Wednesday, June 8, 2011

You never know

Monday was a long treatment day. First to radiation and then to chemo treatment. As always, mom carries around a little fanny pack that administers chemo therapy treatment directly into her pic line. Every Monday she goes in to have it refilled. Every other Monday (and this last Monday was one of those) she gets a 4 hour infusion of a different type of chemo therapy. This one really wears on her. Monday, she was tired, but seemed OK. Tuesday morning she was a little tired, but not doing too bad. By afternoon she wasn't feeling well and Wednesday, she was just sick most of the day. Of course, it doesn't help that her sleep patterns are off. Either she doesn't sleep at all, or she sleeps really well for a couple of hours and then wakes up and can't go back to sleep, Her pain levels go up and down and since we're nearing the end of her treatment, the radiation is really taking it's toll. Even though heating pads help with discomfort in her lower back, the radiation has made adding heat to that area really uncomfortable. So, she just has to endure it. Of course, taking medication can help, but as in all medications, there are undesirable side effects. So, she has to chose which is worse, the discomfort or the side effect.
The good news is, her radiation doc said she can stop her radiation at 29 treatments instead of 30. That means she will end on Friday the 17th instead of Monday the 20th. Even though it's really only on treatment day, it means treatment ends 3 days early! She's really ready to have this over. It's just so hard to make plans if you never know how you're going to feel from one day to the next. Of course, as always, she's a trooper and willing to do what ever it takes to make herself well.

3 comments:

G said...

Thank you for your update news about Elder and Sister Hemenway!!
Buy the way; this is Ji, who was a secretary for religion department when Elder Hemenway was teaching at BYU-H. Please give my regards to them!!
Have a nice day.

YoungMin Ji

Unknown said...

Aloha Sister Hemenway,

We want to send our love from Hawaii and tell you (and your husband) that we wish you the best. Take care and may the Lord continue to bless you with comfort through this ordeal. We consider ourselves blessed because we have met the both of you and will continue to pray in your behalf.

Ofa Atu',
Victor, Nika, Lia, and Ace Kaufusi

MomKaanga said...

God bless our Karen and Arvel . . you are so loved and missed here