Mr. Toad's Wild Ride!

The Untouchables - 1987 Movie Quote

"You wanna know how you do it? Here's how, they pull a knife, you pull a gun. He sends one of yours to the hospital, you send one of his to the morgue. That's the Chicago way, and that's how you get Capone! Now do you want to do that? Are you ready to do that?"

This is what Rene must do mentally to beat her lymphoma!

Side Effects

While her body is responding positively to her treatment, she is beginning to experience some of the know impacts of chemotherapy. So far I noticed to the following:

• Anxiety/mood swings (she is aware that is is occurring so I am not too concerned)
• Fatigue - she is getting blood transfusions today because she is anemic
• Fluid retention in her legs and ankles - they will cut back on the fluids they are giving her
  
• Discomfort in her jaws - they will monitor this
  
• Urinary discomfort/infection - antibiotics and flushing of her catheter fixed this
  

Positive Signs

• Appetite is still strong, she has rediscovered her love for chocolate ice cream!
• Walking around, this morning she was a little speed demon, yesterday she was a slow turtle
• Zinging her husband, she is feeling ok in all of this!
• Acknowledging that her overnight nursing assistant Jack is a hotty
• When she was walking yesterday, she heard one of her favorite singer/songwriters on a nurse's radio and sang along to the song playing
  

Pending Chemo

• She is supposed to have the treatment in her spine today, this will be brutal on her physically and mentally

Post Spine Chemo Update

• She did more walks today before her treatment and she is getting further up the hallyways
  
• She got through her spinal chemo treatment without incident
• She stated that the fluid they removed for the treatment was clear and this was a good sign
• It may mean that is not in any danger for the lymphoma spreading, we will ask her oncologist about this in the morning
  
• As of 4:36PM, she has to lay flat for four hours, this will be fun to observe and it will protect her from getting headaches
• The good thing about this treatment, she has already had this chemo in her system so it is not new and she got another M*A*S*H team!
• She had a bit of a panic attack due while laying on her back as well being dizzy and nauseous; medicines to the rescue again
• Her catheter has been giving her some fits today so it is time for install a new one...what fun!
• She is passing a lot of sediments so that means that her body is purging what the chemo is breaking down
• I never thought I would enjoy looking at a bag or urine!
  
• She is very fortunate to be in a facility with great nurses that always check on her condition, their care is helping her get through this
• She broke into songs today while being treated and taking visitors; again, a good sign