New Plan of Action

Forgive me for taking so long in getting this out...other than our email server being down a couple of days, I have no excuse!

We saw both Dr. M (hematologist/oncologist) and Dr. A (GI) last week.

Dr. M was pleased with Ron's blood levels staying consistent over the last month, so he's now going to have his anti-factor Xa (that's 10a) checked monthly. (Although, we got a call this week saying there was a major problem with his draw from when he was there and they wanted it rechecked ASAP. We should hear something back in the next couple of days; hopefully it was just a lab error). Good news is: Ron only has to see him every 3-4 months now...unless a problem shows up on routine lab results.

Dr. A was excited to add a couple of new medications with some definite goals in mind. With the number one goal being to get the yakking under control so Ron's esophagus can heal! And number two, to be able to return to more normal eating (without yakking).

One of the new meds is an old muscle relaxant (Baclofen) which has also shown to have the opposite effect on the GastroEsophageal Juncture (valve connecting the esophagus and the stomach) causing it to clamp down instead, thus keeping stuff from coming back up and hopefully reducing yakking. He is to take 1/2 dose 30 minutes before meals and at bedtime.

The second one is an over-the-counter antacid (Gaviscon) which has a seaweed base. This is taken after eating (whether it be a meal, snack, etc). The seaweed expands and acts as a barrier to keep food, bile, acid, etc from coming back up.

Ron says the Gaviscon is nasty to take. He feels like it's "growing" as he chews it...Yuck!

We were given a time table of two weeks...if it's going to work, we should see definite improvement within two weeks.

The first couple of days were really rough ones. As with most muscle relaxants, Baclofen can have a sedation effect; and it really knocked Ron on his tail! He was sleeping until noon, then getting up and sleeping in the recliner all afternoon. This combined with overall lethargy and stomach pain had him feeling quite puny. We ended up having to reduce the dose to 1/4.

Unfortunately, thus far, he has had no changes. Still yakking daily, along with major reflux. Yakking so violently last week, that he pulled a muscle; ugh! But hey, the muscle relaxant helped with that!

Tomorrow, Friday, we are to try to increase back up to 1/2 dose and see if his system can handle it. If not, they will have no choice but to discontinue this medication since it is obvious the 1/4 dose is doing nothing.

Please pray for an uneventful weekend for Ron, with no added side effects. We'd also love to see some clear improvement.

Much love,
Christie

A couple of Sunday's ago, our church was incredibly blessed to have Charles Billingsly lead us in worship. Below is one of the many songs that spoke to me.

Lord I Run to You

Lord I run to You
No one else will do
Lord in troubled time
I will run straight to You
Though my heart and flesh may fail
You're my ever present help
My tower of strength
My portion ever more

Lord I run to You
No one else will do
Lord You said we'd face
Trouble, pain and fear
But to be of good cheer
Be of good cheer
For You have overcome
Overcome the world

I lift my eyes up
To the mountains
Where does my help come from
It comes from You Lord
You are the Maker of heaven and earth
And there's nothing that's too hard for You