Decision on Treatment

So Ed called Dr. Bowers office yesterday and spoke to his oncology nurse, Shayne, about the possible treatments.  Ed was leaning towards the Oxaliplatent but wanted to discuss it with Shayne first and also confirm the insurance will cover it.  Shayne is confirming insurance coverage, but based on her observation of patients she administers it to, most manage the neuropathy successfully.  So Ed's scheduled for treatment Wednesday morning.  I will probably go with him so I can be with him when he meets with Dr. Bowers and then drive him home since we don't know what his reaction will be to this new treatment.  We are holding off on the Erbutix for now (that's the one that causes a rash in 90% of the patients).

I do need to remember to stop at the store to get some gloves to keep by the frig since Ed can't take anything out of the frig without wearing these.  He'll also only be able to drink room-temperature fluids, so we'll need to be sure there are some beverages left on the counter for him.

In the meantime, Ed continues to be very fatigued and doesn't move all day.  He basically sits in his recliner or goes back to bed and his movement is slow and he has no energy.  He is either cold or sweaty.  He's starting to at least eat again, at least somewhat, which he wasn't doing last week since his stomach was bothering him.  I've read about "cancer-related fatigue" but I'm not sure if it's this, if he's slightly anemic (but he has been taking iron supplements), or if it's depression.  We'll see if it improves once he begins treatment again but this is the first time in 2.5 years where he has felt this bad and he's missed work for the the past week.

Hopefully once he begins treatment again, he'll begin to feel better.  We'll see and I'll keep you posted.

God grant me strength and patience!