A while back I commented to Penny that one of my diagnositic tools for how she is feeling is knitting. Penny likes to knit and doesn't like to "do nothing". So when she doesn't have enough energy for other things, but is feeling OK, she's been knitting. (My blue scarf in our photo from out anniversary dinner is one of her recent projects.) When she picks up her knitting, that's my signal to see if I can interest her in something to eat. The more (and faster) she knits, the better I know she is feeling.
Yesterday on the way home from hydration, Penny said, "I think you are right about the knitting... I didn't do any knitting this weekend." That pretty much describes how things have been the last several days. Very low energy, periodic waves of nausea, but not much pain. Eating remains a challenge (and her weight continues to drop slowly).
It's hard to know how much of this is related to the radiation treatments which ended last Wednesday. Our nurse yesterday mentioned that it usually takes a couple weeks after radiation ends for the the side effects of the radiation to improve.
Tomorrow we have an appointment with Dr Lakhani. Part of this appointment is to complete the previous trial as some additional data need to be collected roughly 30 days have discontinuing the treatments. We will also discuss next steps. At our last meeting, he said "There will always be another clinical trial, if you are healthy enough to undergo the treatments." We are guessing the continued weight loss is going to be a concern.
The surgery to place a G- or GJ-tube is still on for next week Tuesday, so I'm guessing we wouldn't begin another treatment, even if one is available, until after that. There are a lot of unknowns about how that procedure will go, including a "less than 5%" chance of "life threatening complications". Assuming we avoid those, the hospital stay could be anywhere from 24 hours to a week. Basically they won't let her go until they are convinced the tube is working properly, and depending on how the procedure goes, and what kind of tube is placed, they may not even attempt to use the tube for a couple days afterwards.
Meanwhile, I'll be monitoring the knitting.
Signs of a good day: Knitting, dog, and food. (The blanket was crocheted by our daughter, the scarf knit by Penny.)
Comments
Laura DeHaan: Praying for the energy to knit, and an increased desire to eat!!!
George Monsma, Jr.: Praying for improvement for Penny, and for a successful surgery next week without complications. And also for strength for you, Randy, as you care for her.
Andrea Turner: You know how to read your wife!
Marie VanderLinde : Praying for strength, appetite, and knitting!
Teri Warners: Glad for the "no pain". Will be praying for improvement each day with the nausea and low energy. Thank you for sharing your insights.
Kimberley Carlos Belez: Praying for you both, and for Penny's to have the energy to pull out those knitting needles.