kvetching up

 Entry 1    4:16 p.m. We have Jenny home .  She is tired, weak, malnourished, in pain, but remarkably in good spirits. The surgeon did a second nerve block procedure when they did the stent procedure, but the pain persists. The C/T is clear where the pain is of anything that might be the cause. The oncologist, Doc P, who visited Jenny again last night, is baffled. Mind you, the pain is real, so real that only 20 mg. of oxy, a dose of dilaudid and muscle relaxants managed to get the pain to a tolerable level just a few minutes ago.  While at hospital, Jenny called me crying, and I hurried as fast as I could to see her--there was a slight problem with my Jeep being covered with snow that I had to address first. I had hoped that I could talk to a doctor, but none ever arrived once I got there. Jenny had already been discharged, and was just waiting for a transporter to get her downstairs. I am going to reach out to the palliative folks with whom which we have a mee...

Entry 1. 9:31 a.m. Jenny is still in bed, but has talked to Edit at VM. We should expect some calls today. The reason the block never really worked is because the pain is coming from the duodenum, and the pressure is on nerves not deadened by the plexus block.  So, that makes sense.  She can't up her dosage of oxycodone, but they will likely prescribe a fentanyl patch for her.  They also have scheduled the procedure (placing of the stent) for the 27th, but support her coming in on Sunday inpatient.  More as I learn new information. I have been up since 3:43 a.m. worried about the implications of chemo. She is getting a pill six days a week, an infusion one. But if she keeps nothing down, what use is a pill? When she empties the contents of her stomach--she empties the entire contents of her stomach.  With her cancer raging, what is the point of this chemotherapy if she will just throw it up? She will absorb enough to get the side effects maybe, but to do any goo...

The last two days have been very good.  Jenny didn't get chemotherapy because her numbers and counts were so godawfully bad as a result of the last chemo.  But, in better news, she got more clarity.   First, the doctor told her that her CA 19-9 numbers are so bad because he believes the mRNA vaccine has some major impact, skewing the numbers.  Dr. P and oncologists elsewhere are seeing this phenomena, and he, leader in the field, is starting a research study on this, presumably nationwide.  So one of the few PDAC prognostic tools has been bent, if not broken by COVID-19. Eye of the Hurricane   Secondly, the doctor told her he believes her disease is stable, given the place we are at.  The goal is to keep it that way.  Great news. Incredible news. Third, Jenny learned from the palliative care doctor that Dr. P is against Death with Dignity, an option Jenny strongly wants on the table, as would I were I in her predicament.  The good news i...