Just call him Flash Gordon....well it was fun while it lasted anyway

So Dad has been working really hard with the physical therapist this week. He finished chemo last week and this week and has been working at getting more mobile and improving his strength. Well at the end of the week the physical therapist wanted him to start walking with a cane, or at least practicing with a cane to try to free him from the walker. They even added weights 3 lb weights to his ankles to help improve his strength. They don't want Dad to start using the cane out and about until we are really sure that he is comfortable. Well he worked and worked and worked. He tried the stairs at home, used the cane whenever he could and was hoping to be back to his old self and back in the office physically. Well that was the plan anyway. Then this morning he got up to get washed up and started to feel extreme muscle pain. So much so that he had to sit down because he was feeling lightheaded. This week they pulled off his fentanyl patch or pain patch and just wanted him to try to manage any pain with the pain pills. He had to take those and rest the day. When we talked this evening the pain seemed to be get worse almost on the verge of spasms again. They had to put the pain patch back on and had to cancel with the cardiologist because Dad was in too much pain.

Tomorrow he is suppose to go in for labs with Dr. Kazhdan, but he is dreading this since most likely she will want him to have some sort of CT scan or MRI. Dad has horrible memories of this since they are always associated with excruciating pain. He DOES NOT want another scan. We'll see how this goes and what she has to say.

Mom is feeling better, she had been sick, but is now on the road to recovery, just in time for Thanksgiving. Hopefully Dad's back will be okay for him to enjoy the holiday.

To everyone, Thank you all for your constant prayers and thoughts. Be thankful for good times with family and friends and stay healthy this holiday!

So healthy we don't know why you are here...oh except for the myeloma.

Dad has been doing wonderful. At his chemo visit last week Dr. Kazhdan told him I don't know why you are here, all of your labs are wonderful and you are the picture of health...oh except for the myeloma. All of Dad's labs are great and everyday he is getting better and better. In fact, he is getting more and more comfortable on his feet again that he forgets sometimes to use his walker and walks across the kitchen. This doesn't mean that he is 100% cured, but just the fact that he can walk short distances comfortably is wonderful.

The weekend was busy, Mom's family were finishing up visiting and then they had some friends in town to visit. It's been great to have some normalcy in the midst of all these hospital stays and doctor's visits. Monday was again chemo day. Dad was looking great, a little impatient for the long wait, but great nonetheless. He finishes this round of chemo on Thursday then it is off for a week before starting round three. Again his labs look really great and he is attempting to be the model patient. He is even trying to get permission to make some of the business trips slated for next year. Dr. Kazhdan can't make any promises, but if his back is healed and he is doing good, he hopes to make every one of them. All of the emails and calls of support help to boost his resolve to kick this thing in the butt for good. So far, so good.

Discharged home and restarting chemo

Sunday Dad was released from the hospital. It was not without drama. Dad had to prove that he could move his leg on his own, which he worked on all day Saturday both in and out of bed. Then on Sunday, his labs were all out of whack. Very different from what they were the previous day. Dr. Kazhdan was wanting for him to stay, but Dad was determined to go home. So they repeated his labs, and they were normal. So everything was set. Until his nurse came in and told him news that broke his heart. The nurse heard from the radiologist that on the last scan, they saw numerous fractures in his back, ones that we didn't know about. It takes a lot to get him down, but this was a true test. So Dr. Kazhdan came in to let him know about the results, which he already knew except that Dr. Kazhdan said there wasn't anything new. There was a new hidden fracture, but nothing to be concerned about. What is concerning is how brittle his bones are. Now that we are killing all of the myeloma cells it is leaving his bones empty and hallow. This means Dad needs to be VERY VERY careful. So with these instructions Dad was sent home just in time for Mom's birthday.

Monday started Dad's new round of chemo. All of his blood counts looked wonderful. He got his new round of chemo started without difficulty. Just in time to pick up some flowers for mom's birthday. He will go back for chemo on Thursday. In the meantime he is starting the dex and insulin again and they are making arrangements to meet with the orthopedic surgeon so see if there is anything that we can do to help his bones.

Dad is getting stronger again and more and more mobile. He is determined to be done with the walker in 1 week. Let's hope and pray.

Itching to get home and not very mobile

Thursday Dad was laughing hysterically as he recounted the story of what happened to him the night before. Let's just say he was trying to get changed by himself--he wouldn't dare ask his nurse and was having some difficulty getting changed by himself. He was laughing so hard that his back started hurting. He did have a fever Wednesday night- they think it is due to the swelling in his knee. He looked better on Thursday when we brought him lunch. They had to take him down to radiology to make sure his portacath was functioning. They thought that it might be leaking. The good news is that it isn't. Dad's WBC count is still very low, so anyone who comes to visit has to wear a mask and gloves to keep Dad safe from infections. They gave him another dose of the medication to boost his WBC production. In the meantime, Dad was trying to convince the doctor to let give him his walking papers. The only problem is that Dad hasn't been out of bed and he can't go home if he can't move.

Friday was the first time Dad worked with the physical therapist again. As we thought, it was very difficult for Dad to get up. He isn't able to to bear any weight on his knee, and with a broken back, he can't use crutches. So they tried again to get him up in the afternoon, and they were at least able to get him up three steps and back three steps. Dad said they were willing to release him on Friday- but if he can't move what good is he going to be? He realizes it will be impossible for mom to be able to move him at home if he can't help get up and move himself. So slowly he is going to have to rebuild his strength. He is hoping only a couple more days and he will be able to go home, but he isn't going to rush it. The last thing that he wants is to be rehospitalized.

Today Mom's parents are coming into town. It will be the first time that her Dad has been here and they will also get a chance to visit with Dad.

Where have we been??

Sorry, I worked on Monday and was in Dallas for business for the last two days without my laptop.

Monday:
They finally got dad's fever under control. He did get his blood transfusion because he was anemic. They also drained a good amount of fluid from his knee to check if the fluid showed an infection. Things were going good until Dad spiked another fever. We still aren't sure why.

Tuesday: So dad's fever is gone now. It looks like the reason for all the fluid in his knee is because of a sudden case of gout. One of the medications dad was taking to protect his kidneys treats this. On Friday, Dr. Kazhdan stopped it because his levels were so low. Who would have thought that two days without it would have caused this. The infectious disease doctor said that it looked like crystal formation in the fluid they removed, which is gout. So Dr. Kazhdan gave us permission to spank her.

Wednesday: Dad is still in pain from his knee. He did need another blood transfusion. He was suppose to have another scan of this kidneys today to make sure there was no damage done to the kidneys. Mom visited briefly, but she is sick now and feels horrible. She did get a shot but still doesn't feel that great so she went home to rest and not get dad sick. Dad's blood pressure is up tonight, so he was given a new medication and they are going to have to monitor it very closely tonight. Too high and it can strain his heart----VERY BAD for him. We aren't sure why its high, it could be from the pain or stress.

Tomorrow I will finally get a chance to see Dad. Will update you all again.

Great news and not great news--being rehospitalized.

So as I posted.....Dad's Friday appointment with Dr. Kazhdan had great news and not great news. All of the myeloma tests that Dr. Kazhdan ran showed a significant drop in his protein levels- the proteins caused by the myeloma. In some there was a drop of 40%, in others there as a more significant drop of close to 60%. This is wonderful news....the news we have all been praying for. Dad was suppose to start his second round of chemo on Friday, but the not great news was that his WBC count was very low. The WBC's are what fight infection, making dad very very prone to infection. Because of this Dr. Kazhdan did not start his chemo and instead gave him a medication to help boost his WBC production. Since dad was very prone to infection, we did not go trick or treating at Grandpa's--just in case Jacob had germs from school.

Saturday Dad was still feeling some pain from all of his exercises. And then of course the pain of the Longhorn's losing didn't make it any better.

I just got a call from Dad this morning. He is on his way to the hospital. He is running a fever and his knee started to swell last night. We are not sure of the cause of the swelling, it could just be from the exercises or it could be the site of the infection. Regardless, Dr. Kazhdan wants him back at the hospital for more tests and antibiotics. I expect he will be there for this next week. As soon as we get more news I will let you all know. PRAY!