Liquid Headache

Posted On June 29, 2019

Tate’s appointment on Tuesday went very well. His ANC is 1537! That’s the best it has been in a long, long time. If it’s still this high or climbing at his next appointment, the doctors will likely increase the dose of his at-home chemo. For proper treatment of Leukemia, their goal is for his ANC to be between 750 and 1500. Getting the doses dialed in to his needs has not been easy.

Something that changed immediately is that they decided to stop giving him Pentamadine, an antibiotic that keeps his port site healthy and prevents pneumonia. He had a mild allergic reaction to it in the clinic the first time it was administered. They gave him some Benadryl and sent us on our way. The second time he was given Pentamadine, he woke up from a nap at home with his lips and tongue swollen and tingling. That just can’t happen again. They give him Benadryl to help with the allergic reaction, but it also knocks him out, making him unable to tell us that anything is wrong. Tate will be taking Bactrim again on the weekends to replace this drug.

Tate & Greg

With the antibiotic eliminated from the agenda, Tate’s appointment moved quickly. Within a few minutes of the chemotherapy hitting his system, Tate said, “That stuff is liquid headache.” He is instantly miserable and it lasts for days.

Tate walked into the clinic for treatment and then back to car afterward. The wheelchair was available if he needed it, but even after chemo he preferred to walk. Woo hoo!
On Wednesday, the cute lady that cleans our house brought us tacos. She’s a keeper!

Today is day 4 of steroids. Tate just has 2 doses left, and then he’ll start feeling better in a few days as the side effects wane. Until then he is one miserable guy.

This week’s flowers were provided by my friend Janenne šŸ™‚

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One Comment
  1. Jane

    It saddens me when Tate’s treatment week approaches, how he and you get through it helps me. Thank you.
    My heart leaps with jot at the 1500+ ANC count. I’m sure my friends are tired of me repeating it.
    Not all, the prayers appreciate the update either by text or in the locker room. Sometimes I actually think about what might be going on in their lives and listen. What a concept!
    Yesterday I thought Scott & Clark were getting to move on in their lives and Tate is stuck in treatment mode. This morning I know yesterday’s thoughts were malicious as Tate too is moving on each day. Threw Gods grace, the skill of his medical team, and his family, he lives on another day with a strong will to live and stay the course.
    Love & Prayers, Mom