The C Word – A New Battle Day 4 - A Frustrated Patient

Last night and today was not only a challenge for me but for George.  He knows what he is putting me through and that frustrates him.  Not being able to find a comfortable position to sit or lay down frustrates him.  Not being able to eat even very minute swigs of water or ice without getting nauseous frustrates him. So, today was a frustrating day all around.

After the horrendous night last night and just not finding peace for more than short periods of time, we sent a note to the doctor.  He, in turn, ordered up some extra IV fluids and some additional anti-nausea medications.  The first was administered this morning (Reglan) and did not produce much effect to start with.  Then, via IV, he got a healthy dose of the Zofran.  Also got the instructions that he should not take much liquid orally until things settle down.

It is 7PM and while the nausea is not entirely controlled (and I should add that this entire time it is dry heaves because there is not real food going into the belly), the bouts last just 20 or 30 seconds and then he is done.  And, it is longer in between these spells. 

Since this afternoon at about 2:30 he has been doing a lot of really good sleeping.  I even had the chance for an hour nap today as it was pretty quiet on the floor and we did not have many visitors dropping by.  This evening our friends, Keith and Bonnie, came by to spot me so I could go home to shower (yeah!), water the plants, and feed my piggly wiggly hummingbirds.  A welcome break – and it was nice to warm up (90 outside – 65 in George’s room!) 

I am hoping that we will start to “turn the corner” and get the nausea under control.  If we can do that we can lose at least one more “hook up” and get George’s own body to start learning to do what it needs to do.  The sooner he can get that going, the sooner he can go home.  Still not sure how long it will be before we can be discharged…. No one does.  It all depends on George’s recovery and even he is not in control of that.

Time to sign off as there is little to report today other than reiterating the same thing over and over again.  Wanting to turn in early myself and try to catch up on sleep while George does the same.  Hoping for a better day each morning. 

Tomorrow or the next day we will be getting pathology reports to enable us to determine what our choices going forward will be.  Trying to remain positive.  It can be difficult when we believe we have very few, if any choices for treatments.  Trying to believe that we will find something that will work for George. 

For now – sweet dreams for us.  Tomorrow will take care of itself.