Monday, May 21, 2007

Up early this morning to take Dad to the Polyclinic for his CT Scan. He has a really hard time riding in the car. His back hurts so much that he suffers the entire time we are on the road. I try to avoid potholes and anything that will make the car bounce too much. We got there in plenty of time, parked the car, and made it to the Diagnostic Imaging Center....where of course, we had to fill out yet more paperwork.

Luckily, other patients had not shown up, so they took us in right at 9:00am. Dad needed help laying down on the table while they put the IV link in his arm. He didn't have to undress...which was great. After a few minutes, the technician came and got us and led us into the room with the CT equipment. It is this huge machine with a hole in the middle...with a table that goes in and out of the area with the hole. On the ceiling were illuminated tiles with sky and autumn leaves. I pointed this out to Dad...he thought it was pretty neat. We got Dad on the table and the technician helped me move Dad's pants and underwear down a bit for the test.

The technician explained what he was doing to Dad and then asked me to join him behind the glass wall with all the computers. He did a trial run to make sure that Dad understood when to hold his breath and when to let it out. Once he got started, it was pretty fast. He did a full study that included the pelvic region. He included the pelvic region after consulting with Dad's oncologist. Listening to that conversation was my first inkling that they were looking for recurrent prostate cancer. Once the technician went out to talk to Dad again, I peaked at his paperwork from the oncologist. Sure enough, recurrent prostate cancer is what they are searching for at this point. From my own research I have learned that prostate cancer can metastasize to the bones and cause spinal cord compression as well as lower extremity edema. Dad's feet, legs and hands are all swollen. All this would explain why Dad's first symptoms all had to do with back pain and why his extremities are swollen.

After we left the exam room, I took Dad to the bathroom. We have this procedure worked out very well at this point. Once he was done, I got his pants secured and off we went to get the car. He moaned on the way home...the pain is really wearing him down. He also seemed weaker and skinnier today.

Once I got us back to their apartment, I fixed lunch for everyone. Asparagus quiche, rhubarb crumble and real vanilla ice cream. Dad's appetite is still really good. After lunch I got him settled in his chair with the ice bag. I also cleaned out an infected cut on his foot, put Neosporin on it and a bandaid.

I have noticed that Mom and Dad are more openly affectionate with each other...kissing, Mom tending to Dad as best she can...etc.

I ended my visit by administering Mom's eyedrops for the second time today. Tomorrow I pick her up at 8:00am to go to her eye specialist. Her eye is still closed most of the time due to the shingles.

At noon, I headed out to my job merchandising greeting cards at the Southcenter Target. It is kind of nice to take my mind off of all that is going on with Mom and Dad.

It is 9:15pm..I have done some research on metastatic cancer...done this blog entry...time to go take it easy for a little while before I go to bed.