October 13, 2001

Update # 10 

Morning, 

Jeff has had a very hard week.  It's probably been his second worst week of them all.  Last Sunday was still good after Saturday.  He relaxed, spent time with a friend and watched the Nascar race.  Monday is when things began happening.  

He woke up Monday morning feeling tired and saying his throat felt tingly.  There was a little bit of Thrush in the mouth so we started Swish and Swallow.  He also mentioned he had some joint pain and a tight chest.  We took some Tylenol and when that didn't help, he took the Tylenol with Codeine.  Since there was no school, he just laid around all day. 

Tuesday he woke up no better - in fact feeling worse.  He commented he thought the throat sores were back.  I could still see some Thrush so we did the Swish and Swallow again.  Ken called our friend for the mouth sore recipe.  We tried that but he didn't think it helped much.  He still ached so he kept on the Tylenol with Codeine.  He had no fever.  Home health came for a regular visit since Dr. Chu wanted a routine CBC.  By that afternoon, we noticed Jeff looking a little white, so we figured his counts were down.  It was evening when we got the counts and yes, counts were down.  

Jeff and I headed to CG on Wednesday morning for a blood transfusion.  Costas Center took another CBC and counts had fallen even more.  Jeff's counts had never been so low.  They gave him 2 pints of blood.  He said the throat was even worse so we continued with Tylenol with Codeine.  They even gave him some morphine at Costas but that again did not help.  Jeff also started with a fever that day.  He spent most of the day sleeping, not eating but trying to drink. 

Thursday was still about the same.  Chu wanted another count so home health came in the morning for a CBC draw.  The fever came and went.  Throat was the same no matter if he took the sore recipe or not.  He kept on Tylenol with Codeine.  Counts came back a tiny amount higher but Chu still didn't like them. 

Friday morning Jeff and I again headed to CG for another 2 pints of blood.  The fever still came and went.  The aches were a little better.  The throat was still there but possibly a little better.  Chu gave us an extra dose of Neupogen to give Jeff on Sunday.  So that makes 11 instead of 10.  He wants another CBC on Monday morning.  Home health will be here at 7:30 to do it in case Jeff feels well enough to go to school.  

So needless to say there was no school this week.  Jeff just got up so we'll see how today goes.  We're glad the entire time has not been like this.  Costas says they see this more than not.  Keep the prayers coming.  We know the chemo is working and we know we'll make it through these side effects.  It has just worn him out.  Talk to you next week. 

Love,

Marcia