Well, folks, we are 8 days after chemo and we have survived. I am back playing tennis. The major problem with that is getting enough people to play each day. But, it is important to exercise and for me tennis is the most attractive exercise alternative. I have lost 9 pounds from last week. Thank goodness! I had gained that much the previous week.
The only issue is my mouth dryness and mouth sores. During the night, my mouth gets very dry and there are sores in my mouth that both hurt a lot and also bleed during the night. The research manager is getting tired of showing me how to clean blood off pillow cases.
I have been researching how a horse sleeps standing up. If I can figure out the secret, I will try it. That way, I will not have to lay down and my mouth will not become dry. Any suggestions on how to achieve this would be appreciated.
I usually wake up just in time to get out on the tennis court. As a result, I do not take the time to consult what I look like and more than once, I have arrived at the courts looking like Dracula with blood dripping from my mouth. I am sure the research manager will be horrified when she reads this!
The cancer center has now prescribed a concoction also called Magic Mouthwash, but with more ingredients than the simple one that I have been using. It is mixed at the labs in Orlando and sent with an ice pack overnight. It will arrive tomorrow. Fingers crossed that it will be helpful.
Some of my time. but even more of Andy's and the research manager's time, is being spent on getting my book to the point of publishing. Figuring out what route to go (literary agent, publishing house directly, self publishing companies, et cetera.) I think the end product will be attractive, useful and successful, but there is a lot of work to make all of that happen.
It is late. Time for bed. Maybe if I sneak into the bedroom quietly, the mouth sores won't realize that I am sleeping and will stay away.
Wednesday, June 27, 2018
Wednesday, June 20, 2018
My Life Goes On
Here I am the day after chemo and I do not feel to badly.
I do not have a great appetite and am tired. No mouth sores yet, but I do have dry mouth.
I have determined that drinking cold water may aggravate the mouth sores and so I am sticking with room temperature water at this point.
I have developed some sensitive spots on my head, but I am told that is natural for chemo, somewhat the same as mouth sores.
It is a good thing that I do not have a big appetite because I gained about 7 pounds while my father was visiting. No explanation. It just happened.
My book is nearing completion. All the drawings are done and I just have one appendix and a cover to complete it. I have two possible publishers and am working with one first to allow me to make any improvements that they would like to see before I submit the manuscript to the second.
As you know,, the chemo seems to affect speech and I know that I am often hard to understand Well let me tell you, yesterday I met a man undergoing his first round of chemo who was virtually impossible to understand. I hate to think what he will be like after a few sessions.
This week, I have learned of three people from the bridge club passing. Life is challenging when you get older. I am grateful for good care, a caring research manager, lots of encouraging comments and prayers. ( I just got added to another church prayer list!). With such support, I continue to be optimistic about my outcome. Thanks for the part that you play in the process.
I do not have a great appetite and am tired. No mouth sores yet, but I do have dry mouth.
I have determined that drinking cold water may aggravate the mouth sores and so I am sticking with room temperature water at this point.
I have developed some sensitive spots on my head, but I am told that is natural for chemo, somewhat the same as mouth sores.
It is a good thing that I do not have a big appetite because I gained about 7 pounds while my father was visiting. No explanation. It just happened.
My book is nearing completion. All the drawings are done and I just have one appendix and a cover to complete it. I have two possible publishers and am working with one first to allow me to make any improvements that they would like to see before I submit the manuscript to the second.
As you know,, the chemo seems to affect speech and I know that I am often hard to understand Well let me tell you, yesterday I met a man undergoing his first round of chemo who was virtually impossible to understand. I hate to think what he will be like after a few sessions.
This week, I have learned of three people from the bridge club passing. Life is challenging when you get older. I am grateful for good care, a caring research manager, lots of encouraging comments and prayers. ( I just got added to another church prayer list!). With such support, I continue to be optimistic about my outcome. Thanks for the part that you play in the process.
Wednesday, June 13, 2018
Happy Fathers Day
My father has arrived for a visit and as a result, I am feeling great. The reason is that I was able to postpone chemo for two weeks so that I can feel good for Dad's visit. Thanks, Dad!
About the only two things that I am feeling now are the normal neuropathy and dry mouth.
Oh, yes........there is also the issue of chemo brain. I do forget things. For example, when I got home with Dad, we forgot to bring his luggage up from the car. We had to stop the elevator half way up and go back down to get it.
It gets so bad, that when they post a Silver Alert, ( an alert that an old guy is meandering down the highway, not knowing where he is) I have to check closely to see if they are talking about me!
Some things are improving though. I am now able to tolerate having three or nine eggs in the carton knowing that since we eat three eggs each morning, it will even out every other day.
Also, I am trying to keep up with technology. While I am not as involved as some, I do have an active text life! What is more, I like playing with "emails."
That's all that I have for tonight.
Happy Fathers Day for those that are fathers.
About the only two things that I am feeling now are the normal neuropathy and dry mouth.
Oh, yes........there is also the issue of chemo brain. I do forget things. For example, when I got home with Dad, we forgot to bring his luggage up from the car. We had to stop the elevator half way up and go back down to get it.
It gets so bad, that when they post a Silver Alert, ( an alert that an old guy is meandering down the highway, not knowing where he is) I have to check closely to see if they are talking about me!
Some things are improving though. I am now able to tolerate having three or nine eggs in the carton knowing that since we eat three eggs each morning, it will even out every other day.
Also, I am trying to keep up with technology. While I am not as involved as some, I do have an active text life! What is more, I like playing with "emails."
That's all that I have for tonight.
Happy Fathers Day for those that are fathers.
Wednesday, June 6, 2018
Black is the new red.
Here it is Wednesday and you will be surprised to learn that I have no mouth sores, not much tiredness and I am eating somewhat normally!
How is that possible?
When I went for chemo yesterday, my white blood cell count was 2.0, close to the lowest ever and my ANC was .9, the lowest ever.
As a result, I did not get chemo, but rather had shots to boost those counts both on Tuesday and today (Wednesday). I may get chemo next week, but I am negotiating this as my dad is arriving next Wednesday for a visit. I am hoping to put it back two weeks. I will find out tomorrow.
What else has happened in the past week?
1. Chemo brain affected the clothes wash. A roll of masking tape accidently fell into the dryer and managed to engage itself with a fitted sheet. As I worked my way through the result, I thought that the elastic part of the sheet was being separated from the rest of the sheet. After a few minutes of sorting this out, I discovered the masking tape reality.
2. On Sunday June 3, we made a run to the east coast of Florida for one of the research manager's GAL cases. On the way, the car front bumper and windshield was attacked by love bugs. Apparently their is season is mid-April to the end of May. I guess all of the bugs that we were encountering were pregnant, because were all "late."
3. Black is the new red. I have taken to wearing more black shirts than red these days. I consistently get compliments on how I look in black and so I am wearing more black. Nothing wrong with red, but I am liking black better. We have a "Purple Party" on Saturday in support of the Alzheimer's Association. I am wondering about something purple. Shirt? Socks? Hair? Hmmm.
I'll let you know next week!
How is that possible?
When I went for chemo yesterday, my white blood cell count was 2.0, close to the lowest ever and my ANC was .9, the lowest ever.
As a result, I did not get chemo, but rather had shots to boost those counts both on Tuesday and today (Wednesday). I may get chemo next week, but I am negotiating this as my dad is arriving next Wednesday for a visit. I am hoping to put it back two weeks. I will find out tomorrow.
What else has happened in the past week?
1. Chemo brain affected the clothes wash. A roll of masking tape accidently fell into the dryer and managed to engage itself with a fitted sheet. As I worked my way through the result, I thought that the elastic part of the sheet was being separated from the rest of the sheet. After a few minutes of sorting this out, I discovered the masking tape reality.
2. On Sunday June 3, we made a run to the east coast of Florida for one of the research manager's GAL cases. On the way, the car front bumper and windshield was attacked by love bugs. Apparently their is season is mid-April to the end of May. I guess all of the bugs that we were encountering were pregnant, because were all "late."
3. Black is the new red. I have taken to wearing more black shirts than red these days. I consistently get compliments on how I look in black and so I am wearing more black. Nothing wrong with red, but I am liking black better. We have a "Purple Party" on Saturday in support of the Alzheimer's Association. I am wondering about something purple. Shirt? Socks? Hair? Hmmm.
I'll let you know next week!
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