We just got home from the treatment center. It’s almost 5:00, so it was a very long day. The doctors sure weren’t kidding when they said things were about to get tough. Al’s kidney levels were low, so the doctor gave him fluids today. He doesn’t want to give him chemo on Monday either. He is to get more fluids on Monday and Tuesday and chemo on Wednesday if his blood work looks better. His magnesium is also low. I thought he was taking a supplement because I went out and bought some. However, when I opened up his pill box to add an extra one, I saw that there weren’t any in there. That means I forgot to give them those pills all week. Oops! The doctor was also concerned about his 6 lb weight loss. He is eating, but he hasn’t been able to keep much down these past 2 days. He has been nauseous, but he threw up mostly because he was gagging so much on his own spit. The doctor wasn’t too concerned about him spitting up blood though, which is because his throat is so raw. The mucus in his mouth is the most unbearable thing for him right now. The doctor offered him some kind of suction device, but he isn’t interested. He can’t even tolerate soup anymore, so it’s just Scandishakes. He is forcing himself to drink 3 of those a day, so that’s a good 1800 calories. He really needs to try and drink 4 shakes, but I don’t know if he can do it. The doctor said he will be forced to put in a feeding tube if he continues to lose weight at this rate. Al was even reluctant to get fluids today, but the doctor said he could end up in the hospital if he doesn’t. He didn’t argue with that. It was a pretty depressing day. Al can hardly talk and says he feels terrible. So terrible that he doesn’t know how he is going to make it through the next 2 weeks. I really hope he feels better tomorrow. He has been feeling well on the weekends so far, so this little break from treatment should help. His neck is completely black now from the radiation. He has been applying the creams, so hopefully it won’t peel.