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.
Wednesday, July 18, 2018
Wednesday, July 11, 2018
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.
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.
Wednesday, July 4, 2018
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!
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!
Wednesday, June 27, 2018
Sleep like a horse?
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.
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 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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