BigFred

If you celebrate Halloween, Happy Halloween, even if you call it something else like Harvest celebration!!!  It’s not one of my favorite holidays, but it is in my favorite month!  Enough of that…on to the subject at hand, Mr. Robinson.

The weeks are all running into each other and I’m loosing track of what day it is, except that Ericka will keep us straight.  So since last Wednesday, we have been to four doctor appointments including one for me.  Last thursday was the INR check.  The rate was too low, meaning Frederick’s blood was too thick.  His coumadin dose was increased.  Monday he had his after chemo MRI in the morning and an INR check in the afternoon.  Again the INR was too low (blood too thick).  Wednesday, I had my annual checkup in the morning.  All is well, cholesterol is a little high but manageable with out meds and my blood pressure which is never high was also up.  I blamed it on driving in traffic to get to my appointment.  They took it again before I left and it had improved. 

Frederick saw his oncologist later today.  The MRI done Monday doesn’t show much of an improvement from September, however, the MRI taken in the hospital a few weeks ago did show some shrinkage.  According to the oncologist, the hospital MRI was more extensive than the one done Monday.  (You figure it out!)  Anyway, as we assumed, the oncologist is prescribing another round of chemo for 5 days.  In addition, Frederick’s potassium was low so he’s got meds for that now, and they also checked the INR and found it to be too low (blood too thick).  Fortunately, we already had an appointment for tomorrow at the anticoagulation clinic to check INR again and adjust coumadin levels. 

As you can imagine, we’re both a little tired.  I’m just realizing how tired you can get from seeing a doctor! 

Good things are happening too.  Frederick continues to improve his appetite and has gained 2 pounds since 10/17/07.  His new food of choice is Safeway Signature Cafe Pacific Coast clam chowder.   The nausea and vomiting are lessoned significantly.  He even had me up at 3am fixing him a peanut butter and banana sandwich.  I wasn’t happy but I was glad he was eating.

So, on November 12th, we have a follow-up with the surgeon.  On November 28th, we have a follow-up with the oncologist.  We are beginning to feel like these people are family members.

Never the less, God is still in control of this situation and more than that, the whole universe.  We live by faith and not by sight.  Please continue your prayers.  We want God to get glory and honor from this situation and we praise him through it all.  Andre Crouch sings “through it all, through it all, I’ve learned to trust in Jesus, I’ve learned to trust in God, through it all, through it all, I’ve learned to depend upon His Word”.  We’re still in the learning position.

Love ya’ll

Diana & Frederick

Praise God, the new medicine Marinol is helping.  Frederick has been eating for two days now and he has not had any vomiting.  Praise God!  The effectual fervant prayers of God’s people are beginning to bear fruit.  His INR ratio was down a little yesterday so his coumadin was adjusted.  He goes in to have that checked tomorrow.  The doctors are still having some trouble getting that under control.  Hopefully with Frederick eating better this will help managing the INR rates as well.  So don’t stop PUSHING for us…(Pray Until Something Happens), cause something is happening and we want it to keep happening…

 In His Care

Diana & Frederick

Frederick was discharged today and is now home.  The oncologist is still mostly stumped as far as Frederick’s symptoms.  He agreed with the neurologist that the symptoms are probably being caused by the tumor.  Social services says that Frederick is not sick enough to go to a rehab facility so that is out.  The doctor gave Frederick something to help with the nausea that will hopefully help him to have an appetite.  I’m going to try to rearrange my work schedule again to maybe 4 hours and use my vacation time to cover the other 4 hours so that I can be home and help Frederick out more during the day.  The next doctor’s appointment will be on October 29th with Dr. Goldberg, Oncologist.  Unless there is some drastic change in Frederick, we expect more chemo.  We wait with anticipation for what God will do!!!  “I’m not afraid to ask God for a miracle”, someone told me that today and I’m getting on the bandwagon.  “I’m not afraid to ask God for a miracle”!!!

In His Care

Diana & Frederick

Quick additional update:   The doctors are basically stumped right now.  They say that Frederick’s symptoms are not from the Chemo.  The tumor is slowly shrinking so that is a good thing, but he should be getting better and he really isn’t.  A neuro specialist looked at him yesterday and said that because of where the tumor is in relation to the brain stem, there are so many variables and the stem connects to everything so there is no way to know what will be affected or how.  They also had a psychiatrist talk to him because some form of depression is always a possible side effect.  They are also talking about sending him to a rehab facility so that he can be more closely monitored.  That makes me unhappy because I feel like they are saying I can’t take care of him.  I told the doctor I would rearrange my schedule to be at home more if necessary.  They also had to give Frederick a lot of potassium which he was very low in.  Since being in the hospital, the vomiting has slowed to maybe once a day.  I don’t know if it’s the potassium or what.  He’s also been able to keep a few small meals on his stomach so that’s a good thing.  I know it’s not the hospital food though.  So, we’ll see what happens by Monday.

In His care!

Diana & Frederick

Good news and some not sure yets!  The good news is that the MRI shows that the tumor is shrinking.  This will probably mean more chemo therapy.  The not so sures have to do with the symptoms Frederick is experiencing.  The oncologist thinks that what Frederick is going through is coming from the tumor and not the chemo.  He is also contemplating sending Frederick to a rehab so that he can be watched more closely.  He isn’t sick enough to really be in the hospital, but he shouldn’t be at home alone either.  So, since by the time I got to the hospital the doctor had come and gone, I got this information second hand from Frederick.  Unfortunately, he doesn’t remember all of what the doctor said.  I am now tracking down the doctor to get more details and find out when or if Frederick will come home. 

Can I complaiin a little bit…now if I had been at the hospital at 8 am, the doctor probably wouldn’t have come till 1 or 2 in the afternoon.  I was at the hospital around 10 and the doctor had come and gone.  I called his office and left a message but haven’t heard anything yet.  Finally, why would you tell a sick person who isn’t remembering everything all these important details without someone else in the room to remember it or to pass it on the person who really needs to know!  Okay, I’ve gotten it out of my system.  Hopefully today I will get to talk to the doctor and know what’s really going on.

Thank you as always for your prayers!  I really need them desperately today.  I feel like I’m feeling my way around in the dark, not knowing where I am or what I need to do.  But through it all, I am holding on to the promises or as the sunday school song says “standing on the promises of God”.

In his care!

Diana & Frederick

Frederick had been feeling really bad, so his oncologist told him to come in to be checked out.  They decided to keep him for observation and to try to get some fluids into his system.  They did an MRI last night and will do other testing to see if they can help him to feel better.  He did eat a little last night and kept it on this stomach so that’s a good thing already.  We really don’t know what to expect or what the doctors will find or say.  Please keep praying as I know you already have been.  When we find out more, we’ll keep you posted.

On every turn, what I keep hearing from God is to remain “Hopeful”.  I have gotten scriptures from others and they all contain some aspect of “Hope”.  So I will continue to stand on Psalm 43:5 …hope in God: for I shall yet praise him, who is the health of my countenance, and my God…

In His Care,

Diana & Frederick

It was only yesterday that Frederick had his INR checked again, but I couldn’t remember for sure what day it was.  All the days are just blurred together.  If it weren’t for church on Sunday,  I wouldn’t know when to go back to work after the weekend! 

Anyway, Frederick’s INR was at a good rate yesterday 2.1.  Unfortunately, he is still experiencing a lot of nausea and vomiting.  So, he will go in to see the oncologist tomorrow afternoon.  I’m not sure what they can do to help Frederick.  I’m interested to know how much Frederick weighs.  Last visit he was at 246 lbs or so.  My guest would be 220 now since  he can’t keep anything on his stomach.

Please pray that the oncologist will have some special insight or wisdom to give Frederick something to calm his stomach and end the nausea and vomiting.

Thanks

Diana & Frederick

Praise God, the INR was lower today. It is not at the exact level the doctors want to see, but it sure is better than Wednesday. The pharmacist says that the nausea is what is making it so hard to manage the INR. So, we have to go back in on Monday. We thought we would be able to have the visiting nurses come to the house to check the INR, but they can only do it for a short period of time so we are not going to go that route.

Please pray that Frederick will get an appetite and that this coagulation rate will stabilize.

We appreciate your prayers and support.

Diana & Frederick

Frederick had his INR tested today.  It was too high.  This means his blood is too thin.  When this happens he has to be very careful not to fall or bruise himself.  He goes back for a check on it Friday.  So no coumadin for 2 days.  After Frederick’s appointment I had an eye appointment, or so I thought.  When I got to the eye doctor’s she informed me that my appointment was yesterday!  I was embarassed but she took me anyway.  Then her helper was sick so she sent her home.  The eye doctor proceeds to tell me (Jokingly) that the last two times I was in to see her, her helper got sick.  Kinda weird.  I said maybe I shouldn’t come back for a year.    Anyway, I got some new contacts, praise God!  We’ll see what happens to the assistant when I come in to pick them up!

My praise is my weapon!

Diana & Frederick

Check out the blogroll on the right.  I have put on some links to information about some of the doctors, medicines and etc. relating to Frederick.  Let me know what you think!

Diana