Energy Crisis

Here we are a week after chemo and I think I can see light at the end of the tunnel, well this tunnel anyway.

The major issue this past week has been tiredness and lack of energy. This was proven when I had my blood tests yesterday and came up with a very low white blood cell count. As a result, I had a neupogen shot yesterday and again today to build up those white blood cells. I am beginning to feel more energy already.

I played tennis yesterday and again this morning with mixed but not all negative results. Mind you, I had gone the previous 5 days undefeated. The fact that I couldn't play two days because of Bob and three days because of rain is irrelevant.

The other day, I had a sit down with the research manager to talk about diet. Well, I had a lecture about diet. I heard the word ketogenic several times. Then we turned on the television and immediately heard a commercial that started "Here's what I want for Charlie's diet." That was about dog food but it resembled what I heard before turning on the TV.

One of the things we are trying to do is to sit quietly and listen. I was listening to Cash Cab the other day and the research manager started talking about listening, thereby making it impossible to listen. Oh well.

I am now going a month without any treatment and will see the doctor on August 21. Meanwhile, I get to recover. I will have a petscan on August 13.

Thank you all for your interest, prayers and support. I am grateful for all.

Doing not too badly

Last Wednesday, I was just recovering from some digestive issues and about to go to a colon hydrotherapy session the following day. That session went well and things have steadily improved since then. In fact, it is now the day after chemo and I am feeling generally well. I am tired tonight because I was out for a good part of the day, but otherwise things are ok.

While I was at the colon hydrotherapy clinic, they offered to do a foot detox. I agreed to do it and I think it was helpful, but who knows. When it was finished, the assistant said that she was going to rinse my feet with plain water. I told her that I preferred train water, but I think that it went right over her head.

Prior to every chemo, I meet with either the doctor or the nurse practitioner. You may recall my affinity for nurse practitioners. Yesterday, I met with a physician's assistant. I will tell you that they rate right up there with nurse practitioners!

I learned yesterday that I will have a month's holiday with no treatment, not meeting with the doctor till about the third week of August. This will be a nice break. I expect that we will then begin use of the pills (Xaloda) every other week and a 1/2 hour infusion of Avastin every other week also. That is far more palatable for me than what I have been going through.

I may have told you about the butterflies around the tennis court. I regard them as reminders that there are people both here and up there that are looking out for my welfare and I am grateful.

Speaking of tennis, I got an email sharing with me movie titles that could apply to tennis. Here are a few of the good ones:

Love Story
Drop shot Dead Gorgeous
Great tennis balls of fire
Doubles indemnity
The bad call of the wild. - This is one for when I play tennis, the opponents are always making what I perceive to be bad calls. I usually challenge by saying "What?", but they pay no attention and call the ball out anyway.

It is late and I am tired. Off to bed. See you next week.

The plumber

Wow. A great response to the Name that Book request. Thanks to all for their ideas. At this minute, it looks like "Notes from a Cancer Survivor (Smiling almost all the way) is the leader but the book has not been published yet.

I find it hard to isolate time for the finishing touches on the book, the forward and appendices are almost as much pain to get done as the disease itself. However, it will be done as soon as I can. Then it will apparently be about a 5 month process to get it out there. I will keep you posted.

Now, how are things going? In general, many things are ok, Before I report what the week has brought, I want to update you on the repair situation here at our home.

We had a leak in our air conditioning. The repairman came and said that we needed a new pan which requires about 4 hours of work.

Next, our washing machine is leaking water during the spin cycle. The repairman said that we needed a new pump at a cost of not much less than a new machine.

The third repairman, a plumber, said that the outlet pipe had gotten a little clog and that the pressure of the debris building up had caused a small rip in the pipe at the end. He said that if we applied a gel to the rip, it would be almost as good as new in a few days.

Well, it was my pipe. The plumber is the GI doctor. I think you can fill in the rest. Sure enough, after a few days of significant discomfort, I am almost back to normal, whatever that is.

My blood test numbers were good yesterday. My weight is back down. Blood pressure is good. White blood cells are low, but decent. Hopefully, they will stay high enough to get my final treatment of this series next Tuesday.

The magic mouthwash has eliminated any sign of mouth sores this time round, I still have modest dry mouth, but it is okay. It wakes me up once or twice each night.

I am back to playing tennis and that feels good.

Tomorrow will be an exciting day. I have an appointment for a Colon Hydrotherapy session. Don't ask, if you don't know what that is. I had two previously and listening to the therapist's running commentary is interesting.

I am now working on movie titles that can be subtly changed to apply to tennis. The first one? A Ball too Far. Suggestions are welcome.

So, life goes on. I am enjoying it and hope that you are too.

Name That Tune, er Book

The day after chemo.

Hmmm.....I didn't feel too bad all day. I did not have much of an appetite and after being out all afternoon, I am really tired. I just had a three hour sleep and now 20 minutes later, I want to go back to bed already.

The good news is that I was prescribed this new magic mouth wash. It was a little awkward getting it though. It had to be compounded in Orlando and was shipped overnight packed on ice. It was to arrive Thursday, but our elevators were down due to a heavy lightning storm. I retrieved a note later that evening telling me they would try again on Friday. Sure enough, it was left in the lobby early Friday morning. I don't know why they couldn't leave it in the lobby the night before. But having gotten it, it has worked wonders with my mouth sore.

Now as to dry mouth, I realized on Sunday that the fact that I seem to be breathing through my mouth when I am sleeping may have something to do with it. Duh. I am now taking Claritin and concentrating on breathing through my nose. It is helping.

I am not sure if it is my enunciation or the research manager's hearing, but she often mishears what I say. Last week, I said that I was musing about bridge and she asked what music had to do with bridge. I immediately launched into song with the line "I will bid one spade and maybe you'll bid two." I would go on with a full song, but my singing is worse than my speaking.

Now, I need your help. The conversion of my blog to a book is progressing, but we need a title. I had originally used "My surprise Journey," but that does not really describe the book. We have mused (No not music, dear research manager) about a few ideas:

Diary of a Cancer Patient (smiling all the way) or Notes from Cancer Survivor (s a t w)

Positively Surviving Cancer

Surviving Cancer with a Smile

But I would like your thoughts, suggestions.

Please email me with your ideas (cfgill@verizon.net). I would be most appreciative.

I have now been up for 40 minutes. Back to bed after I take my pills!