Tuesday, March 29, 2011
March 29, 2011
Things continue to be about the same with Duane. He sleeps a lot and is getting weaker. He has two more radiation treatments. He has been resting pretty well at night. It seems around bedtime he gets a little burst of energy and feels pretty good for a little while. They are managing his pain pretty well and is on pain killers around the clock and seems to be comfortable. The hiccups are being controlled now with medication.
Friday, March 25, 2011
March 25, 2011
Pops had a rough morning yesterday. He is just so weak and tired. He has had the hiccups for the past several days and they are starting to become very painful. He perked up a little in the afternoon and evening. The night last night was not one of the better ones he has had. The hiccups are causing him so much discomfort. During the night the nurse called and got his pain medication increased and also got some Thorazine ordered to hopefully help with the hiccups. He didn't rest well at all and when I left this morning was still sleeping and wasn't interested in getting up for breakfast.
We did finally get the pathology report yesterday. He has metastasizing melanoma. It really doesn't change the prognosis much. We are just taking a day at a time.
Wanda had a follow up with Dr. Woodruff and he was pleased with her progress.
We did finally get the pathology report yesterday. He has metastasizing melanoma. It really doesn't change the prognosis much. We are just taking a day at a time.
Wanda had a follow up with Dr. Woodruff and he was pleased with her progress.
Thursday, March 24, 2011
March 24, 2011
Yesterday was a pretty routine day for Pops. Had OT, PT and radiation in the morning. It wears him out. He rested for most of the afternoon and evening. His iv started leaking during supper so they took it out. After talking with the nurses they decided to leave it out and try Pops on oral pain meds instead of the morphine he was getting by iv. The pain meds seemed to work pretty well and he rested good last night.
Wednesday, March 23, 2011
Hal and Pops getting their scruff on. Pops is letting his beard grow while he is in the hospital so Hal joined him and is growin one too.
Wanda paying Duane a visit while they were both in the hospital.
Melyssa and Pops watching the live feed of Trents baseball game.
Hal and Pops during one of their nightly visits.Wednesday, March 23
Pops had a busy day again on Tuesday. His morning was full with physical therapy, radiation and occupational therapy. The physical therapist comes back for a second session in the afternoons. Pops is doing well walking with his walker. He looks forward to his walks each day even though they wear him out.
Pops had a fairly good night last night. The nurse was later getting his meds to him than usual but he settled down and went to sleep by about 11:30. Had a small issue about 2:00 but got it taken care of by our favorite tech Jonathan and back to sleep shortly after that. It was one of those nights that they seemed to come in the room about every hour. All in all it wasn't a bad night.
Hopefully today we will get more information on a diagnosis and get a plan in place.
Pops had a fairly good night last night. The nurse was later getting his meds to him than usual but he settled down and went to sleep by about 11:30. Had a small issue about 2:00 but got it taken care of by our favorite tech Jonathan and back to sleep shortly after that. It was one of those nights that they seemed to come in the room about every hour. All in all it wasn't a bad night.
Hopefully today we will get more information on a diagnosis and get a plan in place.
Tuesday, March 22, 2011
Keeping up with Pops
I am going to use this site to let friends and family know how Duane is progressing. The past two weeks almost feel like something out of a movie. Everything has happened so quick. I am going to give a summary of the last two weeks so we can keep up with everything that has happened.
Pops called Melyssa on Monday, March 7 and told he thought he may have had a mini stroke because his left leg was not working right. He seemed to drag it when he walked. Melyssa called Dr. Fonticiella's and explained his problems. They called Duane and told him to come in that day to let them check him over. Hal went with him to the Dr. and Dr. F said he thought it was probably a pinched nerve but wanted to do some tests to make sure. He scheduled a MRI of his back and of his head. They did the MRI of his head on Wednesday and the office called and asked him to come in on Wednesday afternoon and to bring Hal if possible. Wanda, Duane, Hal and I went to the office, and Dr. F told us that there was a tumor in his brain. He wanted to admit Duane to the hospital in Paragould to get started running tests while we decided where Duane wanted to go for treatment. He checked into the hospital at Paragould on Wednesday afternoon and they ran some tests on Thursday and then transferred him to St. Bernards in Jonesboro. Once we got to Jonesboro they ran some more tests. They did a CT scan on Friday and told us on Saturday that they found multiple lesions on his lungs and spleen. On Monday, they did a biopsy of one of the lesions on his lung.
Tuesday morning Wanda was getting ready to come to Jonesboro and began having chest pains. Jerry and Betty went to her house and called Hal. He came and called the ambulance and she was transported to Jonesboro. When she arrived at St. Bernards she was in the midst of having a heart attack. She was taken to the cath lab immediately and they found the blockage at the back of her heart and placed two stents in to open it. She was in ICU for the night and moved to the floor the next day. She was able to go home on Thursday afternoon and has done well since. She is weak and tired but has continued to visit Duane in the hospital.
We are still awaiting the final results of the CT scan and of the biopsy. Duane is going to have ten radiation treatments on the mass in his brain. His first treatment was Thursday (3/17) and he will have them everyday (Monday - Friday) until finished. He has tolerated the treatments ok but they are causing major fatigue and weakness.
Most days are pretty much the same with radiation, phyiscal therapy and occupational therapy filling up most of his time. He has been resting pretty well at night and catches naps during the day when he can. He has faced this battle with grace and dignity.
Pops called Melyssa on Monday, March 7 and told he thought he may have had a mini stroke because his left leg was not working right. He seemed to drag it when he walked. Melyssa called Dr. Fonticiella's and explained his problems. They called Duane and told him to come in that day to let them check him over. Hal went with him to the Dr. and Dr. F said he thought it was probably a pinched nerve but wanted to do some tests to make sure. He scheduled a MRI of his back and of his head. They did the MRI of his head on Wednesday and the office called and asked him to come in on Wednesday afternoon and to bring Hal if possible. Wanda, Duane, Hal and I went to the office, and Dr. F told us that there was a tumor in his brain. He wanted to admit Duane to the hospital in Paragould to get started running tests while we decided where Duane wanted to go for treatment. He checked into the hospital at Paragould on Wednesday afternoon and they ran some tests on Thursday and then transferred him to St. Bernards in Jonesboro. Once we got to Jonesboro they ran some more tests. They did a CT scan on Friday and told us on Saturday that they found multiple lesions on his lungs and spleen. On Monday, they did a biopsy of one of the lesions on his lung.
Tuesday morning Wanda was getting ready to come to Jonesboro and began having chest pains. Jerry and Betty went to her house and called Hal. He came and called the ambulance and she was transported to Jonesboro. When she arrived at St. Bernards she was in the midst of having a heart attack. She was taken to the cath lab immediately and they found the blockage at the back of her heart and placed two stents in to open it. She was in ICU for the night and moved to the floor the next day. She was able to go home on Thursday afternoon and has done well since. She is weak and tired but has continued to visit Duane in the hospital.
We are still awaiting the final results of the CT scan and of the biopsy. Duane is going to have ten radiation treatments on the mass in his brain. His first treatment was Thursday (3/17) and he will have them everyday (Monday - Friday) until finished. He has tolerated the treatments ok but they are causing major fatigue and weakness.
Most days are pretty much the same with radiation, phyiscal therapy and occupational therapy filling up most of his time. He has been resting pretty well at night and catches naps during the day when he can. He has faced this battle with grace and dignity.
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