One Tube Out, Another Tube In

My brother Tim's 5th birthday, October 1981. 

Sorry for the delay in blog updates.  I was hoping to keep the breaks short, but life got in the way of that. So back to the shit sandwich we are plowing through.....

With May about to begin, I was nearing my 8th birthday on the 22nd.  My super pubic cath was now out.  Radiation was complete and my skin was healing.  The tumors were not visible any longer under x-ray and it seemed we had passed the first test and turned the corner. 

One of the problems that kept occurring were terrible bladder spasms.  I don't remember actual spasms, but just a lot of pain all the time.  They became so severe that I had to be catheterized again.  With the super pubic cath out though, it meant the catheter was inserted the wrong way down a one way street and into my bladder.  I remember every time I was catheterized pretty clearly.  Absolutely awful.

4/28/81 - Chlorambucil (chemo drug), Actinomycin (antibiotic), Ditropan, pyridium, Furadantin (used to treat urinary tract infections).

4/29/81 - Excellent day - no bladder spasms!  Eddie said it "felt like normal to pee". Ditropan, Pyridium.  Slept good.  Both of us very encouraged, urinated 150cc-175cc.

Days like April 29th would pop up from time to time where everything just went well.  Sadly it would usually be followed by day like April 30th.

4/30/81 - Actinomycin AM, gradually through late morning and early afternoon more freq. voiding and more straining, just drops of urine instead of stream.  4x4 bandage over hole where super pubic cath was with increased drainage, saturated 3 dressings in only a few hrs. Increased pain, bladder spasms - almost continual.  Eddie screaming & in severe pain.  Thorazine 15mg.  Dr. Martin inserted #12 foley cath thru penis.  Eddie very frightened - real set back.  Dr. thinks spasms caused actinomycin increasing radiation affects in bladder.  Dr. had some difficulty inserting cath.  Eddie complained of numbness in L leg. 

5/1/81 - Home from Deaconess Hospital to see Dr. Martin at 0930.  grandma and papa left today, Eddie cried.  Chemotherapy cancelled today due to side effects! 2300 B&O, Valium 5, codeine in milk.  Slept all night. 

5/2/81 - now very constipated, severe rectal pain, 1/2 oz. mineral oil. Complained of tingling and numbness in L leg. B&O, Valium.  B&O, Valium. 

5/3/81 - Ditropan for bladder spasms, urine leaked out around the cath.  B&O @ 2000. 

Next stop Seattle to watch the Yankees/Mariners game....