Barbara continues to not feel great although her spirits are a little better given yesterday's news. Her nausea is better but still there some. The sores in her mouth (mainly her tongue now) are about the same but the throat sores are pretty much gone at least for now which does make it easier to swallow. Her fatigue is still there and she gets tired fairly quickly. We are not sure how much of this is still from the drugs and how much is just because she is still not eating or drinking very much and has been less active for so long. She is trying to be as active as she can, but also being careful.
The biggest problem she has now is her taste buds. Now that she can swallow, she is trying to eat and drink more. Unfortunately, most everything she tries tastes bad to her. Even things she normally likes a lot such as eggs and even bacon tasted bad today. She has been drinking mostly chocolate milk since it is tasting good and is at least getting some liquids and calories into her. We keep hoping the taste situation will start to improve soon as that is going to really be a problem if it continues.
A minor correction from a few days ago. I mentioned that the Oncologist is doing a test for a genetic "defect" to see if that is why the drug effects are lasting longer for Barbara than normal. It is not a genetic "defect" but a genetic "mutation". This mutation keeps her from breaking down some drugs in her system and that would explain why some of the side effects are lasting so long. There may not really be much difference in the two terms except that I think a defect would probably not be something that could be inherited, but a mutation is something that could be passed down. For blood family members, that could be an important distinction if she has it.
Basically waiting on Tuesday and just trying to feel better each day.
Wayne
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