From Crummy to Crummier

I talked to Steve this morning. Terry had called to let me know that Steve's been doing worse since we last spoke three days ago. Steve didn't sound too bad, he still had some energy in his voice, but it was only about ten o'clock which is his best time of day. He said his attention span has decreased with his fatigue. He told me a sad story... he received a video game for Christmas he wanted, Mass Affect 3, and he can't play it for more than a half an hour before he's too tired to continue.  He says it's surreal that he's not wanting to play it a lot, that it's not at all like him. And he doesn't watch movies much because he gets too tired to finish watching them.  And food commercials only make him feel nauseated where he used to desire the pretty food. Isn't that pitiful?

He continues to lose a pound a day. He ate a yogurt this morning and then threw it up. He ate an english muffin last night for dinner. He snacks on handfuls of nuts. He's a nutty kind of guy :) He's now eating high calorie foods like full fat milk and yogurt, just not very much of it. He says when he drinks a glass of milk, the glass size would fit in a little bathroom Dixie cup, just a few ounces at a time. His weight is now in the 250's. He hasn't weighed so little since he was in his twenties. Some years ago, when he went on Weight Watchers his goal weight was 263. He said he blew past that weight in no time.

Terry called Dr. Hu on Thursday since the nausea and excess saliva were so bad. Dr. Hu added a Trans-derm Scope patch, like for sea sickness, which goes behind Steve's ear. It's supposed to last three days but it has to be removed for the radiation treatments. Terry saved the plastic it came on and then had Steve put it back on after Friday's radiation. He took it the first night along with his antihistamine pill and it helped but only so-so since then. Unfortunately, it didn't help enough this morning since he couldn't keep down his breakfast.

Since Steve is eating so little his blood sugar levels are good. He is only taking three Actos pills a day, compared to his prior level of Actos plus four Glipizides a day. With the pills, his morning blood sugar levels range between 120 - 150. That's one small good thing.

Adam has three performances of his Willy Wonka school play where he is wearing a Tootsie Roll costume. Terry is only going to the one matinee so she can stay home with Steve longer.  Adam is learning to grow up and be independent for his other performances.  Another little good thing, I suppose... Sigh....