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.

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.

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.

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!

Best Blood Pressure ever!

How to describe this past week?

It was one of the tougher ones  The major issue has been mouth sores and dry mouth.

Oh yes, I also developed a rash on my left leg.

Oh, and I had a tooth infection.

Well, I also had to have two shots on Friday and Saturday to boost my white blood cell count.

If you listen to the research manager, I also have trouble speaking properly. However, I caught her miss-hearing things said on the television this past week. Therefore, I am somewhat skeptical of her observation. If it weren't for the fact that many others have trouble hearing me, I would discount her perspective entirely.

However, a prescription for an antibiotic and one for steroids for the rash and one for the dry mouth seem to be improving things and I am just these last few days beginning to feel human.

This past week has also brought some stress building events. First, the research manager getting a call at 3am advising her that one of her guardian ad litem children had run away. A few days later we, well she, ended up dealing with an emergency dental issue at midnight. I could not get my car to start because the ignition had locked and had to wait two days to get it fixed.

But, I want you to know that with all that stress, my blood pressure was the lowest ever (117/76) yesterday. Further, the shots have boosted my white blood cell count to a slightly more acceptable level. If we relax, things will work out as they should.

One final piece of advice. Never, and I mean never, let the research manager ride in your car. You will hear everything that is wrong with it and your car's feelings will be hurt.

Looking good or good looking

Well, here we are the day after chemo. Bob and I are putting up with each other. I am tired, but doing not too badly yet.

I had another good meeting with Dr. Haider at Moffitt on Monday. She is so sensitive to allowing me to maintain my lifestyle that it is refreshing. She suggested a slight modification to my treatments that may help with the mouth sores. In addition, the cancer center prescribed something called Magic Mouth Wash, a mixture of Benadryl, Lidocaine and Maalox to help with the mouth sores. I am to swish this four times a day. Oh yes, I also got an antibiotic for a tooth infection.

What really excited me is that Doctor Haider, a young attractive doctor, told me that I look good. Is that the same as good looking?

On Tuesday, I learned that my white blood count is very low. Just high enough to get my treatment, but still low. As a result, I will be getting shots to boost my immune system on both Friday and Saturday.

I continue to forget things. Last Saturday, the research manager gave me a recipe that had come in the mail for a chicken dish. I faithfully went to the store, bought all the ingredients and came home without the recipe. Boy, was I in trouble. I screwed up my courage and called Denise Hobbs, a realtor who had sent the recipe, asking if I could get a second copy. She emailed it to me and asked me to tell her if it was good. Meanwhile, the research manager had come up with a variation, that was very good. I sent a note back to Denise, thanking her for the recipe and telling her that I really enjoyed dinner. Don't tell her what happened though.

One of the recent internet phenomenons is the Yanni-Laurel conundrum. The research manager found a site that explained why some people hear Yanni and some Laurel and how different ranges can change what you hear. All I ever heard was Yanni. The research manager is mostly Laurel. I guess opposites attract.

I have to get back to the second period of the hockey game. It is a good distraction.

We have taped the Survivor finale to watch it over the weekend. There are benefits to being sick: you get your television choice!

The Beat Goes On.

Well, folks, we have the results of the petscan from yesterday.

There has been slight improvement from 2 months ago and the results are about equal to where they were back in July 2017, which was also after 4 months of chemo.

It, therefore, appears the Dr. Patel's additional 4 sessions of chemo is appropriate. Hopefully, these final  4 sessions will have the same beneficial effect that the final 4 did last fall.

Having said that, we will still b talking to Moffitt for their thoughts and we are also keeping an eye on alternate therapies which may be useful going forward. Obviously, supplements and diet are a constant as we go forward.

Keep smiling. There is a lot of work to be done here.

I am saddened to report that my dear cancer email correspondent passed away on Sunday. I picture Mary Jo joining some others who have passed previously in rooting for my recovery. I had the privilege of meeting MJ's daughters and husband today. The great news is that they said that they will be praying for me. I am fortunate to have so many prayer warriors in my corner.

This past chemo was tough. I felt fatigued, not very hungry and had significant mouth sores, particularly at night. The research manager has perfected the way to get blood off my pillow cases.

Tennis continues to be part of my routine. However, we had an interesting incident last week. The driver made, what I thought was a questionable call on one of my shots. When I commented on it after the game, she said that she learned it from me. Naturally, I was offended and said so. She responded in kind and, it was only by the grace of God that one of the other players was a therapist and was able to talk us down to peaceful coexistence.

We are now eating or taking out food from Nori Thai in St. Pete Beach. They know me well by now. When I went in tonight, my favorite waitress said, "Pick up, Charlie?" I said that I had gone to many bars looking for a pick up with not much success.

Oh well, I haven't had a put down either!

Time prevents further comments here. I have a couple of left of center comments if you ask.

 Keep smiling. Chemo resumes next week and before you know it, it will be over. Ah, the good life.