Another early blog. I have a busy early day tomorrow.
I felt pretty good today. I went out to play tennis and we won 5-5 due to closing momentum.
Some of you will be happy that I got a haircut after a good breakfast. (Avocado, spinach and egg.)
We then headed up to the cancer center to get my potassium infusion.
On the way, the research manager, who always drives, asked me if I was picking my lips. I could truthfully say "no" as I was picking the things on my lips!
The infusion went fine, but it was a boring two hours.
By the way, things have "firmed up" digestively.
On the way home, we were driving south approaching a McDonalds which had a sign saying "New - Brownie Sundae." The research manager suddenly hit the brakes and I got excited until I saw that the stop light had turned red.
After a brief rest, I headed out for a massage. It felt good. However, I wonder what was wrong with my generation.
My therapist works 2 1/2 days per week. She graduated in the spring in Physical Therapy and took a cruise to celebrate. Now, she is theoretically looking for a second job, but hasn't really started looking yet.
I started working full time the day after I finished college and haven't stopped yet.
Tough Life for these Post Millennials.
Speaking of life, I am starting to form my thoughts for a blog this weekend called "The Simple Life."
Don't miss it.
Thursday, August 31, 2017
Wednesday, August 30, 2017
Root Beer and Ice Cream
I am posting this note earlier than normal so that I can have a relaxing evening. I have multiple TV options, particularly since the research manager is out for the evening.
Today has been a good day. I felt good all day. A true red shirt day.
I sort of played tennis. Not even the best player could have helped me today.
I did the full breakfast routine and went off to do major shopping for the bridge club. I have not been to Sam's Club for quite a while and it was good to check things out there.
I enjoyed an afternoon of bridge and helped clean up.
Just as I was leaving, I got the call that I was waiting for from the cancer center.
The good news: My CEA reading was 2.0, down from the most recent 2.5. That this number has dropped further into the "normal range" is a good sign, given that I just went 5 weeks with no chemo.
The bad news: My potassium level is still very low. As a result, I have to go to the center tomorrow for a 2 hour infusion of potassium.
It is thought that the diarrhea has been a big factor in this potassium crisis (it is serious - there is a major heart risk). The bowels seem to be inching in the right direction and so the combination of the infusion and some digestive improvement will hopefully help right the ship.
Life is a voyage and we are weathering these rough waters, trying to stay afloat. Hmmm, I wish I could have a root beer one.
Today has been a good day. I felt good all day. A true red shirt day.
I sort of played tennis. Not even the best player could have helped me today.
I did the full breakfast routine and went off to do major shopping for the bridge club. I have not been to Sam's Club for quite a while and it was good to check things out there.
I enjoyed an afternoon of bridge and helped clean up.
Just as I was leaving, I got the call that I was waiting for from the cancer center.
The good news: My CEA reading was 2.0, down from the most recent 2.5. That this number has dropped further into the "normal range" is a good sign, given that I just went 5 weeks with no chemo.
The bad news: My potassium level is still very low. As a result, I have to go to the center tomorrow for a 2 hour infusion of potassium.
It is thought that the diarrhea has been a big factor in this potassium crisis (it is serious - there is a major heart risk). The bowels seem to be inching in the right direction and so the combination of the infusion and some digestive improvement will hopefully help right the ship.
Life is a voyage and we are weathering these rough waters, trying to stay afloat. Hmmm, I wish I could have a root beer one.
Tuesday, August 29, 2017
I might be falling for her
Today was a decent day.
I woke up in time to play tennis.
My tennis strategy is to show up looking a little tired and weak. That way, when we draw for teams, they always adjust things so that I am playing with the strongest player. Not a bad plan, eh?
There is some truth in the weakness thing, however. I am concerned about falling and so move a little more tentatively than I did BC. (Before Chemo). However, I am rethinking this. On Saturday, one of the men fell and one of the women immediately ran and took one of the other woman's Arnica Lotion so that she could rub it on his thigh and allegedly other places! Hmmmm...maybe I should think about falling.
The rest of my day was kind of green. Avocado, wheatgrass, spinach, salad, along with other generally healthy food.
I had blood work done today...the numbers were predictable, but my red blood cells are down a little.
They also did a CEA sample. It will take a few days to get that result, but I am anxious to see how it comes out.
It is almost 11. Guess where I am headed.
Monday, August 28, 2017
Evacuations
I felt good for most of the day today.
I woke up in time to play tennis. I won the set 6-2 and scored the final point of the game. My partner? Oh, yes, I had a partner. He happened to be the best player, but he was coming off an injury. So, I won 6-2!
Speaking of speaking with a soft voice, which I was doing yesterday, I have noticed something about some tennis players. When they are winning, they announce the score as 4-2, but when they are losing they announce the score as 2-4. When I am losing 2-4, I announce it as 4-2, hoping to negotiate a 3-3 settlement, It doesn't usually work, but it is worth a try.
The bowel issue continues to plague me. It causes stress and consternation in my daily life, particularly tonight. That is certainly the way I feel this evening. I think the officials in Houston are doing a far better job at dealing with evacuations than I am. I am feeling down as a result and my voice is all but gone.
Time for my evening soak and a few minutes of Cash Cab. Playing tennis made me feel good this morning and I want to do it again tomorrow.
I woke up in time to play tennis. I won the set 6-2 and scored the final point of the game. My partner? Oh, yes, I had a partner. He happened to be the best player, but he was coming off an injury. So, I won 6-2!
Speaking of speaking with a soft voice, which I was doing yesterday, I have noticed something about some tennis players. When they are winning, they announce the score as 4-2, but when they are losing they announce the score as 2-4. When I am losing 2-4, I announce it as 4-2, hoping to negotiate a 3-3 settlement, It doesn't usually work, but it is worth a try.
The bowel issue continues to plague me. It causes stress and consternation in my daily life, particularly tonight. That is certainly the way I feel this evening. I think the officials in Houston are doing a far better job at dealing with evacuations than I am. I am feeling down as a result and my voice is all but gone.
Time for my evening soak and a few minutes of Cash Cab. Playing tennis made me feel good this morning and I want to do it again tomorrow.
Sunday, August 27, 2017
Grumpy
Okay, it is time for the truth.
Some days, the research manager wakes up Grumpy, However, other days, including today, she lets me sleep.
I kind of felt grumpy all day, not bad, just grumpy. I wore a red shirt to fool people.
After navigating a regular breakfast with avocado and eggs, we ended up at the bridge club, running the game. Things went well and my digestive system was under control.
Admittedly, one of the problems that I have this time round is dry mouth, despite the use of Mu-Gard (for mouth sores) and Biotene (for dry mouth.) This is particularly true at night.
The other issue is that my voice is weak. While this can be a disadvantage, it also has good points. For example, I can say something like "You're crazy" and when asked what I said, I can say something like "That's wonderful" and they never know the difference. That way, I feel good about having expressed how I feel and they feel good about what I didn't really say!
We stopped to do a shop on the way home. I got to pick up the things that weren't cold.
I had a good sleep after we got home and woke up with.....dry mouth.
Now, I am eating chicken noodle soup and waiting for the research manager to fall asleep so that I can switch to the Video Music Awards.
Some days, the research manager wakes up Grumpy, However, other days, including today, she lets me sleep.
I kind of felt grumpy all day, not bad, just grumpy. I wore a red shirt to fool people.
After navigating a regular breakfast with avocado and eggs, we ended up at the bridge club, running the game. Things went well and my digestive system was under control.
Admittedly, one of the problems that I have this time round is dry mouth, despite the use of Mu-Gard (for mouth sores) and Biotene (for dry mouth.) This is particularly true at night.
The other issue is that my voice is weak. While this can be a disadvantage, it also has good points. For example, I can say something like "You're crazy" and when asked what I said, I can say something like "That's wonderful" and they never know the difference. That way, I feel good about having expressed how I feel and they feel good about what I didn't really say!
We stopped to do a shop on the way home. I got to pick up the things that weren't cold.
I had a good sleep after we got home and woke up with.....dry mouth.
Now, I am eating chicken noodle soup and waiting for the research manager to fall asleep so that I can switch to the Video Music Awards.
Saturday, August 26, 2017
Chemo Consequences
He crawls out from under the rock, wondering if the storm is over. No, not Harvey.......the post chemo storm.
He begins to feel a little better, feels like eating a little food and actually has a few scintillas of energy.
Life is not perfect, but there is hope that there will be some life in the future.
I actually kept all my food and pills down and generally managed life, including doing a few errands.
The interesting thing for me is that anything associated with visits to chemo retain an negative vibe. I have to wear a sports shirt with buttons to allow access to my port. I used to like each of those shirts, but now, I don't like them.
I use a small gym bag to take things to chemo. I now hate that bag. I used it tonight, but didn't want to.
The big news of the day is that the research manager got an excited call from her brother describing a "bidet" that can be added to your toilet (well.....our toilet). I have never heard him so animated. We will check this out. I have always wanted something that will do my bideting!
A personal note. My father turns 90 this coming Wednesday. There is a big party for him tomorrow. A victim of chemo is that I cannot be there. Happy Birthday, Dad.
He begins to feel a little better, feels like eating a little food and actually has a few scintillas of energy.
Life is not perfect, but there is hope that there will be some life in the future.
I actually kept all my food and pills down and generally managed life, including doing a few errands.
The interesting thing for me is that anything associated with visits to chemo retain an negative vibe. I have to wear a sports shirt with buttons to allow access to my port. I used to like each of those shirts, but now, I don't like them.
I use a small gym bag to take things to chemo. I now hate that bag. I used it tonight, but didn't want to.
The big news of the day is that the research manager got an excited call from her brother describing a "bidet" that can be added to your toilet (well.....our toilet). I have never heard him so animated. We will check this out. I have always wanted something that will do my bideting!
A personal note. My father turns 90 this coming Wednesday. There is a big party for him tomorrow. A victim of chemo is that I cannot be there. Happy Birthday, Dad.
Friday, August 25, 2017
Control of the Television
Today was a little bit better than yesterday ended up.
I slept till about 10 and took it easy when I got up.
The research manager left to go play bridge and I ate a little of the chia pudding that she made last night. It was actually pretty good. The only thing that concerns me is that small green sprouts are appearing in the baldish spot on my head.
I slept/rested for most of the afternoon, but texted the research manager to bring home a chicken pot pie for dinner. It tasted good and I got all my pills down successfully for the second time today.
Tonight, we have a good example of how to deal with TV remote control battles. The research manager is usually tired after dinner and lays on the couch and falls asleep. That gives me the opening to switch to the baseball game.
However, when I determine that it is time to go to bed, I lay down and am asleep in three minutes (literally!). That allows the research manager to quickly switch to her choice of television, usually Investigation ID.
I worry about this. On Investigation ID, someone usually gets murdered by some unusual means and I am worried that the research manager is looking for ideas. So far, so good, however.
My one protection is that she likes Cash Cab as much as I do and therefore, if I fall asleep during Cash Cab, there is a chance that we stay on Cash Cab and Investigation ID will not be spouting out any evil ideas.
Oh.....she is asleep.....time to switch to the ball game!
I slept till about 10 and took it easy when I got up.
The research manager left to go play bridge and I ate a little of the chia pudding that she made last night. It was actually pretty good. The only thing that concerns me is that small green sprouts are appearing in the baldish spot on my head.
I slept/rested for most of the afternoon, but texted the research manager to bring home a chicken pot pie for dinner. It tasted good and I got all my pills down successfully for the second time today.
Tonight, we have a good example of how to deal with TV remote control battles. The research manager is usually tired after dinner and lays on the couch and falls asleep. That gives me the opening to switch to the baseball game.
However, when I determine that it is time to go to bed, I lay down and am asleep in three minutes (literally!). That allows the research manager to quickly switch to her choice of television, usually Investigation ID.
I worry about this. On Investigation ID, someone usually gets murdered by some unusual means and I am worried that the research manager is looking for ideas. So far, so good, however.
My one protection is that she likes Cash Cab as much as I do and therefore, if I fall asleep during Cash Cab, there is a chance that we stay on Cash Cab and Investigation ID will not be spouting out any evil ideas.
Oh.....she is asleep.....time to switch to the ball game!
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