In the Trenches

Hey I grew up in Montana.....we pack heat and wear plaid pants!

So now the war was really on.  As April of 1981 arrived my symptoms from the radiation and chemo continued to become more severe.  I continued to lose more and more weight and my blood counts began to worsen every time they were tested. 

Nights became eventful as I was not sleeping well and usually up multiple times with pain or digestive system problems.  We were only three months in, but the emotional toll was beginning to hit all of us and it became pretty clear, this is really going to be awful.

These next journal entries are some very rough days and nights.


4/1/81 - Vit. C started to purify urine, rectal exam per Dr. Deigert.  B&O 2000, proctofoam, increased pain in rectum and penis, codeine 15mg @ 2400, 0420 - lousy night.

4/2/81 - to school @ 1045, codeine @ 0915 x3, 1/2 B&O 1015, 2040, complained of upset stomach, tired, pain in penis, up x3 during night. 

4/3/81 - radiation cancelled - involuntary small bowel movement, incontinent (I was now losing control of my bowels, just what every 2nd grader wants) @ school, called Dr. Martin, Ditropan started (used to control urgent, frequent, or uncontrolled urination in people who have overactive bladder, a condition in which the bladder muscles have uncontrollable spasms, which I began to have).  Vitamin and Vit. c taken today, codeine x2, now constipated, up many times @ night, complained of severe pain.

4/4/81- Glycerin supp. (laxative), mineral oil 3 1/2 oz.  ( I hated taking the mineral oil, it tasted awful and I would gag the entire time I gradually sipped it, usually mixed in OJ)  constipated still, lots of pain in rectum and penis.  Dr. Kelker notified, appetite better, Vit C 7 tabs, no vitamin, didn't get dressed today - very miserable, B&O 2040, codeine, Pyridium given 2300 (relieves urinary tract pain, burning, irritation, and discomfort, as well as urgent and frequent urination caused by urinary tract infections, surgery, injury, or examination procedures). 

4/5/81 - Mineral oil, no vitamin, 4 vit. C, Ditropan, Pyridium x 2, B&O 2030, Proctofoam, ate spaghetti and cinn. roll tonight.  Codeine, up 3 times during night.  

4/6- radiation cancelled - Wt. 49.5 lbs. WBC 1.6, Hgb 10.4, HCT 30.5, Plat. 555, neutrophils 64, Anusol supp started 1900 (Anusol-HC Suppositories are a topical corticosteroid. It works by depressing the formation, release, and activity of different cells and chemicals that cause swelling, redness, and itching.) Mineral oil, no vitamin C or vitamin, phenergan 0745.  - Had great difficulty swallowing ditropan and pyridium, very upsetting to Eddie and me.  (I would be crying, complaining etc. and my mom would be fighting back tears and pleading with me to take the medicine) B&O, proctofoam 2245.

4/7 - Vitamin, Vit. C, Phenergan 1930, proctofoam, B&O supp., good day at school.

4/8 - Vit. C x9, Vitamin, Radiation restarted, B&O, Proctofoam 2000, mineral oil.

4/9 - 1/2 vitamin, B&O & proctofoam 1630 & 2130, Valium in choc. milk, increased pain in penis, penis sore skin peeling from radiation, rectum is sunburned, very poor apitite, absolutely won't or can't swallow pills, having to really push fluids today to get anything in.  

4/10 - Slept in until 1030 - no school in AM, ditropan in choc. milk, vit. c x6, Radiation @1130, Lanacort and Lanacaine started for radiation burns to penis (great they were frying my penis), and rectum, extreme fatigue, proctofoam 1550 & 1945, appetite for solid food improved this evening, B&O and proctofoam 0345-0400, Valium 5mg in milk at 0330 (used to relieve anxiety, muscle spasms, and seizures and to control agitation, I did not know they began to give me Valium).  

4/11 Sat. - air to bottom all Saturday afternoon and lanacort to radiation burns, proctofoam (used to temporarily relieve pain and itching from insect bites; poison ivy, poison oak, or poison sumac; minor cuts, scrapes, or burns; minor skin irritation or rashes; or dry, itchy skin. Pramoxine also may be used to treat soreness, burning, itching, and pain from hemorrhoids), B&O 1400, 2130,  and 0330.  Valium 5mg in milk 2200, Ditropan 1400, vit. c. 

4/12 - Vit. C x 10, Ditropan 1240, went to Star Wars Empire Strikes Back, bath and ate good supper, B&O, proctofoam 2000, slept all night! (phew...finally)