The snappy white leggings are to prevent blood clots while in hospital beds. The "crew" of 4 are taking me to the radiation treatment. Thanks to Diane's sister, Ruthie, who told her how to download photos from her cell.
On Wednesday it was decided that I needed to stay another night in the hospital. This was a no-brainer as I could ill afford to get to Macomb and begin the vomiting cycle again plus the antibiotics had not worked completely as yet. Radiation treatments continued.
Let me change formats here as there is more good news to report than bad.
BAD:
1. I continue to be "on the edge" of vomiting but have not done so since Thursday morning. This was pretty scary as I had completed radiation, then dismissed from the hospital, and was literally on my way out the door when I had to throw up. Unfortunately for me or fortunately as the case may be, staffers saw my plight and told me I was going nowhere except to see Dr. El-Khoury. I just didn't want to stay in the hospital another night, and this wave of nausea passed quickly so we were off to Macomb.
2. I wake up in the morning and there is a 20-minute period where I have to get myself psychologically prepared not to throw up. Today is Monday--so far so good.
3. My throat stills burns but get this--it is better. Pain is at a 6 or 7 and no longer a 9 out of 10.
4. My weight is 159 and dropping like a rock as I can only consume 4 cans of product a day which is now being done through an electronic drip machine. I actually use it while sleeping at night.
5. I sleep in the car on the way over and back to Burlington. All of these little steps backwards are irritating but to be expected because in the aggregate things are much improved.
6. Deny it as I might, my shower drain is somehow full of hair every time I shower. I do not know how long or severe this situation will endure.
7. I rarely speak these days. I will not comment further on this predicament as the breadth of reactions to my situation from those reading this blog is probably pretty wide. Truth be told: Diane wishes I could speak more clearly as even she finds it difficult to understand me.
GOOD:
1. I am sleeping through the night. This is good on every level. I'm sure it is a combination of the morphine patch, vicidin, phenergan, and attavan but this treatment should be short-lived. As soon as possible, Dr. Diane will need to wean me of these drugs one at a time.
2. While mentioned above, it is worth writing again. I have not thrown up since Thursday at 10 a.m.
3. My last three radiation treatments are this Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday. That means to date, I've had 5 chemo days and completed 32 radiation blasts.
4. While every day presents new challenges, we are learning how to cope with them as they come our way.
5. Both boys visited this weekend. It is good for Diane as she gets to have some quality time with her sons and I get to visit with a couple of my best buddies.
6. A common theme of the messages I receive from you is that you are encouraged by what happens between life partners during a time like this in terms of the support they provide one another. This is absolutely correct. Everyone I've talked to who has been through a similar challenge says they couldn't have done it without the love and support of those who care about them. Rough around the edges Gordy Taylor would concur. I am indeed blessed.
7. GO BLACKHAWKS!!! I've always loved hockey and the Hawks. When I was in high school, I had season tickets in 1963-64. I can tell you the name and number of every player on that team. If pressed, I could also tell you how many teeth each of those guys has left. Tucked away in the basement, I have my ticket stubs. Chicago Stadium, 16,666 every night. Oh my God, an epiphany, here's where I got this damn cancer--as a poor high school student, I could only afford seats in the second balcony which by the third period was surrounded by a thick cloud of smoke rising up from the expensive seats below. A mystery solved.
We are off to West Burlington tomorrow morning. And so it goes......
