team gary update :)

Nina51 · #1 08/29/2006, 06:51 PM

just thought i'd update the gang on what's happening with gary. he had his 3rd radiation treatment today on the sinus tumor. it's going well, his cheek is a bit sore and tender but nothing he can't handle.

i met the radiology oncologist for the first time today and he's wonderful. took lots of time to go over the ct scans with us and explain exactly what is and will be happening. he said it could be 5 to 8 weeks after the treatments stop before the tumor actually shrinks so we shouldn't get impatient. he also prescribed a morphine patch and said that would most likely give gary complete relief from the headaches within a few days. yayyy!!!

after the radiation, we headed over to dr. mink's office. he told us that the last embolization about 6 weeks ago did not do what he had hoped so that's why he decided on the radiation. scans of the lungs and kidney will be done the first part of october. we're hoping to see even more improvement in the lungs and perhaps the drug will then begin attacking the kidney tumor. if not, there are other drugs to consider. we'll cross that bridge when we come to it.

oh and gary gained THREE POUNDS since last week! go figure, he hasn't been eating all that well up until the last couple of days so i was pleasantly surprised that he had gained. yipeee!! must be neener's good sicilian cooking. shut up boys!

okay, that about sums it up. we are so blessed to have these wonderful, caring doctors and the nurses and hospital staff are saints, every single one of them!

continued good vibes, karma, thoughts, prayers always welcomed and appreciated!!!

dc · #2 08/29/2006, 07:02 PM

Wonderful news. Can't complain about weight gain for sure. I'll keep that Karma coming your way.

Wilafur · #3 08/29/2006, 07:04 PM

awesome!!

VoidRaven · #4 08/29/2006, 07:05 PM

HIP HIP HUZZAH!!!!!

Go Team Gary Go!!! That's great news Nina! Continued prayers and positive vibes from this corner of the country!!!

(don't ask about the pic....found it somewhere and laughed as soon as I saw it......figured y'all would do the same)

Ritten · #5 08/29/2006, 07:19 PM

That's great, Nina!

TheBimbo · #6 08/29/2006, 07:22 PM

Wonderful news Nina... I'm glad I don't live in your house, heck you'd have to make your door larger just for me to exit

...

Christy...

crp · #7 08/29/2006, 07:48 PM

Great news! Keep up the good work.

You always have the loungers on your side.

I betcha it was those blizzards!

Scuba_Dave · #8 08/29/2006, 08:08 PM

Good to hear
Maybe the blizzards should be delivered

BrianD · #9 08/29/2006, 08:38 PM

Thanks for the update, Nina. Keep fattening that guy up

kfisc · #10 08/29/2006, 09:26 PM

Go go go!

MandM · #11 08/30/2006, 01:09 AM

Go Gary and Nina!
Follow those directions carefully for the patches. It can be hard to get them to stick well. You have to hold your (his!) hand over them to get them warm and sticky after applying. You can write the date/time with a sharpie marker on it to help keep track of time.
My husband just started them while waiting for spine/nerve surgery. They give me the creeps but they seem to working well now that we get them to stick.

Kinetic · #12 08/30/2006, 01:16 AM

wow, glad to hear things are going well =)

joeychitwood · #13 08/30/2006, 01:33 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by MandM
Follow those directions carefully for the patches.

Believe it or not, we see people who just place a new patch on the skin when needed without removing the prvious patch. It can result in an OD situation. I once saw an older woman who came to the ER because she was running out of easily reachable skin to apply the next nitro patch. She had about 20 patches on her skin....and a seriously low blood pressure.

Nina51 · #14 08/30/2006, 04:57 AM

OMG joey!!! unbelievable!

i'm obsessive about medicine. i wanna know as much as i can about everything gary is taking. i read the patient information sheet that came with the patches and found some valuable information. no heating pads, no electric blanket, no hot tubs

while using the patch, not to mention the info about possible od'ing. i read all of this stuff out loud to gary.

however, according to him, use of the patch is not condusive to wiping off the toilet seat after use, cleaning up the dirty dishes, sweeping the kitchen floor of sand tracked in by the...ahem...short statured canines that rule this roost. you get the picture. do you think i'm being lied to??

UH_OH_5_OH · #15 08/30/2006, 05:34 AM

Not at all.... Gary is totally telling the truth about the patches.

I had to use a patch before...course it was a duct tape patch and my wife had put it on my mouth after I tried to explain why I just had to have the 1969 Karmann Ghia Convertible ! ! !

My moustache hurt for a week after yankin' that sucker off ! ! !

crzy4reefs · #16 08/30/2006, 06:37 AM

Great news Nina, Keep up the good work. Keep giving him those blizzards

You always have the loungers on your side.

ps, going to spend that special thing in the mail for you and gary.

Orchids · #17 08/30/2006, 06:40 AM

Keep being strong. My family and I are pulling for the two of you.

Nina51 · #18 08/30/2006, 07:37 AM

thanks everybody! ohhh shanna, i LOVE surprises. just as long as it doesn't breathe and poop!!

today is the first day in a very long time that gary didn't wake up with a headache. he put his first morphine patch on yesterday afternoon and it kicked in some time overnight. we were high fivin' all over the place!

since the radiology oncologist told him shaving isn't allowed during treatment for the next 3 weeks, he's beginning to look more and more like santa claus.

gary's never been a big fan of spaghetti but last night he asked me for some. i called the little italian place in town and put an order in, picked it up after chores and he inhaled it. every bit! maggie and simon were mortified...NO LEFTOVERS! not even a measly meatball!

things are looking up! it's gotta be in large part to the karma, good thoughts and prayers from the loungers.

dc · #19 08/30/2006, 08:35 AM

That's great Nina! I know those headaches have been horrible for you guys.

crp · #20 08/30/2006, 09:46 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Nina51
gary's never been a big fan of spaghetti but last night he asked me for some. i called the little italian place in town and put an order in, picked it up after chores and he inhaled it. every bit!

NINA, I'm SHOCKED! A sicilian ordering takeout spaghetti. How could you.

pnosko · #21 08/30/2006, 09:52 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Nina51
since the radiology oncologist told him shaving isn't allowed during treatment for the next 3 weeks, he's beginning to look more and more like santa claus.

OK, I'll allow this impersonation. But only for Gary.

Great news, Nina! You need any help fattening him up?

batguano · #22 08/30/2006, 09:53 AM

Authentic sauce made by Sicilian hands is known to cure a wide variety of ailments, not the least of which is hunger! Great news Nina, keep it coming!

Nina51 · #23 08/30/2006, 01:15 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by crp
NINA, I'm SHOCKED! A sicilian ordering takeout spaghetti. How could you.

please, let me explain!!! like every good sicilian cook, it would take me hours and hours slaving over a hot stove

to make my own sauce. not that i haven't done that. it's just that right now, between the trips to the city, critters to feed, 5 acres to mow, house to keep up...well, you get the picture! please, am i forgiven for this very slight indescretion??

sure pete, i can always use help. can you deliver a couple of blizzards for dessert tonight?

i just talked to gary's mom, who was in charge of getting him to springfield today. she told me he has needed only ONE dose of darvocet so that means the pain patch is well on its way to doing its thing. yipeee!!!!

dc · #24 08/30/2006, 01:25 PM

crp · #25 08/30/2006, 03:26 PM

Nina, you're forgiven, this time!