Cycle 8, day 7

It's day 7, but Woody isn't finished with the drug study pills since he didn't start taking his chemo drugs till the evening of day one in this cycle. He will be finished with taking drug study pills for this cycle in the morning. None too soon for him! Now to convince him to try pain medication the way the doctor and nurse suggested...maybe when he finishes taking the pills he has to take for this cycle! He still hasn't taken the phosphorus supplement. He says that he isn't ready to take his pain medication around the clock as they are suggesting...part of the time Tylenol and Aleve and part of the time a stronger pain medication. One of the reasons is that he doesn't want to add any "extra" pills while he is having to take the chemo medication. I told him that if he were a child in my care, he would already have taken his phosphorus and would at least be trying the suggested pain management...but to each his own...and I can't force him (a grown man) to take it...and he points out that he is taking the drug study meds that he has to take. Hard to be sympathetic about pain...when there is something to alleviate it and he refuses to try it! He has a hard time understanding that pain medication builds upon itself...that taking it just every so often when in constant pain...just doesn't cut the pain...and that when it doesn't work the first dose...it might be a good idea to try it for a second dose! But he feels that if it doesn't work the first time that it isn't going to work. Enough said! (And...he is hurting tonight.) He is dealing with how to handle it tonight...I think that he is going to take one of his stronger pain pills at 7pm and then another one when he goes to bed.

He slept in a bit later than usual this morning, went to work, took his 4 drug study pills, worked, walked at lunch, worked some more, came home to rest and relax. I had school with Joy and Esther and then read with Abigail and Graham. Graham also stayed to move his K'nex back into the designated K'nex spot in the living room...they had been stored away since before Christmas to make room for the Christmas tree and then we kept them put away till after our party this past weekend. He was happy to be able to "build" again. Joy came back over to play this afternoon while Graham was over here. She enjoyed visiting with Goosey (Woody), after he got home. Woody took his 4 drug study pills for tonight a little while ago...now just 4 more drug study pills for this cycle to take in the morning!