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February 27, 2003 -- Interim Maintenance #1 (Day 7) Katie hasn't been feeling well since her last clinic appointment on 2/19. She had a lot of chemo last week (Vincristine IV push and 4 other oral chemo meds) that made her vomit each day and caused constipation. Unfortunately, she had to take three more meds to treat the constipation and nausea/vomiting. This week she's still taking senna and mineral oil to help keep her bowels soft and moving each day. Katie is still not feeling very well, and hasn't been active this week at all. She's complaining that her feet hurt again (a side effect of the Vincristine that stopped her from walking on 12/29/02). Hopefully, she'll start perking-up over the next few days. Katie had an appointment with an Orthopedist at 9:30 on Wednesday (2/26) morning. We discussed Katie's medicines, the side effects she's having and her activity level at each phase of treatment. Her doctor felt that since Katie is the best indicator of how she well she is feeling, she will let us know when she's ready to increase her activity. She recommended we follow-up with an Orthopedic specialist at CHOP that deals more with children on chemotherapy, and have them do a bone density test and x-ray her spine. I'm going to try to coordinate that appointment with her next visit to CHOP on March 20 where Katie will have a spinal tap, intrathecal MTX and a Vincristine IV push, if it's not too much for her in one day. Katie's Interim Maintenance #1-day 7 clinic appointment was at 10:30. She only need a CBC blood draw this visit. They did a finger prick instead of accessing her port. Her counts looked good, so she didn't need any blood products. It was a very easy day at the clinic. She had a PT evaluation this morning. She wasn't very responsive to the "play lady", so I got on the floor and "played" with Katie while the "play lady" observed. We were given some activities to do until the next time. Katie will start PT next Tuesday morning and will continue once weekly until she gets into her next phase of treatment (around 4/16) which is very chemo intensive. Katie won't be feeling well enough to get any benefit from the PT, so her PT treatments will be put on hold at that point until she's feeling better. |
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