2/3 of Chemo Done

Last night I got my fourth dose of the ARA-C, infused from 11p-1am. So today is a rest day. Hopefully they will unhook me from my IV pole and the fluids they are giving me (just sugar water with some salt in it). Then I will be free to roam, wander, walk around and go back down to campus or the gardens. Becky and I did that 2 days ago and it was good to get out and strectch my legs in the afternoon after being cooped up in this small hospital room. The days that i get the chemo I don't notice quite as much since the ativan med they give for nausea makes me nap for several hours each time. Today I should just have my regular stuff-nothing to make me extra special drowsy.

I've been up for about an hour and a half now. Just waiting for Holly to pop in for her morning visit before work. I wanted to be up and at em before she got here for a change. They wake me up so much in the night it's been hard to get up early and beat her visit. But I did it today. I've already been down to the treadmill, which they fixed from yesterday. I did 2 miles at a 3.5 mph pace with the incline set at 8%. That got me sweating and breathing so I am happy. I am also trying to keep up with my push up regimen while I'm in here. Last time I was too weak to do them and after starting back 6 weeks later I could only do 5. I am hopeful I can keep building back up to my 50 per day and maintain even when my counts drop, and I feel weaker.

The nausea and stomach symptoms have been pretty good this time. I have little twinges here and there but nothing major like last time. Maybe I'll even be able to eat enough to gain wt, although the food here is pretty awful, very samey. Those treats from home are the highlight of my day.

Day 3 for Chemo

Holly stopped by this morning on her way into work and found me fast asleep at 7:30am. Last night, my nurse woke me up at 1am to take vital signs, 4 am to get my weight, labs, and more vitals, then 6am to restart my IV fluids that were on hold from yesterday. I sleep great between the wake ups, but dang, they wake you up alot.

Since I got up, I've done my 45 mins of exercise. I tried to do the treadmill again today, but the thing needs servicing. Some error message about Lubing the Belt. So I did the other aerobic machine they have in the small gym room, a recumbent cross trainer sort of like a sit down stepper. It moved my arms and legs so that was good. I am trying to spend more time moving around and just being upright and out of the bed (whether sitting or lying) that I did last time. So far it seems easily doable. Maybe getting this stuff every other day is truly less of a drag on the system. My stomach felt pretty queasy and bad last night, but it seems better this morning. I'm now having my Carnation instant breakfast, and I just finished some fruit.

My next dose will start at 11am, and they will come to give the pre-meds at 10:30am. So not much time now before the next treatment. I am sure there will be some cumulative effects and effects next week as well, but right now I am doing okay. My counts haven't dropped much yet so I am not having that flu feeling yet with all the fever and chills and body aches. Thank God!

Bear with me-another picture from the beach. The sound side again.

2 Doses Down, 1/3 done

They gave me my second dose of cytarabine yesterday at 11p-1am. The doses are supposed to be 12 hours apart, but they bent the rules a bit to get me on the regular 11a and 11p schedule. I did have them pre-medicate me with the ativan again as well as the other two medicines. It helped because I slept and didn't experience nausea during the night. Right now I am a little queasy but not bad.

I've already had a Carnation instant breakfast drink and some raisin bran for breakfast. Also, Sandi and Amy stopped by bringing me a cache of Dunkin Donut holes. I'll eat some and share the rest with my excellent, friendly nursing staff.

I don't have chemo today; it's a rest day. I am focusing on eating and drinking alot in case or if I get sicker later. I've done my 2 miles on the treadmill which I prefer to tackle in the morning while I still have energy. They said that I could leave the floor/this unit since my counts are good. Maybe I'll get downstairs to walk around a bit and enjoy the gardens or the outside. It is supposed to be hot today but cooling off the next few days, I understand.

Thought I'd include another picture from the Carolinas beach trip courtesy of Debra and Sherry. Thanks again you two for the mini-vacation.

1st Dose of Chemo down

Just wanted to report that they did finally get my chemo started about 12:30p. It ran for 2 hours and so far I feel okay. I took them up on their offer for some IV ativan to cut down on the nausea (and to sleep through it). I did sleep in that groggy, chemically way for about 3 hours this afternoon. Woke up to see Holly walking in with 3 Locopops we shared (cookies and cream, bananna cream, and mexican chocolate).

This chemo med (Ara-c or cytarabine) can be toxic to the brain at these high doses so they do what they call neuro checks to make sure I am not getting goofy. I know that I am already goofy and that chemo affects my thinking (and so do plenty of you who sent me emails or e-photos that I couldn't remember getting the last time I was here); this time probably won't be different. Anyway, they do a number of tests before and after the 2 hr infusion to make sure that they aren't hurting my brain. They make me sign my name, touch my finger from my nose to their finger, walk in a straight heel to toe, balance on 1 foot, balanace standing up with my hands out flat and my eyes closed, etc. It's a little like the tricks a state trooper might use to see if you've had too much to drink. So far I've passed but I bet it can get a little dicey on those 5th or 6th doses. I'll report back for sure. And if I fail to return any emails or seem out of it, you'll know I have a good excuse.

In the Hospital Now

My sister Becky drove me to Duke this morning, and we swiftly moved through the admitting process about 8am. We headed up to my new room, #9210, and got situated unpacking my clothes for the next 5 days. So far I've had my ht, wt, blood pressure, and temperature measured. My nurse, who is very new to this unit, has hooked me up to some IV fluids, but I am still waiting on the chemo to arrive from the hospital pharmacy. One can never be in a hurry at the hospital. Everything happens on hospital time. If I start this dose at 1pm then the next dose will be at 1am. Ouch! They are going to pre-medicate me with 2 different drugs prior to the chemo to prevent as much nausea as possible. This time my same Nurse Practitioner Student, Brian, advised that I allow them to medicate me with Ativan to ward off the nausea and stay a little sleepy during the 5 days. I'll try that once things get going and see if that improves the symptoms.

Becky just came back yesterday morning from Asheville where she had spent the w-e with my mom and step father. They all stayed at our Asheville house, doing all the fun Asheville things we like to do. They went around the corner to our favorite Pizza and Brew place, shopped for pottery and other handmade crafts down at Biltmore Village, and even had dinner Sunday night at our favorite Inn. I had asked Becky to pick me up some of the special soap they sell at the Sourwood Inn because it reminds of so many good times that Holly and I have had there (you know that old Remembrance of things Past...). To my great surprise, Susan Curtis who is the owner, innkeeper, and just the nicest person you could ever meet, gave Becky 2 soaps to bring to me as a gift. She also sent many well wishes as I take chemo again.

Holly and I went to the Sourwood Inn for dinner our last Sunday in Asheville. They are a B and B but also do terrific dinners on Thursday through Sunday nights. Kacia, the chef, does magic with food. The setting is incredible, just up the mtn from Asheville and off the Blue Ridge Parkway. They have the best view down the mtn and into the valley below. The Inn itself has many big stone fireplaces and is decorated in the Arts and Crafts style. Every room has a sweeping view down the mtn both from the bedroom and the soaker tub in the bath. And they stock the rooms with this great smelling soap, as I said. Holly and I try to go there for dinner once each month or two and stay at the Inn several times a year. Our last visit that Sunday when we went for dinner, Susan let us stay at the Inn for free since she knew that I would be starting treatment soon. It was an incredibly gracious gift and one we appreciated very much. They have been very, very good to us over the years.

If you are looking for a place to stay in Asheville or just a short 15 mins up the mtn, consider the Sourwood Inn. Susan Curtis and Kacia will take good care of you, and you'll feel like you're staying at a real retreat. This photo is Holly sitting on the covered deck in the back of the Inn as we wait for our dinner time. We usually go up early to have a glass of wine and enjoy the view or sunset.

Carolina Beach Courtesy of Friends

Holly and I had the opportunity to stay at Debra and Sherry's new condo on the spit at Carolina Beach. They had offered some time ago, but we weren't sure when or if we'd have the chance to take them up on their offer. This week they are all gone to the mtns outside of Boone with Debra's family, and we took them up on their offer.

Friday night we headed down to the beach, which is just outside of Wilmington, arriving just as the sun was going down. We managed to find a local pizza joint for dinner after we got all of the bags settled from the car to the condo. Their condo is pretty amazing. It sits right on the spit with a view of the ocean out the back and the soundside or marina out the front. Both sides have decks, but we really liked the top deck on the front on the house where we could see the sound, more birds, and all the slow moving boats. Their condo is quite large with essentially 2 master suites, one on the first floor with the other 2 bedrooms and one on the second floor with the main living room-dining room-kitchen combination. We stayed on the second story since the views were so spectacular out the gigantic living room windows that faced all sides of the sound.

Saturday we walked down to try the famous donuts from Britt's, which has been at the boardwalk since 1939. It was pretty warm and muggy Saturday so we didn't do any formal exercise except our 2 mile walk to see downtown. We headed for the beach in the morning and then did a tour of Fort Fisher in the afternoon. It was blazes hot by then but with a nice cool breeze. Neat to see all the bunkers that were supposed to protect the confederate troops in 1864 from the Union army that was trying to capture the Cape Fear River and shut off the port of Wilmington (they succeeded eventually). We also visited the Aquarium there at Fort Fisher even though there was only an hour until it closed for the day.

In the early evening, we sat on the deck of the condo overlooking the sound for a bit before heading to downtown Wilmington for dinner. There were plenty of other people doing the same thing, as well as walking ghost tours and just general bar hopping. I guess Wilmington has become more of a destination than it used to be; it sure is busy at 10pm in the nightlife district.

Sunday we walked again first thing then headed back to the beach to soak in the rays and surf. Sunday the air was much cooler and far less humid than Saturday. It was really nice. The water felt great. Cool at first but then so comfortable. And there were far fewer people on the beach with us. A great day to be there.

We have been very blessed the last two w-e's with trips to the beach courtesy of our generous friends. I know that we'll be able to carry that feeling and fun into this next week in the hospital. I really do appreciate the generosity of our pals who have shared their places and friendship in such wonderful ways. Thank you all.

Photo is the sound area where the ferry takes off from Fort Fisher headed for Southport.

Friday

We got a nice peaceful rain here at the house last night so the air is cool and clear this morning. I had a good run though it is still difficult. I am happy just to able to run and be outside though. I feel sure that next week when I am in the hospital that I will be wishing I could be struggling with a run through the neighborhood. Quigley will be missing me too because I like to take her for a spin around the loop here in our subdivision so she can get out a little too.

I'm going to pick up my sister from the airport early this afternoon. Then she is driving to Asheville to be with my Mom and her husband just for the w-e. They are taking a mini-vacation to the mtns from their home in Charleston. I've already gotten a phone call from my mom that her old car has broken down (it's done that 3x recently), and they hadn't even made it out of town yet. I guess they will have to take the truck and haul Dixie their chocolate lab in the cab or back of the vehicle. Hope they make it there okay. It'll be good for me to have Becky here next week-someone to visit me in the hospital and take my mind off things.

Everyone have a good w-e. I'll write more on Monday. Maybe I'll know the hospital schedule by then.