Five Down, One To Go

Well Wednesday I saw the oncologist and then got treatment number five. Had a really good talk, I am starting to ask questions not only what is happening now, but the after treatment life. Which I think is a good feeling for both Debi and I. He showed me the results of the Cat Scan and then asked me the oddest question? Did I shallow a paper clip or a piece of metal. He showed me on the scan where it was at. Bright, silver thing there in the scan in my abdomen. I didn’t know what it was either. So I sat in therapy for five and a half hours thinking about it and on the drive home I finally figured it out. About two weeks before the scan, I broke a back molar and didn’t realize it until I felt it with my tongue. It didn’t break off much and didn’t hurt at all. I thought I would have it taken care after all this other crap is over with. Well then I got the sores in my mouth and went to the dentist. The Hygienist mention that if it started to hurt the dentist could probably temporarily fit it with a filling. REALIZATION, my wife isn’t trying to poison me, because of the how much of a pain in the ass I have become. This was one of my weirder theories going through my Chemo injected brain. But I did have a metallic taste in my mouth, so I was wondering.

Ok what’s happening now? I am still having some nausea, but the cramps have pretty well have stopped. I am taking three times the normal amounts of laxatives. This doesn’t make for a very interesting day, because I still don’t have to use the bathroom very much. When I do it is volatile, but no cramps, no pain killers. So I want to go back to work next week. But I have been off so long this time; I have to see the company doctor. I hope to see him some time in the middle of the week.

Ok what’s happening after number six? Well it sounds kind of simple. Every three months I get blood work done and see him. Every six months I get another Cat scan. As long as there is no change then we have whipped this thing. But then I was talking to the nurse who was giving me my Chemo and she said that I will need to come back to the office every six weeks and get my port flushed out with saline as long as my body doesn’t reject the port. She has patients who have been doing this for ten or fifteen years. I am planning to for the record.

Good News, But Not So Good Week

My oncologist called and we got the initial results of the CAT scan. He said that tumor has significantly has reduced in size and there are no new growths or changes. Debi said it was like having a weigh lifted off her.
The last week hasn’t been very good for me. A lot of cramps and nausea. That was another thing we talked to the oncologist about. He and we think that the drugs are catching up to me and so is the constipation. He is not sure they are connected, but probably are, they have both been happening for the last week. The cramps have been so bad that I have been taking pain killers. Fortunately the pain killers have codeine in them for me, for I lose the pain. Unfortunately I can’t go to work while I am taking it.

For the constipation, the oncologist told me I could use up to four times the normal amounts of laxative. Which let me tell you something, I am darn glad I installed a large flat screen TV in the bathroom? I am now trying to find that fine line, where I don’t have cramps and I am not watching a miniseries in the bathroom. Of course I am not looking forward another round of chemo tomorrow.

Debi and I both agree that I haven’t had it that bad during chemo. I believe that most people react worst. So I shouldn’t complaint. So I try and concentrate on the good things. I don’t have to shave everyday, I don’t have to get haircuts and my wife is jealous of my legs because are hairless.

Bad Tuesday, Never Know

Monday was the same old stuff. Didn’t feel great, but nothing different. Tuesday started off the same but went downhill from there. Started having abdominal cramps in the afternoon and then about later in the evening I started throwing up. The good thing was once I finished, I took another pain pill and nausea pill and felt better in about an hour. Then I took the rest of my drugs and still felt OK. Only problem was I couldn’t fall a sleep even with drugs. Finally did get some sleep, but Debi made me stay in bed this morning for a couple hours after the kids got here. So now I am up and just waiting to go the hospital for my CAT scan. I have to go in early to drink something so there is a contrast.

Debi’s Got a Tight Grip

Still not feeling the best, so Debi keeps me restricted pretty well. So I sit in the house, frustrated that I can’t do any thing. I still have nausea, but it is not very bad in the morning, but the end of the day I am hurting. My hands are the same with the numbness and sensitivity. The bad taste in my mouth is a little worst. I think some of it is because I have been battling a sinus cold and have of sinus drainage. Also the sores in my mouth are a little worst this time, which makes some foods taste crappy and some foods with salt hurt. I am trying to gargle more, but I have to dilute it down a lot otherwise it brings tears to my eyes. I am seeing my dentist later this week after my Cat scans to see what he has to say. I have an appointment next Wednesday with the Oncologist, so Debi & I figure that’s when we will get the results.

Quick Note from my Doctor

Saw my primary care doctor and routine labs showed very good results on my diabetes. She cut my diabetes and blood pressure medication in half. So Debi and I figured that the chemo drugs are clearing out my system of evenything bad (Just Kidding). There isn’t much more the doctor can do with the nausea, numbness, and general funky bad feeling I have been having. Like I told her, I have learned to live with it. I have also got a runny nose and a little cough. Which hopefully she can take care of that minor thing with few drugs. It just adds to the general overall crappy feeling I have, so Debi has me mostly confined to the house. This is frustrating, because I want to get out and do at least a little.

I figure with the doctor, that exception for cancer, diabetes, gout, hypertension, indigestion, allergies, high cholesterol, over weight, lacking exercise and bit of foot fungus, I am a prefect specimen of 57 year old human being.

Been Awhile Since Last Posting

Sorry I haven’t posted any thing for awhile, but I haven’t been feeling the best. It has been a little worst than any of the previous treatments. Nausea has stayed with me and the numbness and tingling in my hands has increased. The Oncologist changed the chemo treatment medicine amounts around little to try and help, but it didn’t. So my hands hurt 24/7, hence a decreased interest in typing and it taking days to type this out. They don’t hurt enough that I can’t do anything I want, but minor things like taking the darn paper off a straw is uncomfortable. Then it finally dawned on me why the oncologist keeps asking if I can button my shirt, he is seeing about my hands. So I sit there, me and the one year old with our sippy straws while the five year old opens our straws. I have also felt a little off, my BP and sugar counts are fine, but I still feel weird. So much so that I have been letting Debi drive me around in the car. Which could be a contributing factor to nausea, I just sit in the car with my eyes closed. But I have been doing that for 40 years, especially thinking back when I taught her to drive when she was 16.
Tally, Jason, and the granddaughters came down Thursday and stayed until Saturday. Jason and the girls helped me get caught up on some of my mowing and stuff around the house. The oldest granddaughter Taylor (age 13), I put on one of the larger farm tractors. Being from a rural community, she seemed to be trilled. I don’t think most 13 year old would be. Kayley (age 11), I put on my tractor and she drove it around like a champ and didn’t hit any thing. Jason worked with the weed eater and moved around some of the things I couldn’t. Great Help.

I found some gas bombs at Rural King, that was has H2S gas in them, to kill off some groundhogs that are in some of the building around the farm. Jason was all set with his rifle, called the fire department, notified the neighbors, and shutdown all the power to the buildings. We had dreams of big white clouds rolling out of the windows and groundhogs running out of the tunnels. We lite them off and I stood back with Debi to watch. BIG NOTHING. Debi makes more smoke when she burns diner, which is regularly. Total disappointment.

Nicole and our 2 year grandson Zander are in town from Houston to be with her sister. They came over Saturday morning to visit and have breakfast. My mother came over, so we kind of have a 5/6 family get together, which was great. Zander stayed the day and played with the rest of the grand kids. Nicole had a big problem getting Zander to leave that evening. Debi had to send him home with cleaning products to keep him from crying. He wants to clean anything and everything. I know for a fact that this not genetics thing. From either side of the family. It is totally environmental, I said thank-you Day Care and their routine wiping down everything and letting Zander watch and learn.

On a Short Leash

Well I am sitting in I Chemo and bored, been here two hours and half. Walked in and plug the computer into a port in the wall. Then the nurse came and in and plug a tube into a port in me. The cancer kicking joy juice is making me tired, but can’t sleep. The lady sitting next to snores louder than Debi and there are two other guys across the rooms that are pretty loud. And now another lady is on the other side of me who snores even louder than the first. Freaking Stereo I have earphones on playing music trying to block out some of the noise, but they aren’t doing too good. The room is packed, standing room only, and the nurse are running from patient to patient. As soon as one person leaves another sits down. They have them waiting in another room. They said that since this only a four day week, they are over booked. I guess it is true, “Death/Cancer doesn’t take a Holiday”.

My nausea is all ready getting worst and that is after they gave me a bag of anti-nausea medicine. But nausea has been worst after the third treatment and my hands / fingers are numb. O well, I am getting used to the bad side. Now on the other hand there are some good side effects. Debi is jealous of my legs and how smooth they are. With the bad taste in my mouth, I am not eating what we are baking for “Fred’s Fantastic Foods” and only lost four pounds since the last visit. Speaking of Fred’s Foods, I am up to four locations. Another very good friend in the Off-Shift office is watching them for me while I am off. There are four of us all together in that office and the other three guys have been great.

Well both ladies are awake now, so I am going to try and catch a nap.