My 23 year old son has just been diagnosed

[swg03a]

where are u

Hola,
Hey what town do you live in. I live in abilene. Just wanted to know, so i could offer help maybe a visit or just someone to talk to who has gone thru it! I also do not have insurance and no job since i am a student. There are lots of way to get around the system to recieve the best care that you can get.
sincerly,
scott

[discodolly]

Good Morning -

Eric's Chemo is being done as an outpatient at the hospital but they want him there in order to monitor him. It is also better to have it done there since the hospital is willing to wait on the Medicaid and the Oncologist likes to get paid at the time of the visits.

We live in Seguin, Tx which is very close to San Antonio. It is a long way from Abilene but I do appreciate the offer.

I will post again after Eric's first week. Thanks for the support, you all don't know how much it helps.

Debbie

[swg03a]

Good Stuff!

Hola,
Tell eric, i know he will overcome. Tell him to think of everyday of chemo is just a new day to become healthy and have a complete recovery! I had to tell myself that everyday! Best wishes! If you want I could give him a call just for a simple "u can get thru this"! Best wishes! I had the exact same tc as he has!
sincerly
scott

[discodolly]

Scott -

I sent you a private message.

[discodolly]

Eric finished his first week of Chemo and I can say that it has been rough for him. I didn't expect him to get the nausea and puking after only the first day, he said he never expected to feel this sick. His sense of smell is way out of wack. He told me the hot water smelled like mildew and the car ac smelled like cardboard. He can't stand to be around anyone with perfume or cologne on. His sense of taste is really screwy also. I guess these are typical side affects. He goes in next week and the following week for one day of the Bleo, much better than being up at the hospital from 8:00 am to 3:00 pm every day.

I want to thank Scott, aka swg03a for calling Sunday night before Chemo started and speaking with both Eric and I. It certainly put our minds in the right place.

[dadmo]

Debbie:
Make sure your son takes his antineusea medication over this weekend. My son needed to take them until the monday after each round. The changes in smell and taste are not unusual and will return to normal when he's done.

[Don]

If the nausea can't be controlled by Compozine or Zofran you may want to mention Phenergan to the doctor---It is give VIA the IV and is about the best for Nausea... Hope he find something to control the nausea soon...

[discodolly]

Eric just finished his first round, one down three more to go. He had trouble with some nausea and complains of being tired all the time. His white count was down to 1.4 but they didn't do anything about it except to tell him not to go anywhere so that he doesn't run a chance of catching something. His attitude changes daily. Some days he is angry at the world and takes it out on me since I am the only one home with him. I told him that I completely understand that he is angry but being verbally abusive to me is not the answer. That stage seems to have passed and now he is depressed. I contacted the social worker at the hospital who is going to set him up to see a counselor. Hopefully this will help, it certainly can't hurt. His hair started falling out and that doesn't help the depression. We suggested that he shave it so that he can get it over with but he wants to hang on to it as long as he can. Mostly he says that he is sick and tired of being sick and tired.

[jdunn]

I know how hard it is to see your son go through something so tough. The professional help is a good idea considering the depression and anger your son is experiencing. The road ahead will get a little more difficult. Try to stay possitive and know that this will soon be over. One day at a time. Thinking of you.

[discodolly]

Since the last post we found out that Eric has Acute Bronchitis and was coughing up a little blood. Took him to the ER, they checked his white count and it was back up which was good. After numerous tests and lots of time they gave him antibiotics and sent him home. The cough has gotten better so I am thankful for that. He finally shaved off the hair and the beard this past weekend. I think he looks good like that but he refuses to go anywhere that he doesn't absolutely have to. The second round starts on Monday and that will be a long week for him. I hope it goes fairly well. His mood has improved lots, by the time they get him scheduled to talk with someone he won't need it.

Thanks to all who respond, I read this forum everyday and truely am thankful that there is a place like this where we can all go to vent and ask questions.

God Bless,
Debbie

[discodolly]

Update

It had been a long time since I last posted. Eric finished his second round with all of the expected side effects. Lots of nausea, etc.. He has started getting Nueropathy in his hands and that can get very painful for him. He was scheduled to start the third round on Monday but his blood count was too low so he got a shot of Lupitin(sp?). He got another one yesterday and will get the last one today. Tomorow he will get his count checked again and hopefully will be able to begin the third round on Monday.

[dadmo]

Debbie:
Postponing chemo because of a low white count happens a lot with tc patients but it should not. Please see the attached link and read the section “A Few Important Final Tips”. The postponement of a few days will not matter but just be cautious about this in the future. http://tcrc.acor.org/chemo.html

[discodolly]

I know it has been a long time since I have written but here is an update. The third round went fine, much like the first two. On 5-29-06 (his B-Day) his white count dropped very low so the started him on Nuepegen (sp?). By Friday of that week he was very sick. They put him in the hospital for 6 days with pnuemonia, giving him massive doses of antibiotics. They also discovered that the Port was messed up and needs to be replaced (the line is going up into his neck rather than down into his chest). By Wednesday he seemed to be doing better so they let him go home with plans to replace the port the next day. Went in Thursday for the surgery and Eric was much worse than when we first brought him in. They canceled surgery and put him back in the hospital. After a few days of more antibiotics they found that it was the Belo causing the pnuemonia and the pleurisy. They put him on steroids and everything got much better. He finally got out the day before yesterday. They did a PFT yesterday and he is only at 70%, they have said this may improve a little but probably won't ever return to normal. This is the same thing they say about the Nueropathy in his hands. He seems to be doing better put is still very tired and gets short of breath very easy.

One more round to go which won't start until his port can be replaced and the pnuemonia clears up.

[Kev332]

Thanks for the update Dolly. Glad to hear Eric got better after the steroids were administered. Sounds like its been a stressful time for you guys. This will all be over very soon. 1 round to go!

Take care,
-Kevin

[dadmo]

Dolly:
I'm sorry the road has been so rough but the end is in sight. Stay strong it will be done soon.