Sandy - update after appointment w/oncology vet

Photo taken earlier this month on Long Island, NY.

We visited with the oncology vet yesterday (5/21/07), and xrays revealed Sandy has developed ulcers in his stomach. This was apparently caused by the Piroxicam, so it appears his body is not handling that well and we'll need to stop that treatment. He also has colitis - similar symptoms as a bladder infection, but only for the colon. If you've ever had a bladder infection you can probably imagine how uncomfortable a similar infection must be for the colon and digestive system.

In addition to stopping the daily dose of Piroxicam, the vet has put Sandy on five (yes, I really mean five) kinds of medicine: One to heal the ulcers, an antibiotic to resist infection, something to spur his appetite, and the purpose of the other two escapes me for the moment, but we have a long list of instructions downstairs. Our kitchen island looks like a pharmacy. Most pills are every 12 hours, but some are given 1/2 hour before he eats, some with a meal, and some 2 hours after. Tim and I developed a schedule to help us keep track because as you can imagine it gets a little confusing.

Even though it may not sound like it - the overall news was good. Colitis is treatable, so that's much better news than if the prostate had grown. But it's disappointing he cannot handle the Piroxicam, because this may mean relying more heavily on the intravenous option for a longer period. Tim and I will evaluate this with his doctors regularly, because even though we hope to extend his time as much as possible, we also want it to be quality time with as little discomfort as possible. One day at a time, eh?

Thanks for listening and all the best! Carla