Wednesday, March 12, 2014
Hello, After almost a month at Tufts Medical Center, George has been transferred to Spaulding Hospital in Cambridge. For some reason, he cannot sustain a good blood pressure. He is now doing better with the help of IV medications and oral meds as well. He is feeling much better and looking well. His goal now is to get some muscle and strength back. He will then have more chemo to finish off those amyloid cells. Still not sure how the blood pressure issue will play out. He is committed to continue the fight. Thanks for checking in and for all the well wishes. j
Checking In On George
Wednesday, March 12, 2014
Tuesday, March 4, 2014
Tuesday, March 4, 2014
Hi, Sorry I have not been keeping up. George has been in the hospital at Tufts Medical Center for over three weeks. He was home for two days, but had to go back.
His issues are complex due to the effects of the disease on his organs and nervous system. Lots of docs are weighing in. Everyday we hope they will find the answer to his low blood pressure. He has to stay in bed 24/7 until they figure it out. He rests a lot; meds keep him sleepy. He is a patient man.
We don't know if he will have more chemo or when/if he can go to a rehab hospital to gain his strength back. More tests every day. Keep him in your prayers. j
Hi, Sorry I have not been keeping up. George has been in the hospital at Tufts Medical Center for over three weeks. He was home for two days, but had to go back.
His issues are complex due to the effects of the disease on his organs and nervous system. Lots of docs are weighing in. Everyday we hope they will find the answer to his low blood pressure. He has to stay in bed 24/7 until they figure it out. He rests a lot; meds keep him sleepy. He is a patient man.
We don't know if he will have more chemo or when/if he can go to a rehab hospital to gain his strength back. More tests every day. Keep him in your prayers. j
Sunday, January 26, 2014
January 26, 2014
Hello, Thanks for checking in. I'm thrilled to say that George is doing better. He had to delay his second round of chemo due to a hospitalization for exhaustion and dehydration. He started again last Friday. He seems to be holding his fluids, having gone eight days without IV fluids at this time. That is a record !!! It's usually three days and back to the Infusion Center for four hours of stuff to buff him up for a few days.
He is feeling mentally and physically stronger and eating well. Chemo will continue for three more sessions and then a week off; and on again for two weeks. After that, we'll see how things look and start another type of chemo for a while. Dr. is very optimistic. Kidneys will always be an issue; but for now, we are happy to be progressing in a positive way. Thanks for the prayers, positive vibe, and emotional support; and to Jim, especially, for all you've done to give us peace of mind.j
Hello, Thanks for checking in. I'm thrilled to say that George is doing better. He had to delay his second round of chemo due to a hospitalization for exhaustion and dehydration. He started again last Friday. He seems to be holding his fluids, having gone eight days without IV fluids at this time. That is a record !!! It's usually three days and back to the Infusion Center for four hours of stuff to buff him up for a few days.
He is feeling mentally and physically stronger and eating well. Chemo will continue for three more sessions and then a week off; and on again for two weeks. After that, we'll see how things look and start another type of chemo for a while. Dr. is very optimistic. Kidneys will always be an issue; but for now, we are happy to be progressing in a positive way. Thanks for the prayers, positive vibe, and emotional support; and to Jim, especially, for all you've done to give us peace of mind.j
Tuesday, January 14, 2014
January 14, 2014
Hello,
Sorry I haven't kept this blog up to date. George has kept me busy. He did start chemo several weeks ago. He was hospitalized last week for a few days for a port to be placed so he can get IV easier.
He is having problems with his blood pressure so they kept him for a few days.
Unfortunately, he was only home for a day when we went back for next round of chemo, but he was having difficulty breathing, etc. After a day in the infusion center yesterday, he was admitted again. No chemo.
The good news is he had good results from his first round of chemo. Now we just have to figure out his cardiac issues and get him stable enough to do more chemo. Can't say how rough this has been on George; hoping the outcome will be worth the ordeal he is experiencing. Send good thoughts.
thanks for checking in.j
Hello,
Sorry I haven't kept this blog up to date. George has kept me busy. He did start chemo several weeks ago. He was hospitalized last week for a few days for a port to be placed so he can get IV easier.
He is having problems with his blood pressure so they kept him for a few days.
Unfortunately, he was only home for a day when we went back for next round of chemo, but he was having difficulty breathing, etc. After a day in the infusion center yesterday, he was admitted again. No chemo.
The good news is he had good results from his first round of chemo. Now we just have to figure out his cardiac issues and get him stable enough to do more chemo. Can't say how rough this has been on George; hoping the outcome will be worth the ordeal he is experiencing. Send good thoughts.
thanks for checking in.j
Tuesday, December 24, 2013
December 24, 2013
Merry Christmas to all.
We had a surprise yesterday when we went to the doctors. George was started on chemo three weeks earlier than planned. His doctor does not want him to continue to slide as he has been doing. The chemo usually has a positive affect right away.
This should help the kidneys start acting properly and help George to remain stable.
As of this a.m., he is fine. No ill effects from the chemo at this point. He has three twenty-one day cycles of one type of treatment and then another five or six weeks of something else. Too much detail to grasp on one day for us. Happy Holidays. j
Merry Christmas to all.
We had a surprise yesterday when we went to the doctors. George was started on chemo three weeks earlier than planned. His doctor does not want him to continue to slide as he has been doing. The chemo usually has a positive affect right away.
This should help the kidneys start acting properly and help George to remain stable.
As of this a.m., he is fine. No ill effects from the chemo at this point. He has three twenty-one day cycles of one type of treatment and then another five or six weeks of something else. Too much detail to grasp on one day for us. Happy Holidays. j
Thursday, December 19, 2013
December 19, 2013
Hi, George is home from the hospital. He is much better. His stem cell transplant is actually going well. His light chains and amyloids are going down and his blood counts are good.
The problem (this week) is that his kidneys still pee out all the good stuff and his systems are not supported, thus, the crashing. This Monday when I got him to the hospital, his oxygen saturation was down to 69% vs 100%, and his heart was racing, and blood pressure plummeting. Let's just say, everyone was excited to see him !!!
The new plan is for George to see the doctor several times per week and have blood tests to determine is he needs fluids, albumin, or blood. This way he won't take a long slide before we catch him. This should keep him feeling much better and allow him to get some energy back and get stronger for chemo in January. His kidneys will actually start to work better over time as the chemo knocks out the remaining amyloids, but it will be a good year until he feels like a strong man again.
He is good today; more himself....giving me orders...obsessing on the small stuff, and controlling as much as he can. Thanks for checking in. This is quite a journey, and he has endured so much. It really helps us to know you are out there and sending up prayers and good thoughts.
We are rolling right in to Christmas....enjoy it. j
Hi, George is home from the hospital. He is much better. His stem cell transplant is actually going well. His light chains and amyloids are going down and his blood counts are good.
The problem (this week) is that his kidneys still pee out all the good stuff and his systems are not supported, thus, the crashing. This Monday when I got him to the hospital, his oxygen saturation was down to 69% vs 100%, and his heart was racing, and blood pressure plummeting. Let's just say, everyone was excited to see him !!!
The new plan is for George to see the doctor several times per week and have blood tests to determine is he needs fluids, albumin, or blood. This way he won't take a long slide before we catch him. This should keep him feeling much better and allow him to get some energy back and get stronger for chemo in January. His kidneys will actually start to work better over time as the chemo knocks out the remaining amyloids, but it will be a good year until he feels like a strong man again.
He is good today; more himself....giving me orders...obsessing on the small stuff, and controlling as much as he can. Thanks for checking in. This is quite a journey, and he has endured so much. It really helps us to know you are out there and sending up prayers and good thoughts.
We are rolling right in to Christmas....enjoy it. j
Tuesday, December 17, 2013
Dec. 17, 2013
Hi, Sorry to report that George is back in the hospital. We had a good run of about 16 days, but he started to go down hill this weekend.
It appears that his kidney function is a little worse and because he doesn't make enough albumin, his blood volume gets low, causing all kinds of problems.
They will give him albumin and then probably a blood transfusion and hope to get things back in balance. Doctors say this will be the dance until his light chains (the disease) go away and the kidneys start to recover. Hopefully this does not alter the plan to start chemo on Jan. 7.
Happy Holidays.j
Hi, Sorry to report that George is back in the hospital. We had a good run of about 16 days, but he started to go down hill this weekend.
It appears that his kidney function is a little worse and because he doesn't make enough albumin, his blood volume gets low, causing all kinds of problems.
They will give him albumin and then probably a blood transfusion and hope to get things back in balance. Doctors say this will be the dance until his light chains (the disease) go away and the kidneys start to recover. Hopefully this does not alter the plan to start chemo on Jan. 7.
Happy Holidays.j
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