Well we have two infusions behind us. I told Far Guy I am going to take a photo every week. So he is barely smiling/kinda frowning.
We were there only two hours this time. He drank some grape juice.
I tell ya what…some dingbat sure thought out the procedure to mix “the stuff.”
The Infusion Nurses have highlighted the written important parts and we followed it step by step. It has to be room temperature first so we call ahead to remind them to take it out of the fridge. I thought I would just be observing but instead I mixed the solution right along with the nurse. There are five vials of a powdery stuff and five vials of diluent, needles with sharps on both ends…the dilatant goes into the powdery stuff…then it is gently swirled until everything is dissolved. Then it is sucked up into a very large syringe that has a special filter needle that traps any particulate that otherwise might cause a stroke. Then it is transferred to the IV bag…carefully..as with any needles…you don’t want to puncture anything else like the IV bag or your fingers. It took two of us 30 minutes to prepare “the stuff.” We could have used another pair of hands to hold the IV bag right side up while squirting “the stuff” in there.
It seems with any medical “stuff” there is lots happening in the background. The Drug Company cannot understand why the infusions are being done in a Infusion Center. They want a nurse to do them in our home…well that is not happening. (Too expensive and it is not covered by Medicare or our Insurance unless he is housebound.) Then they want me to be trained…but they don’t know who will train me or when…they said “Ask the Infusion Nurses.” Really? They should have the answers it is their “stuff” ( Plasma from many individuals…and it is made in Austria so I expect Far Guy will start yodeling any day now.)
We are not sure when he will be scheduled for the surgery that implants the port.
Far Guy is way beyond frustrated. He is ready to throw in the towel. I told him what the hay just jog over to the cemetery and lay on the plot. I figure the skeeters would bring him to his senses.
It has been a miserable week. I have a massive abscess that was in my jaw/roots of a tooth that has had root canals and a crown. The abscess moved to just under my ear. (Think pocket gopher.) At least it doesn’t hurt as much as it did and I can sleep. I am taking 20 days of antibiotics before I see the Oral Surgeon and have it yanked out…I am looking forward to that with great anticipation. If it isn’t one thing it is another. At least it is a back tooth…and at my age it is not worth saving…if a root canal and a crown didn’t fix it then I am better off without it.
Not the best of weeks is it? And there's no point in my telling you to 'buck up - things could be worse' because you know that and it doesn't help. Sometimes life sucks. Well done for handling it - both of you.
ReplyDeleteOh this is the tough stuff in life and I think both of you are handling it so well. I think humour will get you through. SO the yodeling guy would be a nice touch. Not to make light of this but I am sure Laughter is what is needed. Yoel a dee whoo (?) I am not a yodelerr:):)HUGS HUGS B
ReplyDeleteI'm very sorry. It is so frustrating to get Anything done medically these days. Your tooth problem sounds like me. Not fun at all and to think of all the $$ wasted. Saying a prayer for you both. xo
ReplyDeletePrayers coming your way. Amazing that you can still laugh. Very sorry that you and Gene are having such a frustrating time.
ReplyDeleteSo sorry to hear that you are having a bad week. My heart goes out to Far Guy and you. I have dealt with the "tooth" issue and sometimes I just wish they would yank them all out. If you both can just keep laughing about life things will get better. Sending you both a big hug.
ReplyDeleteHere I was nattering to myself about my very minor problems.
ReplyDeleteYou are toting a heavy and frustrating load - and in pain, to boot. How unfair that you have to deal with the stupidity of the health care system when you should instead be allowed to concentrate on getting Far Guy's health under control.
Even with everything going on that is not good this week - - - especially the abscess - - you are so FUNNY! Telling FG to go to the cemetery and lay on the plot - - - or you expect him to start yodeling any day now.
ReplyDeleteI am in agreement with you on the tooth - - and isn't it ridiculous what it cost to save one tooth?!!! Will your oral surgeon "knock you out"? Ours does. They say it's not general anesthesia but you are "under" and do not remember any of the procedure. It is wonderful not to remember a dental procedure - - - even if you have a bit of a recovery for a week or two. I am glad your antibiotics are taking the swelling down - - - an abscess is super painful.
I agree with Marty. It all sounds like an incredible process and one hand doesn't seem to know what the other is doing in terms of the infusion situation. I agree that you will be better off without that tooth. I have one that I decided to have pulled rather than pay for another crown.I am so sorry you are in such pain. I can only hope it will get better before FG lies out there for too long. Sending you big hugs. :-(
ReplyDeleteSending prayers for Far Guy, get better!!! Francine.
ReplyDeleteNothing worse than a toothache AND an abcess! You'll definitely feel better when that baby is out of there!
ReplyDeleteWhat a carry on (as the British would say)! Poor Far Guy, poor you. I can relate to you and the teeth. Ugghhh! Hope things improve for both of you.
ReplyDeleteOh my I can hear frustration from all sides and it is worse when you don't feel well. You are so funny though about telling him to go lay down in his plot at the cemetery - I can just hear you saying that! hahaha Chin up and I'm sending healing energy to you both!
ReplyDeleteI think you and FG are both very brave. You sure don't need the tooth problem with everything else that is happening right now. The infusion process sounds tough but I know that both of you will come through. Please keep us all posted. We all are very concerned about both of you. God Bless.
ReplyDeleteShirley H.
Oh my gosh! That abscess sounds awful. I've had my share of teeth problems and know how bad an abscessed tooth hurts. I was into reading all that stuff about mixing the medicine and how serious it all sounds, and then you threw in that about Far Guy yodeling...I had to laugh. Thank goodness for your sense of humor. Hope you both get to feeling better soon.
ReplyDeleteI admire you for being able to administer the "stuff." I don't think I could handle that with my fumble fingers.
ReplyDeleteI get an infusion every six weeks at an "infusion center" at the hospital. They never ordered a port for me so the challenge for the nurses is chasing a small, rolling vein.
I hope you both hang in there!! The "stuff" will be easier to do once you get practice and a routine going. Is there any sign of it actually "helping" any? I know you said it would only arrest future damage - but ...
ReplyDeleteI hope you get your toothache cleared up - I think toothaches are one of the worse pains inflicted on (wo)mankind!
Nope no sign of it working, but we hope it will stop future damage. Far Guy is really tired after the treatment for about two days.
DeleteKeeping you both in my prayers!
ReplyDeleteI went in with an infected tooth once and I really did hope for dynamite to take it out. Pain like that is beyond explaining. I do hope things will settle down and get easier for the infusions. The more times that it goes the more it will go better. We are headed in with my wife's friend next Wednesday for her Chemo. Every three weeks for six months and they then reevaluate. They need to have a train show going on every week so Far Guy would have something to look forward to when you make that trip.
ReplyDeleteI'm so sorry you have so much on your plate right now, both of you. I'm sure it seems overwhelming, between the pain and the procedure process. I hope things are better soon. Hugs!
ReplyDeleteOh dear!!! God Bless You Both. Hang in there and know that sometime someway things will get better. How sad to hear of all your travails. I did have to laugh when you told Far Guy to go and lay on the plot. I love your sense of humor ... please give a little of that to him so that he can take a few deep breaths and give all this new-fangled stuff a chance. You're both in my prayers.
ReplyDeleteYou wonder why they can make such simple things so complicated. I can see how Far Guy could ask if it's really worth it.
ReplyDeleteI'm sorry you had such a rough week. I hope things get better.Sprry about the abcess. Not a fun deal at all. I hope the treatments help your husband. I'm sure it can't be fun to be so exhausted for two days afterward, either. Take care.
ReplyDeleteSorry to hear of you both having a rough week . I do hope both of you feel better soon and your hubby's treatments help him . I told him what the hay just jog over to the cemetery and lay on the plot. I figure the skeeters would bring him to his senses ok your are so much like me here lol . When I had my abscess on my right side of my face with the damage I have from bells palsy as well which made it all worse I had to be on pain killers and antibiotics for 3 weeks then get the back tooth out I told Papa to put me in the back 40 with the peepers lol then I said oh make sure no skitters are there lol I can take pain anywhere else but my face . Praying all is well for you both .
ReplyDeleteMaybe Far Guy yodeling while you and a nurse mix the "stuff " would hasten more help for you ! At least it would be entertaining and give you both something to laugh about.
ReplyDeleteYou are so right, if it is not one thing it is another and of course this is when you need to be concerned about your teeth. :)
Things could ( and often do ) get worse, but I think your sense of humor and outlook on life help keep things in perspective. Meanwhile, I hope and pray you both experience some respite , some recovery, some remission.
You guys have sure had more than your share this year! Goodness gracious, between being sick most of the Winter and now this for Far Guy and you with the abscess. "You deserve a break today".....I suggest you both go to MacDonald's.....LOL! If only it were that simple. I've given myself injections for years and I have to mix the powder with the liquid just prior and "swirl gently until dissolved" but I just need to inject it into a non-vein area...nothing intra-venous like what Far Guy requires. But like anything else, it becomes old hat after a while and no one will do a better job than you! Bless you both!
ReplyDeleteP.S. Why Australian plasma? We have plasma in the states or is that where the medicine is made?
The plasma solution is made in Austria, that is what it says on the box all the vials come in:)
DeleteSending you both hugs!
ReplyDelete