gemsar he had received the week before. On Wednesday his left arm where the previous tumor had been removed started to swell and turn red in color. He was also shaking with the chills and feeling very sick. He also got neulasta on Wednesday because his platelets were at 17,000 (normal 140,000). By Thursday morning his arm was still swelling and he was retaining fluid. He was taking vicodin to deal with the pain and chills. By Friday morning he was in so much pain that I took him to the oncologist. After talking to a nurse practioner she decided to see the doc. After reading his chart and seeing his arm he put him in the hospital right away for IV antibiotics and a saline solution. On Saturday Fr. Tony from St Charles stopped by to administer the prayer for the sick. By Saturday afternoon Tom's whole body was covered with a rash. It kept getting worse but they gave him Zanyx or however you spell it so he didn't really care. Sunday the Colts lost and that was as much he could deal with. On Monday they brought in a contagious disease specialist who deduced he was allergic to the antibiotic and put him on a different one . At last he began to get better and he was released Wednesday but has to go to the ER every day for a week to have antibiotics infused. Takes about an hour.
Tom wanted everyone to know at least what had happened and I'm sure when he's feeling better he will fill you all in with a day by day, blow by blow experience. He did try to keep all of his nurses and support people laughing and he was well-liked by all of them. He appreciates your prayers and support and I'm sure he'll be blogging by tomorrow. Right now it's all he can manage not to scratch his entire body! In the meantime, further chemo has been postponed until platelet counts are up and rash is gone.
Tuesday Tom received a new chemo medicine called Taxotere along with the gemsar he had received the week before. On Wednesday his left arm where the previous tumor had been removed started to swell and turn red in color. He was also shaking with the chills and feeling very sick. He also got neulasta on Wednesday because his platelets were at 17,000 (normal 140,000). By Thursday morning his arm was still swelling and he was retaining fluid. He was taking vicodin to deal with the pain and chills. By Friday morning he was in so much pain that I took him to the oncologist. After talking to a nurse practioner she decided to see the doc. After reading his chart and seeing his arm he put him in the hospital right away for IV antibiotics and a saline solution. On Saturday Fr. Tony from St Charles stopped by to administer the prayer for the sick. By Saturday afternoon Tom's whole body was covered with a rash. It kept getting worse but they gave him Zanyx or however you spell it so he didn't really care. Sunday the Colts lost and that was as much he could deal with. On Monday they brought in a contagious disease specialist who deduced he was allergic to the antibiotic and put him on a different one . At last he began to get better and he was released Wednesday but has to go to the ER every day for a week to have antibiotics infused. Takes about an hour.
Tom wanted everyone to know at least what had happened and I'm sure when he's feeling better he will fill you all in with a day by day, blow by blow experience. He did try to keep all of his nurses and support people laughing and he was well-liked by all of them. He appreciates your prayers and support and I'm sure he'll be blogging by tomorrow. Right now it's all he can manage not to scratch his entire body! In the meantime, further chemo has been postponed until platelet counts are up and rash is gone.
Saturday, February 6, 2010
February 6, 2010
Just to let everyone know, Tom is in the hospital for three days getting IV antibiotics. He will return home Monday. His cell and platelet counts were very low so he got an infection and his diabetes complicates things so the doc figured the best way to get after it was via IV. He has his cell phone with him and would welcome calls. 260-402-6453.
We were going to have friends over to watch the super bowl, now not so much.
Nevertheless..........GO COLTS!!
Just to let everyone know, Tom is in the hospital for three days getting IV antibiotics. He will return home Monday. His cell and platelet counts were very low so he got an infection and his diabetes complicates things so the doc figured the best way to get after it was via IV. He has his cell phone with him and would welcome calls. 260-402-6453.
We were going to have friends over to watch the super bowl, now not so much.
Nevertheless..........GO COLTS!!
Wednesday, February 3, 2010
Wednesday, February 3, 2010
I'm sorry for the delay on the blog, because I have been so shaky that I've been unable to type. Since my last post there have been some very interesting developments. The good thing was that the CT scan was negative. The bad news is that the "gemsar" that they gave me not only kicked my ass but it kicked S*** out of my red and white blood cells. I thought that it was just a matter of being able to take the side effects in stride but I of course was wrong. Dr Adhami was not in on Tues. so we met with his partner and she informed us that we had two choices: take a shot of decadron and wait a week to have chemo, or take chemo then with the knowledge that it could lower my blood count even worse. After two calls to Adhami and one to God we decided to go for the chemo.
After I made that decision I find out that there are like three other medicines that they have to put in the chemo to try to offset all the F8888888 side effects of all the S8888 they're going to put in me. The best news is that the one medicine that I didn't want because it effects the bone marrow and makes every bone in your body hurt, the last time I took it I was down for 48 hours I have to have and I had it today.
After the treatment yesterday I started to shake uncontrollably. You feel as though you're cold and that you've got to put blankets on to warm your body. After about an hour of shaking I decided I couldn't take the shaking any more and took two Vicodin. After about 45 minutes the Vicodin started to work and within another hour and a half I finally stopped shaking. Now the downside to the 4 dog night was that it caused my temp to go to 102.2. I was told to call the emergency # if my temp goes over 101. When we talked to Dr. Adhami he said to take a couple Tylenol and call him in the morning! What the H else is a doctor going to tell you to do. So I took the tylenol and Sharon got me an ice pack and within an hour or so my temp was back down to 99. I have finally decided that taking vicodin before any of this s888 starts to take effect is the best course of action. In talking to my brother today he said that's what he did with his shoulder operation. While I was talking to him I started to shake and I told him I still had an hour before I should take another vicodin and he said are you nuts...if you're starting to hurt take a f88888888 pill. I'm going to take his advice.
As I was ending my conversation with Larry, Sharon came in and I asked her if we could go do the blog. So that is about as current as I can bring you. I'm dictating, Sharon is typing for me until I get my coordination back.
Thank you for all of you that have shown concern a to why I was not writing my blog. I do enjoy writing the blog and please know that when I don't it's because there's nothing to tell you or I'm incapable of typing.
So far the side effects of the neulasta I got today have been much gentler than the last time. I can't really stand for very long and the most comfortable position is on the couch. Of course my family thinks that's my favorite position if I'm hurting or not but today I have a great excuse to be there.
Love to all,
Tom
After I made that decision I find out that there are like three other medicines that they have to put in the chemo to try to offset all the F8888888 side effects of all the S8888 they're going to put in me. The best news is that the one medicine that I didn't want because it effects the bone marrow and makes every bone in your body hurt, the last time I took it I was down for 48 hours I have to have and I had it today.
After the treatment yesterday I started to shake uncontrollably. You feel as though you're cold and that you've got to put blankets on to warm your body. After about an hour of shaking I decided I couldn't take the shaking any more and took two Vicodin. After about 45 minutes the Vicodin started to work and within another hour and a half I finally stopped shaking. Now the downside to the 4 dog night was that it caused my temp to go to 102.2. I was told to call the emergency # if my temp goes over 101. When we talked to Dr. Adhami he said to take a couple Tylenol and call him in the morning! What the H else is a doctor going to tell you to do. So I took the tylenol and Sharon got me an ice pack and within an hour or so my temp was back down to 99. I have finally decided that taking vicodin before any of this s888 starts to take effect is the best course of action. In talking to my brother today he said that's what he did with his shoulder operation. While I was talking to him I started to shake and I told him I still had an hour before I should take another vicodin and he said are you nuts...if you're starting to hurt take a f88888888 pill. I'm going to take his advice.
As I was ending my conversation with Larry, Sharon came in and I asked her if we could go do the blog. So that is about as current as I can bring you. I'm dictating, Sharon is typing for me until I get my coordination back.
Thank you for all of you that have shown concern a to why I was not writing my blog. I do enjoy writing the blog and please know that when I don't it's because there's nothing to tell you or I'm incapable of typing.
So far the side effects of the neulasta I got today have been much gentler than the last time. I can't really stand for very long and the most comfortable position is on the couch. Of course my family thinks that's my favorite position if I'm hurting or not but today I have a great excuse to be there.
Love to all,
Tom
Monday, February 1, 2010
Mon. 02-01-10
At 8am this morning I was at the CT scan facility ready for action. At 8:45 they were finally ready for me. Actually is was best that they were so busy, because at 5:45 when I got up my blood sugar was in the 60's. I was not to take any food since 5am. I then started to look for something I could find that would spike my BS but not destroy the no eating policy. I then found Sharon's trail mix, it had all kinds of peanuts and stuff, but only two raisins and two M&M in the entire bag. Oh she never HIGRADES her trail mix. But let me tell you, if you ever look into that bag before taking a hand full, she would call you out, right now. So the next place I looked was in the refrigerator and nothing, no orange juice, or anything that would solve my low blood sugar Finally, after bending my knees, as my mother always told me to do, I found some of Sammy's, Juicy Juice, and it had 25g of sugar. After taking that it got much better and I headed for the GI, CT scan.
If you have never had to drink the stuff that they coat your "whatever" with, you have not lived. Two sixteen bottles of the stuff. They now have it put in lemon aid looking bottles, but trust me it is not lemon aid. After sitting for an hour letting this junk settle, they came to get me and ushered me into the CT area. I had put on the card this time that I had a Port so they could access that as apposed to trying to stick my veins. When you receive so much Chemo, your veins are very easily collapsed. As it turns out, this nurse had just passed the tests required to be able to stick a port. The other facilities that I have been to have never been able to draw from my port. She had decided to do this on her own first and then went to the state to let her do it for her cancer patients. I told her how happy I was to know that they had this ability and that she did it on her own. Let me tell you, if your in Fort Wayne and need a CT with contrast, that's what they call it, and you want a good nurse, go to door #3 of the cancer center at Park View North.
After getting stuck the treatment only takes about twenty minutes. They just lay you on a table feet first and they but you in a round thing that takes pictures while you are slid back and forth inside it. It's the getting stuck and being worried about what it might show that is the hard part, oh yea that other drink stuff isn't fun either.
Well I lived another day so we will see tomorrow how I did on my tests. They were never that easy for me in school I know, and I didn't study at all for this one.
Hay Grace and Ron, thanks for the call. You too Catie, Tom and Maura. Love to hear from any of you people. It's a bitch sitting on the couch.
And no Cate, I didn't spell check it tonight either. Love to all, Tom
If you have never had to drink the stuff that they coat your "whatever" with, you have not lived. Two sixteen bottles of the stuff. They now have it put in lemon aid looking bottles, but trust me it is not lemon aid. After sitting for an hour letting this junk settle, they came to get me and ushered me into the CT area. I had put on the card this time that I had a Port so they could access that as apposed to trying to stick my veins. When you receive so much Chemo, your veins are very easily collapsed. As it turns out, this nurse had just passed the tests required to be able to stick a port. The other facilities that I have been to have never been able to draw from my port. She had decided to do this on her own first and then went to the state to let her do it for her cancer patients. I told her how happy I was to know that they had this ability and that she did it on her own. Let me tell you, if your in Fort Wayne and need a CT with contrast, that's what they call it, and you want a good nurse, go to door #3 of the cancer center at Park View North.
After getting stuck the treatment only takes about twenty minutes. They just lay you on a table feet first and they but you in a round thing that takes pictures while you are slid back and forth inside it. It's the getting stuck and being worried about what it might show that is the hard part, oh yea that other drink stuff isn't fun either.
Well I lived another day so we will see tomorrow how I did on my tests. They were never that easy for me in school I know, and I didn't study at all for this one.
Hay Grace and Ron, thanks for the call. You too Catie, Tom and Maura. Love to hear from any of you people. It's a bitch sitting on the couch.
And no Cate, I didn't spell check it tonight either. Love to all, Tom
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