Thursday, February 17, 2011

Highs and Lows...

Here comes trouble......15 months old, summer '74. 

Now we were nearing the end of April and enough time had elapsed to allow for positive results.  There was no question the radiation had reduced the tumors significantly.  Coupled with the chemotherapy, hope was increasing that this battle would end with a victory for life.  The 22 lung tumors were not visible now and the softball sized prostate tumor was disappearing.  It was time to take a look inside and I had a cystoscopy to examine my prostate.  Good news would come from the procedure.  The problem was the side effects were still terrible and I continued to lose weight.  Four months earlier I was riddled with cancer, but looked and felt healthy.  Now the cancer was taking a beating, but I looked like the walking dead.

4/21/81 - called Dr. Kelker to update symptoms.  Urine culture.  Klebsiella found. (Klebsiellae are nonmotile, rod-shaped, gram-negative bacteria with a prominent polysaccharide capsule. This capsule encases the entire cell surface, accounts for the large appearance of the organism on gram stain, and provides resistance against many host defense mechanisms.)  Started on Ceclor (used to treat certain infections caused by bacteria, such as pneumonia and infections of the ears, lungs, throat, urinary tract, and skin.)  Pyridium, macrodantin, mineral oil 1 1/2 oz. Abdomen distended, bath given.  Up during the night. Mineral oil repeated 1 1/2 oz. @ 0120.  Constipated.  

4/22/81 - Complained of stomach hurting.  Now diarrhea started early AM.  @ Dr. Martin's office @ 0945.  Vomited large amount, followed by dry heaves, and then more diarrhea.  Admitted to peds @ Deaconess at 1300.  Voiding cystogram in x-ray.  (A cystogram is an x-ray examination of the urinary bladder. Toward the end of the examination, when the urinary catheter is removed, you will be asked to urinate into a special urinal. Radiographs will be taken while you urinate. These images will show the size and shape of the bladder when it is under stress caused by urination)  complained of being hot.  Morphine for pain.  Wt. now 46 1/4 lbs. (In January I started this at 63 lbs.)  

4/23/81 - Dr. Coon gave Eddie anesthesia.  Cystoscopy per Dr. Martin. No tumor visible, prostate looked normal, bladder very inflamed, super pubic cath removed.  Eddie very happy coming out of recovery knowing tube is out. (It was very weird to see a tube coming out of my body below my belly button.  I would pick at it, which was not a good idea if I wanted to avoid infection.  It was great to get out.  I have a scar that looks like a cross where the tube was)  Lots of bladder spasms.  More pain meds.  

4/24/81 - tries to urinate every 20 minutes.  

4/25/81 - up to bathroom instead of using bed pan.  Bladder spasms continue.  Slept approx 2 hr. at a time then up to bathroom.  

4/26/81 - Uncle Tim and Aunt Barb here to visit and go to fund raising breakfast.  Tim (my mom's youngest brother of her 5 brothers) gave Eddie $100.  Tim and Uncle Jim (another brother) gave $100 from "the Shop" ( My family has owned Regan Plumbing and Heating in Miles City, MT since the early 1900's.  Started by my great grandfather, then to his sons, and now to my uncles.)  IV pain med. stopped.  Increased pain by 1800, poor night, lots of spasms.  Ate 3 oranges.  Cried when Tim left for Miles City.  Blood work done.  WBC 2300

4/27/81 - Chemo restarted. Vistaril 15mg IV for rest and to prevent vomiting.  Slept soundly1800-2100. vomited 2300 large amount.  Vistaril repeated and IV restarted.  1/2 dose of vincristine, 2/3 dose of dactinomycin, no cytoxin do to risk of increased cystitis (urinary bladder inflammation).  Chlorambucil given instead (different type of chemo drug).

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