We woke this morning to our alarm going off, that is a first for a long time!! It actually felt good to have to wake up! lol Gary ate 1 cup of raisin brain (7+ grams fiber) with whole milk (fat) and his coffee with heavy cream (more fat). Talk about a treat! So we measured 21 grams fat and 7+ grams fiber. Then 20 minutes later with the last bit of his coffee, down went the pills. He is sitting in his favorite chair with his head phones on, listening to music on his cell phone . . . Marshall Tucker Band . . .
Blood sugars were fine, 129, so now we have to see how the medicine affects those numbers. My hope is that they will not, but our Doc said that the numbers may be lower, so we just have to keep an eye on those.
Today is another beautiful day in AZ, I am sure it will be at least 100! fun fun fun!
Saturday, June 30, 2012
June 30, 2012 ~ 6 hours until treatment starts . . .
Well, it is 1:59 am and I can not sleep. Gary fell asleep finally about 20 minutes ago, and I got up and puttered around the kitchen a bit, now I am wide awake! We both tossed and turned in bed for quite some time tonight, neither of us could put a finger on all the thoughts racing through our heads. . .
While talking with Elaina today and tonight, she verbalized her concerns about the fact that if this treatment does not work, then this could be the last chance Gary has. Even though I have talked to all the children about this fact, I am not sure if they or I for that matter, completely grasps this fate.
I do feel blessed to have this time to share with Gary, as many of our loved ones don't have this time. A unforeseen destiny is troubling no matter what the circumstance may be.
I set all the alarms on my phone tonight to help us remember the times to take the Telaprivir every day. I also have signed up for daily text message reminders through the Incivec web site, (for those of you who know me well, I don't do the same thing ever at the same time ever, and I am not "punctual") This treatment medicine must be taken every 8 hours and at the same time every day. This is one of the very important factors to help this medicine attack and conquer! I really hope with all the tools I am trying to use, I can stay on top of this . . .
The pills are really big and purple. They look intimidating. I suppose after the first week passes, the fear of the unknown will not be so strong, and we will be able to feel more at ease about this whole process. At least I hope that is what happens . . .
The wind is very strong tonight and it is causing lots of noises that I am not used to hearing at night. We also do not have the A/C running, which normally drowns out much of the night time noises. It would probably be in my best interest to shut down for the night, or at least give it a try, as this day is more than likely going to be nerve racking to say the least!
PEACE~HOPE~LOVE
Allison
While talking with Elaina today and tonight, she verbalized her concerns about the fact that if this treatment does not work, then this could be the last chance Gary has. Even though I have talked to all the children about this fact, I am not sure if they or I for that matter, completely grasps this fate.
I do feel blessed to have this time to share with Gary, as many of our loved ones don't have this time. A unforeseen destiny is troubling no matter what the circumstance may be.
I set all the alarms on my phone tonight to help us remember the times to take the Telaprivir every day. I also have signed up for daily text message reminders through the Incivec web site, (for those of you who know me well, I don't do the same thing ever at the same time ever, and I am not "punctual") This treatment medicine must be taken every 8 hours and at the same time every day. This is one of the very important factors to help this medicine attack and conquer! I really hope with all the tools I am trying to use, I can stay on top of this . . .
The pills are really big and purple. They look intimidating. I suppose after the first week passes, the fear of the unknown will not be so strong, and we will be able to feel more at ease about this whole process. At least I hope that is what happens . . .
The wind is very strong tonight and it is causing lots of noises that I am not used to hearing at night. We also do not have the A/C running, which normally drowns out much of the night time noises. It would probably be in my best interest to shut down for the night, or at least give it a try, as this day is more than likely going to be nerve racking to say the least!
PEACE~HOPE~LOVE
Allison
Friday, June 29, 2012
Day -1, Treatment starts tomorrow
 | ||||
| Visit INCIVEK website |
Visit Triple Therapy Treatment overview
We have a huge support system between ourselves and our family. We have been ready to begin the treatment for the past 3 months and finally we have the go ahead to start tomorrow morning. The treatment is a bit tricky and Gary is considered a high risk patient as he is quite sick already and he is post transplant. His schedule looks something like this:
7:30 am~wake and check blood sugar, dose accordingly (novalog and Lantus).
7:40 am ~eat a high fiber and high fat (20g fat) meal~coffee, creamer (heavy cream), splenda, oatmeal or toast or cereal.
8:00 am~take dose of Telaprivir and Ribavirin. (treatment)
9:00 am~take the rest of medication for the morning.
10:00 am~recheck blood sugars maybe a snack.
noon~check blood sugar, dose accordingly (novalog) small healthy meal
2:00 pm~recheck blood sugars
3:40 pm~check blood sugars and dose accordingly (novalog) eat a high fiber and high fat (20g fat) meal
4:00 pm~take dose of Telaprivir and Ribavirin. (treatment)
6:00 pm~recheck blood sugars maybe a snack, take everyday medication
7:30 pm~check blood sugar, take Lantus and once a week on Saturday night, take an injection of PEGASYS® (peginterferon alfa-2a). (treatment).
11:30 pm~check blood sugars and dose accordingly (novalog) eat a high fiber and high fat (20g fat) meal, and take night time medications.
12:00 Midnight~take dose of Telaprivir. (treatment)
2:00am~recheck blood sugars
Phew! This is going to be tricky!! But we are both dedicated at this time only to his treatment, so we are ready for the challenge. This will be his daily schedule for the next 12 weeks. Unless his labs show that his viral load is not dropping to the undetectable levels that are required at week 4, 8, and 12. If this treatment is not killing the Hep C virus and he is not showing it as undetected, then the treatment will stop and we will roll on with our lives until we have more choices . . . One more thing for us, since Gary is post transplant, he is taking Prograf, an anti~rejection medication. This medication is triggered by the Telaprivir to become up to 75% more potent in his body, so Gary's Prograf levels will have to be checked twice a week through out the treatment on Monday's and Thursday's. So we will have to go to the University of AZ Med hospital both those days for labs. Gary is also considered a high risk patient, so we will have to go to the transplant clinic every Wednesday to check in with the NP and the Doctor...
It is all a plan and a schedule we can follow, so we should be ok.?.?. We have meals planned, over the counter medications on hand, phone numbers posted to call in case of an Emergency, medications ready, side effects planned for and family support. I think we are ready to rock!
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)