Philip has not been well the last few weeks but has improved a little over the last day or so.
He was put onto new medications to try and stop the ballooning weight problem (he is 119.5kg now and was 82kg in June) but unfortunately he had some worrying side effects. Our Doc even considered putting him back into hospital the week before Christmas.
After a series of blood tests and changing the new med dosage he seems to be a lot better to I am very glad our Doc decided he could be managed just as easily at home.
I have noticed that he is very unsteady on his feet now and has to rely on his walking frame or the wheelchair; he has had a couple of falls and near falls recently so we have to keep a close watch on him. His feet and legs are quite swollen with fluid and the Doc can't seemed to find a way to lessen it.
His speak had improved a lot and the aphasia was almost non existent for a while but I notice it is creeping back in again. He has even been able to go to the toilet and have a little privacy.
The Doc plans to do a CT scan in mid January so it will give us an idea if the tumour is active again.
The ear is still of some concern. It is weepy but not as badly but then last Thursday Philip scratched it again and of course, it is worse again. Hopefully it will clear up. He had some pain with it but I give him panamax every few hours and at night he had Endone.
On a really exciting note (for me anyway).
My 3 wonderful children (Ben, Will and his wife Marrianne) gave me a plane ticket for Christmas - (business class no less) to Albury!!
Next Saturday I am off to spend a week with my middle sister (the one who was up here in July) who lives in wodonga. I take off at 8.30 in the morning and don't come home until the following Sunday morning. The kids all have holidays at the moment and will look after Philip while I am gone. Ben, of course, lives with us but Will and Marrianne will pop over to help and Marrianne will make tea at night a few times to help Ben. The Home Care girls will still come so it won't be any different for Philip except I won't be there.
He is a bit hesitant but after reassuring him that everyone will be here he isn't too bad with the idea. Still a week will zoom away fast but I am soooo looking forward to it. Except for three days at Mudgee and Dubbo zoo Philip and I have not had a holiday away since before he was diagnosed almost 14 years ago, think it is probably close to 16 years since our last holiday.
What is equally amazing is that this trip has been arrange since October and none of the kids or my sister have let on!
My niece (Annette's daughter) lives a few minutes from my sister and so we will be able to spend time with her family too. Knowing her she will have found all the patchwork and lolly (fudge) shops in a reasonable radius from Wodonga so guess what I will be coming home with!!
