AYNSLEY:
More of the same today: incremental pain reduction, incremental strength gains. Mom described today as another lazy day, which I know she needs.
Sunday, August 7, 2011
Saturday, August 6, 2011
8.6.11
AYNSLEY:
Physically, Mom is struggling. Her mobility is significantly impaired since her most recent stay at Overlake and she's frustrated by how much strength, balance and perception she's lost. When she thinks she's sitting up straight, she's actually slumped and listing to one side. She doesn't have any visual cues to go on, so it's all on feeling and that's warped. We keep trying to reassure her that it's normal, that she'll be bale to regain everything she lost and then some, but sometimes just being at the bottom of that hill, again, is too much.
The plus side is that the pain of the surgeries has diminished significantly and she's been able to eat and rest more. And, of course, that's the cornerstone to getting her strength back.
Physically, Mom is struggling. Her mobility is significantly impaired since her most recent stay at Overlake and she's frustrated by how much strength, balance and perception she's lost. When she thinks she's sitting up straight, she's actually slumped and listing to one side. She doesn't have any visual cues to go on, so it's all on feeling and that's warped. We keep trying to reassure her that it's normal, that she'll be bale to regain everything she lost and then some, but sometimes just being at the bottom of that hill, again, is too much.
The plus side is that the pain of the surgeries has diminished significantly and she's been able to eat and rest more. And, of course, that's the cornerstone to getting her strength back.
Friday, August 5, 2011
8.5.11
AYNSLEY:
Back at the Kline, Mom had another busy day. She had an assessment with her fabulous PT, and the overseeing doctor came in, too; we're hoping that Mom will be able to get a referral from the doctor from more physical therapy sessions so she can get back the strength she lost and pick up some of the momentum she'd be gaining.
Here's hoping for a restful, relaxing weekend. It's been a rough week.
Back at the Kline, Mom had another busy day. She had an assessment with her fabulous PT, and the overseeing doctor came in, too; we're hoping that Mom will be able to get a referral from the doctor from more physical therapy sessions so she can get back the strength she lost and pick up some of the momentum she'd be gaining.
Here's hoping for a restful, relaxing weekend. It's been a rough week.
Thursday, August 4, 2011
8.4.11
AYNSLEY:
Mom had a comfortable night back at the Kline and is happy to be out of the hospital. Unfortunately, staying immobilized at a 45 degree angle for four days drained a lot of her hard-won strength and balance and she was very frustrated today when she tried to walk with her walker to the bathroom. She struggled a lot. Everyone has been assuring her that the strength will come back quickly, but she's still discouraged. Understandably so-it's so hard to go backwards in anything. But she was determined to keep walking to the bathroom, so she did and truly that's why her strength will come back quickly.
Though she is back in her original room, construction hasn't stopped throughout the building and the Blue Angels were flying and will continue to do so all through the weekend. Naps will be hard to come by, but I'm sure she will take advantage of any and all opportunities.
Mom had a comfortable night back at the Kline and is happy to be out of the hospital. Unfortunately, staying immobilized at a 45 degree angle for four days drained a lot of her hard-won strength and balance and she was very frustrated today when she tried to walk with her walker to the bathroom. She struggled a lot. Everyone has been assuring her that the strength will come back quickly, but she's still discouraged. Understandably so-it's so hard to go backwards in anything. But she was determined to keep walking to the bathroom, so she did and truly that's why her strength will come back quickly.
Though she is back in her original room, construction hasn't stopped throughout the building and the Blue Angels were flying and will continue to do so all through the weekend. Naps will be hard to come by, but I'm sure she will take advantage of any and all opportunities.
Wednesday, August 3, 2011
8.3.11
AYNSLEY:
Today brought good news:
Today brought good news:
- Mom was discharged from Overlake and is en route back to the Kline
- Mom's cerebral spinal fluid was biopsied and NO traces of cancer were found. So there's no discussion at this point about re-implanting the OMaya Reservoir to continue intrathecal chemotherapy
- The Doxil shortage shouldn't really affect Mom's treatment; it should be back in supply by the time her next dose is to be administered
- Mom sounded a million times stronger on the phone tonight
- The pain of the surgery continues to subside. Mom will stay on pain medication for at least a few more days, but it will probably taper off as the pain lessens
Tuesday, August 2, 2011
8.2.11
AYNSLEY:
Today was better than yesterday. Mom slept a lot, but when she was awake, she wasn't in as much pain. Dr. L, our fantastic neurosurgeon, removed the lumbar drain this afternoon. He said that everything looked good, that less fluid was draining over time and he was very pleased with the results of the surgery. We are ALL hoping that this is the end of the seeping head wound and Mom's cerebral spinal fluid stays inside her body from now on.
My parents may stay in the ICU again this evening if there aren't adequate accommodations on the regular floor. But if there are, they are able to check out of ICU. The plan is to go back to the Kline tomorrow at some point, which they're both looking forward to. And they're hoping to be back in the original room, which is even better-it's about 20% bigger than the room they were in while construction was going on and Mom knows the layout much better.
Dr. C stopped by yesterday to deliver a bit of bizarre news: there's a Doxil (the chemotherapy drug Mom takes) shortage in the United States. We aren't sure yet what this means for Mom's treatment, but it will likely interfere in some way. My parents have an appointment set up for next Monday to discuss with him and will obviously have more information then. According to my google search, it won't be available again until late August, and then in intermittent amounts. In my mind, the good news is that Mom only takes it once a month and she just had it last week. So she's not even scheduled for treatment until end of August. But we'll see what Dr. C says-I can imagine many people nationwide are terrified by this prospect. Mom feels like we're in a better place than many others and feels fortunate for that. In classic Flynne mentality, she takes bad news and sees it in a positive light.
Today was better than yesterday. Mom slept a lot, but when she was awake, she wasn't in as much pain. Dr. L, our fantastic neurosurgeon, removed the lumbar drain this afternoon. He said that everything looked good, that less fluid was draining over time and he was very pleased with the results of the surgery. We are ALL hoping that this is the end of the seeping head wound and Mom's cerebral spinal fluid stays inside her body from now on.
My parents may stay in the ICU again this evening if there aren't adequate accommodations on the regular floor. But if there are, they are able to check out of ICU. The plan is to go back to the Kline tomorrow at some point, which they're both looking forward to. And they're hoping to be back in the original room, which is even better-it's about 20% bigger than the room they were in while construction was going on and Mom knows the layout much better.
Dr. C stopped by yesterday to deliver a bit of bizarre news: there's a Doxil (the chemotherapy drug Mom takes) shortage in the United States. We aren't sure yet what this means for Mom's treatment, but it will likely interfere in some way. My parents have an appointment set up for next Monday to discuss with him and will obviously have more information then. According to my google search, it won't be available again until late August, and then in intermittent amounts. In my mind, the good news is that Mom only takes it once a month and she just had it last week. So she's not even scheduled for treatment until end of August. But we'll see what Dr. C says-I can imagine many people nationwide are terrified by this prospect. Mom feels like we're in a better place than many others and feels fortunate for that. In classic Flynne mentality, she takes bad news and sees it in a positive light.
Monday, August 1, 2011
8.1.11
AYNSLEY:
Today, in Mom's words: sleep, wake up for a pain pill, try to eat a little something, go back to sleep, wake up to take a pain pill, then go back to sleep. Repeat.
She was able to get a lot more rest today than yesterday, but was pretty worn out from a constant stream of visitors over the weekend. We're hoping to keep visiting to a minimum while she's in the ICU so she can get the rest she needs.
Today, in Mom's words: sleep, wake up for a pain pill, try to eat a little something, go back to sleep, wake up to take a pain pill, then go back to sleep. Repeat.
She was able to get a lot more rest today than yesterday, but was pretty worn out from a constant stream of visitors over the weekend. We're hoping to keep visiting to a minimum while she's in the ICU so she can get the rest she needs.
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