Round 2 day 3

Round 2 Day 3

I don’t think that I have told you but since I came home from the hospital last week I am being seen twice a week by the VNA.  They are monitoring my progress with the blood clots in the lungs, my injections, and use of the oxygen that I am now on. Today my case manager was back to work after taking a vacation, she was Mom’s case manager when she fell a year ago. She took a very complete background on my health history.  She says I am doing great when it comes to giving myself the injection. It doesn’t bother me to do it at all. When she listened to my lungs she says I have clear lung sounds. However, developing these clots is a side effect of my chemo due to the type of cancer that I have so I need to be monitored so that they never get as bad as they were a week ago.  She says that I can walk around the house for short periods of time without wearing the oxygen.

Yesterday a different VNA nurse was here just to check my oxygen use. She tested me to see if my body would trigger an on demand oxygen tank, and it does. So now I have two smaller portable oxygen tanks that work only on demand. Each one is only half the size of the constant flow oxygen tanks. They also last between 4-5 hours instead of just 2 hours.

Last Sunday I could only attend Church for Sacrament meeting because I did not want to carry two tanks with me. Now if I feel up to it on Sunday I should be able to attend all the meetings. That will be great to have the choice.

The VNA case manager has suggested that I consider being transferred from med/surg VNA care to palliative VNA care. This is NOT the same has hospice care. This is care for people with long term illness’ and a group of nurses that will be able to help me know what could be coming down the road for me and help me with my care options. Next week I see my primary oncologist and plan to see what she says about this care switch. I want more information before I make any type of change. I am glad the case manage made me aware of this option because I knew nothing about it.

I don’t think I thought to tell you in yesterday’s post that I saw my radiation oncologist and he is so delighted in my attitude about being treated here at D’Amour that he asked if I would be willing to be interviewed on video for within the Center promotion of the center. Of course you know I said I would be happy to. I am very pleased with the care I am getting there. They have a great staff and truly seem to care about me and my comfort and well being.

I hope those of you who are following my blog find at least some of this day to day stuff interesting or at least comforting in knowing how I feel about my care along with how I feel physically. Today has been a great day.

PS the back ache is gone.