Day 41, Tuesday, 04:45pm

Today Anne called me at home at 6:35am. She asked me to bring in certain things she needed to get cleaned up today. She was feeling well, said she may be ready to go home today, and she had ordered something to eat for breakfast.

When I arrived at Maine Med she was still feeling well, and having a good day, however she stated to me that she is very weak and tired. Anne also told me "no kissing" tho because she had acquired some mouth sores. The Nurse provided a bottle of saline for Anne to rinse with 4-6 times daily since the sores have started. You guessed it, this is just another common side effect of the chemo. I had felt fortunate that she hadn't had any of this to date.

She's waiting to be taken to where she'll have a bath soon. The nurse had unplugged her medi-port so she could do that, and she waits.

Around 10 or so she went to the tubby with assistance. When done, she came back pretty quite rattled and uncomfortable. It took alot out of her, and it was said that the tub area was a very hot place. Anne doesn't like that situation at all, so I understood where she was coming from. She had good color in her face, if not too much red. The bath was a good thing, however it knocked her for a loop for awhile and she didn't feel well again until we were able to make her comfortable with the fan, cold compresses, etc... She did well for the next couple hours, and then she ordered some lunch.

About a half hour after eating she asked for some nausea meds, and she began feeling bad once again. She had some Zorfran added to her IV and she looked as though she was resting from that. She woke up to some vomiting, and was having a tough time. She complained that the Zorfran wasn't helping, so they gave some Phenegen thru the IV. It made her sleep heavily for a short time before Dr. Ebrahim came in to see her, so he woke her to talk. She was totally uncomfortable. I explain to him that it has been an up and down day, starting good, then with the bath making her miserable, then a good hour or so, now lunch making her miserable again. Dr. Ebrahim said Anne will have trouble with food going forward for some time, that's what happens at this stage of the game, and she should stick to liquids and maybe dry toast for now. Keep in mind, she just finished her chemo treatments yesterday, was de-hydrated, and she is about 21 R/T's into that program with about 7 more to go. Dr. Ebrahim said he will talk with Dr. Pryzant regarding if and when Anne will completing the remaining R/T's. Hopefully we can find out about that tomorrow, but most importantly, we want Anne to feel stronger and better than she does now.

As soon as Dr. Ebrahim left the room, Anne had a major bout with vomitting. Her worst one so far. She is just feeling real bad this afternoon and we attribute it to the food. She has discomfort in her chest, upper esophagus area. Dr. Ebrahim had mentioned this is to be expected.

There have been student nurses in here today and one has been wanting to talk with Anne, take her vital signs, etc.. When he finished fumbling around with that (he was nervous) he stated that he was coming back in to do some other things a little later on. With that, and with the day Anne has had I requested of the Nurse that Anne be left alone. I saw the student nurse in the hall and told him directly that Anne was resting now.

It has been pretty hectic in here today with our roommates moving out to go home, floors being washed, the bath event, the sickness after lunch, student nurses, etc., etc... The student nurse just came back in with the CSA Tori and I asked them to leave. It is dusk now and Anne is getting some shut eye. She will need to order something to drink before 6:30pm from room service. I can make her some toast right here on the floor.

Other than that I just need to sit with her, and remind her to do her swishing with the saline solution once in awhile. Again, we hope for a decent evening and a good night for Anne.

Thanks for listening !