Its been 6.5 months since brain mets dx

Y’all, I’m sick with fear.

But for the kindness of strangers, Jeff and I would mostly be alone on this journey. Please know how genuinely grateful I am for prayers, positive juju, and for “thoughts” … please know I feel a sense of love being able to write my feelings and to share my Jeff’s story. Please know that when you reach out just to say you care, I am touched beyond measure.

It’s been 6.5 months since we learned of Jeff’s brain tumors. His last brain scan showed his brain was stable, but in the past 2ish weeks I’ve noticed Jeff has just been off. Until yesterday that is when he was terribly confused and couldn’t answer questions appropriately.

He was lucid some of the time and actually got “better” in the evening hours, but SOMETHING is wrong.

He is also profoundly fatigued. Sleeping a lot. Beginning to miss work. Has been sleeping all day today.

Two/three weeks ago they upped Jeff’s gabapentin to 2700 mg total daily. (900 mg x 3 daily).

I’m hoping with allllll that I have Jeff can’t tolerate the heightened dosage. I am terrified cancer is raging through his brain though.

We lowered his dose yesterday and called the doctor. Rock and a hard place, but we were grateful to weather this storm (at least the beginning of it) at home. His oncologist did not send us to the ER.

We will have to go if he gets worse and in the meantime his team is trying to get him in sooner for his PET scan. (He’s scheduled in March anyway.)

After Jeff’s brain tumors were found, the prognosis was so grim. Jeff hasn’t really caught a break but d*mnit his brain looked great. I let myself glom onto this and truly believed his brain was gonna be “ok”. This miserable cancer would not be, but his brain would.

I dunno. Sorry. I’m rambling.

I’m scared.

Please let this be a medication intolerance. ☹️😭

#teamjeffgallagher

~ Stephanie

I have been going on trail walks each day, and this is a time when I focus on thoughts and prayers for friends and family.

You and Jeff are in my thoughts, each day.

I am sending my encouragement to both of you, and I promise to keep in touch.

Please continue to take care of yourself, Stephanie, as you continue to look after Jeff. I know this is a time of great need for him.

Your heart is in every post, and all you are doing for Jeff and your family.

Thinking of you both,
CYCLONE - # Iowa State University

That is a lot of gabapentin. I take 200mg a day and can get brain fog. I hope today is a better day for you both, and I hate that you have to go thru this.

The reality for you and Jeff, is that Jeff has a very difficult diagnosis and hence a very difficult treatment plan. Coupled with the fact that you all have a limited support system at this time. And "who takes care of the caretaker."

Stephanie, please take care of you during all of this. And let us continue to be part of your support system. We are honored to do so.
Michael