Deb is doing really well. She has been tired and has rested both morning and afternoon. But apart from that seems to be exactly as she was before the operation. (To give an example: she has started to worry about buying and sending birthday cards. I must admit that birthday cards do not figure high on my list of priorities even when I am well but surely they would be among the first thing you would stop thinking about if feeling poorly.)
Fred Berki, Clinical Nurse Specialist Neuro Oncology, following a conversation with Dr Sanghera, Consultant Oncologist, rang to discuss Deb's treatment post operation.
1 Deb will now not see Dr Sanghera on Monday 2 August. Fred sees little point in seeing Dr Sanghera so soon. An appointment will be made for 6 weeks time.
2 Deb will have an MRI scan in 4 weeks. This will provide a baseline picture of the situation post operation.
3. The reduction in dosage for steroids given by the ward is too rapid a drop. Deb should decrease her current dose of 12mg per day by 2mg each week until she reaches a dose of 4mg per day. Deb should stay on the dose of 4 mg until advised by Dr Sanghera. The slower reduction is in case of brain swelling following the insertion of gliadel wafers.
4. Deb or I should ring Fred or Claire each week (Wednesday, midday) to keep them advised of Deb's progress.
5. Deb needs to keep a watch on the wound if there is any swelling, redness or soreness she is to contact the hospital ward direct.
6. Deb should not have any direct side effects from the gliadel wafers (they contain a chemotherapy drug called carmustine) but the wafers can cause some swelling or infection inside the brain. Hence the need for a slow steroid reduction.
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2 comments:
Chris, no worries there,it's a woman thing.
Anne Darby - I can't believe how well you are doing - Steve still takes phenytoin nearly 30 years on from his neurosurgery!
Chris, I can vividly remember how I felt waiting for the phone call to say he was out of surgery - must have been the longest afternoon of my life.
All love Anne
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