Office Visit 5/4

05/04 10: 23
ANC 4240

We started the second round of chemotherapy at the oncologists' clinic today. For a little while this weekend, we were worried that we'd be in the hospital for it since Alan pulled out his feeding tube around midnight Saturday night. He must have been feeling his power from the Relay for Life and decided to take matters into his own hands. We were hoping for an early Cinco de Mayo miracle, that maybe with the tube out Alan would start to eat enough that it wouldn't have to go back in. Unfortunately it didn't work out that way, and we were sent back to the hospital. We were worried that they would keep us there overnight, possibly two nights to administer the chemotherapy but once the tube was in they sent us home. Last time, we went to Radiology to have the tube put in because it was an ND (Nasoduodenal) tube, which required an X-ray to guarantee the proper placement since it was going directly to his gut. This time, the nurses at the HEM/ONC ward could place a NG (Nasogastric) tube going to his stomach by listening to air blown into the tube with a stethoscope.

We got to spend this morning in the lavender pink Mushroom Room at the clinic. After getting accessed (Mommy has to remember to put on the Emla cream next time), relieving some pressure and getting the vitals over with, Alan has been pretty happy. We had a bag full of toys and snacks and the PSP was loaded with Baby Einstein. Even better, the bed here is great for bouncing! Unfortunately he was having so much fun he wouldn't nap, so when it was time to go home he was quite a cranky little man.

Today was a veritable pharmacy - the chemotherapy regimen VAC (Vincristine, Actinomycin, and Cyclophosphamide), Zofran for nausea, Lorazapam for anxiety and nausea, Mesna to protect his bladder from the Cyclophosphamide, and lots of IV fluids. We'll be taking home a pump for IV fluids for the rest of the day and be back tomorrow to finish off.


A Hawaiian shirt and nifty gadgets make any day more fun.