Looking for the silver lining

kissjenn

Me three :T

Sun_Addict

Hi there Buffy

Yes I went into town - had a lovely coffee and croissant at Cafe Nero and a wander round the shops. Got Mr SA 2 pairs of shorts and 2 t shirts as he finds these comfortable for hospital wear. Did some cleaning when I got home and took dog to park which luckily for me is only across the road literally. Drew out £20 to treat myself and apart from Cafe Nero didn't buy myself anything. My heart just wasn't in it today.


Tonight Mr SA quite subdued. I got him a tiger bread roll from Waitrose and filled it with cheese salad. He loved it but then boffed it back up. Don't now why he keeps being so sick. He can't keep anything down. Which is worrying. Also why is he so subdued? He said he feels ill - which of course he is but shouldn't he be picking up by now? I know this stem cell transplant is a very tough treatment - it's a big thing to have done to the body - a whole new immune system. Hospital don't seem phased by it. I guess they've seen it all before.


After trip to town and dog walking plus cleaning just didn't get around to 30 Day Shred today. Feet ache and did just over 15000 steps.


Right now watching X Factor with a glass of cold Chilean Cabernet Sauvignon - bliss!

please-let-me-be-lucky

Glad you've managed some relaxation time Xx

kissjenn

Hi SA,

Glad you got some R&R today.

I think you hit the nail on the head, it's a whole new immune system. He's in the best place and if they seem ok with his progress then he's doing fine.

Look after you please...this is hard going and must feel endless at the moment.

KJ xx

Buffythedebtslayer

I do wish the hospital would give you more information in terms of recovery times. I suppose to them it is in a day's work.

((hugs))

Glad you got in to town etc. And wine is good:) hope doggie is keeping you company

Love Buffy XX

Sun_Addict

Forgot to mention - thanks to doing Fly Lady thing - moved sofa to hoover underneath and found dead mouse!!!! Courtesy of female cat no doubt!!!! Female cats like to hunt. No need I have plenty of cat food!!!

*Robin*

Hi Sun.A, :hello:

Sun_Addict wrote: »

By the way Mr SA is going to be moved to a brain injury rehab soon prior to being discharged. His consultant says he needs to get more mobile before coming home. Mr SA is happy with this. They are taking him off some of his medication as they think this could be causing his confusion.

This is really good news, isn't it? First because MrSA's doctors must be thinking positively that he will benefit from rehab (it's expensive ). Secondly because of your job, MrSA needs to be self-reliant and safe when he is alone in the house. It makes sense to give him some training in how to do that.

Sun_Addict wrote: »

Tonight Mr SA quite subdued. I got him a tiger bread roll from Waitrose and filled it with cheese salad. He loved it but then boffed it back up. Don't now why he keeps being so sick. He can't keep anything down. Which is worrying. Also why is he so subdued? He said he feels ill - which of course he is but shouldn't he be picking up by now? I know this stem cell transplant is a very tough treatment - it's a big thing to have done to the body - a whole new immune system. Hospital don't seem phased by it. I guess they've seen it all before.

MrSA is still less than six weeks post transplant, isn't he? Early days. Do you keep an eye on his file? If you haven't already, ask the nurse which blood tests indicate engraftment is happening - want to see those results going up as MrSA's immune system starts to work.

The food thing is a topic which drives me bonkers every time a mate or family member is an oncology in-patient. They see it on the ward all the time, but how much effort is made to work out which foods each patient can eat without chundering?
Apart from the obvious reason, surely it would be worth the effort for the psychological effect (is pretty soul-destroying and puts the patient off trying to eat when everything comes back up)?

Anyway; the first time I found myself caring for a cancer victim [long ago] Mum was going through chemo (out-patient). A district nurse suggested she think of foods she might enjoy if she tried, and then adapt them to something she could actually eat. It was a process of experimentation: Her favourite, kiwi fruit? Put through the blender then muslin to produce juice - she really liked the thought of it, but the taste made her gag. Mashed potato - tasted wrong (her perception of many tastes changed).
Can't remember all the unsuccessful attempts, but after about a week Mum said she'd like to try a little very soft rice. Told me to put too much water in so there was still some left when the rice was cooked. She couldn't manage the bitty grains of rice, but a spoonful of the water stayed down. Little and not very often at first, sometimes with a squeeze of lemon or pinch of salt, the warm rice-water worked for Mum. After a couple of days she could eat morsels of dry toast soaked in it. I made a very thin chicken / veg soup using rice water as stock. Mum drank the liquid in sips, started asking for yoghurt, mashed banana, and after a few more days she could drink/eat the soup with pieces of chicken / veg left in.
Simple tastes. Easy to swallow. Food suggested by patient if possible.
For DIL it was home-made beef bourbuignon; no idea how many tubs of that I took in for her during the year she was in hospital (she hated being tube-fed with that laxative gloop, which is what happened when she couldn't eat the canteen diet).

Sun_Addict wrote: »

After trip to town and dog walking plus cleaning just didn't get around to 30 Day Shred today. Feet ache and did just over 15000 steps.

30 Day Shred sounds awful - what on earth is it?
Sun.A what do you use to count your steps? 15,000 sounds like a lot!

Sun_Addict wrote: »

Forgot to mention - thanks to doing Fly Lady thing - moved sofa to hoover underneath and found dead mouse!!!! Courtesy of female cat no doubt!!!! Female cats like to hunt. No need I have plenty of cat food!!!

Ewwww.

As usual, well done on finance control. :T

kissjenn

I suppose the other thing is that Mr SA's stomach isn't used to handling real food any more so something big and tasty that he would have wolfed down is just too much at the mo.

Tough and disheartening SA but you'll find a way through it. I'd forgotten about the taste changes with chemo - is that something that happens with stem cell too? I could only drink fruity teas (no milk) or sprite (not lemonade, Seven up etc). Harder to experiment when he's in hospital. Cutlery also upsets some people as it tastes metallic, the suggestion is to use plastic picnic sets. Makes you wonder just what is happening inside

Have a lovely, relaxing Sunday.

KJ xx

Sun_Addict

Robin - 30 Day Shred is an exercise DVD. 3 minutes cardio 3 minutes strength 2 minutes abs repeated 3 times. Start at level 1 and progress to level 3 over 30 days. It's hard but quick and effective and if you stick with it it does get easier (honest!). Re steps - I have a pedometer which I put in my sock or pocket if not wearing socks. It's pretty accurate. 15000 steps a day is pretty average for me as I walk everywhere. I try to walk to work every day (3 miles) unless it's raining.

Sun_Addict

Anyway never did get around to the toning exercises this weekend. Need to make a plan.

I'm a bit worried about Mr SA. He's still very subdued and so confused tonight I found it difficult to have a conversation with him. I felt bad that I only stayed with him for an hour but the buses only run once an hour on Sundays and I wanted to get back home before dark. Usually I get a lift home on Sunday from his brother but he didn't go tonight. Even Mr SA's consultant is concerned about the confusion. He has decided to start taking him off some of his medication to see if that's the cause. Mr SA himself says he's alright just tired.