The Second Stigmata

If hair loss is the first stigmata of the cancer patient, the nose tube is the second. Amazingly Ciara has been able to last most of her treatment without a tube. Until today, when she started the first batch of high dose chemotherapy Busulphan needs to be taken orally and at very specific times. There's no "I'll have it in a little while". When it needs to be taken, it needs to be taken. Plus it would taste disgusting, hence the nose tube. She is very unhappy about this, her tears have disolved the glue holding it to her cheek.

This morning the consultant told us some very good news, and some slightly moot news. First, her liver functions are excellent and she's in great shape for the treatment. Second, she's in the 50% of control paitients, i.e., she gets Difribrotide only if she shows symtoms of VOD. Not as bad news as it would have been last night when we thought she had poor liver function.

One of the side effects of Bulsulphan are small siezures, so they prescribe the sedative Clonazapan. Apparently "in a very small amount of cases it can cause hyperactivity". No shit! Of course Ciara is one of the very small amount of cases and spent the whole afternoon going spare while Yvonne tried to keep her from injuring herself. It didn't help the process of getting the nose tube in either. She's been upset since then and when she's awake she's like a bad-drunk and not in a funny way. It's actually quite disturbing. She needs the sedative for the next week while she's taking the Bulsulphan. During the rounds tomorrow we'll ask about alternatives, if any.

Last night was tough while we were getting used to using bed pans again. She's been through four sheets since last night! Not her fault mind, I'm just too slow and a bad catch to boot. Also, during the conditioning, there will be lots of different IVs and whatnot going in and out all the while so the night is not the best time for sleeping. Nor is the day for that matter.

She's asleep on a big LazyBoy(tm) at the moment. The giant chair was rolled in earlier today - one of the benefits of this unit being very big rooms. Noisy though. The air filters sound like the engines of a P&O ferry.

I missed the fun this afternoon as I went in to the office after lunch. I'll try and make it up to Yvonne over the weekend. Mary will be joining us next Thursday so things should ease up then too.