Quick update

Hey everyone.  Thought I'd do a really fast update on my lunch break.  Bullet points:

• Jo's in the hospital (room 260 at Memorial) getting a round of Ifofsomide (I have no idea if I'm spelling that right)
• She went in on Tuesday... that same day we found out her long term disability was denied because they're considering this a "pre-existing condition" (not because of 2008 cancer but because of surgery to remove tumor last July...after the policy was already in effect... figure that one out).  REALLY don't know what we're going to do about that, but one issue at a time.
• The Ifofsomide is definately the medicine causing "the crazys" as we call them.  After one dose of the chemo this time, Jo's already pretty loopy and out of it.  And having a harder time laughing at herself about it because she's so frustrated.  She was trying to recite "Ring around the rosies" to Donn and me last night (don't ask, we talk about random things) and she couldn't get the words right... which made us all laugh but made her cry (and is making me cry remembering... because GOD she's GOT to be so frustrated!).  And then later told me that because I was working in Springfield today I could bring her some work to do... some of MY work... we have no idea why she thought she would need, want or be able to work on anything for my job... (except maybe it made sense in the jumbled mess of her brain because she convinced she has to go back to work now because of the money issues)... 
• She gets the crazies because this drug has central nervous system (CNS) toxicity as well as renal toxicity (they give her meds to help protect her kidneys on the renal toxicity, but there aren't ones for the CNS toxicity).  CNS toxicities include delirium, confusion, lethargy, drowsiness, disorientation, hallucinations, stupor, personality changes, mutism, encephalopathy (any brain disease), muscle twitching, incontinence, seizure, coma and potentially death...  As you can see from the underlines, she's experienced a lot of these already so, thankfully the next point is where we're trying to head...
• The doctor is hopeful that this is the last time she'll have to do the Ifos.  But, as mom said last post, that's going to be contingent on finding an alternative (and getting insurance to improve it.  I am telling you, I am ready to go on a freaking crusade against medical and LTD insurance companies right about now!)
• As is Par, they're not going to get out in 3 days.  They are almost a full day behind on her 2nd dose of the ifos. because they couldn't get her specific gravity (sg) down low enough after the 1st dose to administer the next (sg has something to do with her renal function so there's like a "safety" zone where it will start being worse on the kidneys if her sg is too high...)  Add to the frustration...

Anyway, that's the update I've got for you now...