Love, hope, joy are powerful healers.
Feeling better today. Pain from mouth sores has decreased, but not gone away.
Also, they have been pumping formula through my feeding tube for over 18 hours now and my body is tolerating it quite well.
This afternoon I was discharged from the hospital. Yeah 🙂
Still in the hospital.
Today I had a feeding tube implanted in my stomach so I could get nourishment to regain my lost weight. Surgery went well, no problems.
Today was my eleventh complete radiation treatment. So I’ve finished one-third of my 33 treatments! Gotta love those milestones.
I say “complete” treatments because last week the radiation machine stopped working before I was half way through my treatment. The doctor has not yet told me if I will need another full treatment, partial treatment, or no additional treatment due to the machine breakdown. So for now I’m being conservative in my treatment count.
I must say that I am getting along much better with my mask these days. With soft piano music playing and visualizing that I’m at the beach, I’m able to get through the treatments without medication or anxiety attacks. Thank the Lord.
About my only complaint is that I have dry mouth during the night and when I wake up in the morning. I’ve been rinsing with Biotene and that seems to help. Once I eat breakfast and get something to drink, I’ve not experienced the dry mouth during the day.
I’m still eating solid foods and swallowing just fine. This has allowed me to maintain my weight, which is one of my goals. Speaking of food, Lois, Mary’s Mom, fixed “sloppy Joe’s” for dinner tonight and they were very good (and filling).
Thanks for your prayers!
Since Monday was a holiday, my chemotherapy appointment was moved to early Tuesday morning followed by radiation treatment in the afternoon. Dr. Barbara, my oncologist, does not have clinic hours on Tuesday’s so I did not see her today. Blood work first, then directly to the oncology lab for my chemo. My white blood cell count was down to 3.8 this week, which is just below the “normal” range low of 4.0. But not low enough to prevent me from receiving my chemo treatment.
These chemo treatments don’t take a long as the previous chemotherapy regimen of 3 chemo drugs. We were home my noon. After lunch, I worked for a couple of hours before leaving for my radiation treatment at 3:00pm. After the treatment, we met with the radiation oncologist. My mouth is looking good – no mouth sores – but my tongue has a white coating. The doctor suggested rinsing with aloe vera juice. Swallowing is fine and I’m eating solid foods without any difficulty.
Feeling fine. Continuing to work. Thanks for all your prayers!
Yeah, today everything was on schedule! Blood work, no problem. No waiting for appointment with Dr. Barbara, my oncologist. And my chemo appointment was ahead of schedule! A great way to start the week. I’m feeling good and my blood work was okay for treatment. Three key “directives” from Dr. Barbara – do my exercises, keep eating to maintain my weight, and call immediately if anything changes.
Also, I’m on “vacation” this week. Actually, Autodesk is “shutdown” from today through July 5 as a cost-saving move. We did the same thing last year. Of course, we’re not going anywhere on “vacation” – just taking it easy, getting treatments, and getting accustomed to my new “radiation regimen” that seems to have something happening every hour or two throughout the day. I will give you more detail in a blog later this week.
After chemo, Mary and I ate lunch at a Mexican restaurant with home-make guacamole and fantastic tacos. Since we’re on vacation, we might as well enjoy ourselves!
My radiation appointment at 3:00 in Franklin was right on time also. I wish every day went as smoothly as today’s appointments.
I’m feeling good today and eating well.