Monday, July 23, 2012
It seems so strange to be feeling as well as I am today, and have a week of treatment down. I DID have my chemo down days Saturday and Sunday but all the consisted of were tiredness and feeling "full" in my stomach. I felt so bloated up that I didn't want to or couldn't eat or drink. That created its own problems as I am needing to keep my weight ON instead of letting it drift away because of not eating. By that time, "chemo mouth" was in full swing, and it also hard to eat when everything tastes like you're eating spoons. Cisplatin, (my all day chemo drug), is made of platinum, so I get a metal taste in my mouth. Radiation is also supposed to alter my taste and the doctor said today soon everything will taste like dirt. My mouth doesn't really taste like dirt now, it tastes more like charcoal. But, it is getting better. I can taste salty things today and the potato soup, (with extra meat) and salted tomatoes went down well.
And, so, I've started week two.
The same old drill, climb on the table, get snapped in place and away we go. This time however it took a lot longer, they took some more pictures of me. It's a good thing those aren't being published, because no one looks good lying on a table with their eyes closed. Those just go into my medical file which is three inches thick and getting thicker everyday.
Since this is Monday, I have to be weighed, and then I saw the doctor who was gone all last week to a conference. I thought we was on vacation, but no, he's going on vacation NEXT week. Thankfully, I really, really like his Nurse Practitioner she is thorough, and she is the one who looks after my basic healath, which is why she had a conniption when I lost 5 pounds over the weekend. Of course, it is her job to keep me from losing strength and not getting enough calories is a sure way to do that. They threatened me with the feeding tube again, so I REALLY need to find some of those 5 pounds back in the next couple of weeks., preferably before Thursday, when they weigh me again. Here, I've spent half my life trying to take pounds off, and now, as they tell me, "this is the only clinic where weight gain is pushed." I need to be eating extra protein, extra fat, just whatever I want. "This is no time to be eating spinach!" The doctor says. I still think I should put some in my shakes.
So, I'm supposed to be eating every two hours, swishing that really expensive mu-goo, four times a day, (then an hour of no eating or drinking after that), drinking loads of water, plus all the other things, sinus rinsues twice a day, fluoride at night, brushing teeth three or four times a day, AND, AND, well, have time to talk on the phone, see people, get office work done, and have naps, I think I need a schedule.
I already have a housekeeper for awhile, thank goodness for my mom.
It was good to see the doctor anyway, he told us some more about how they were doing the radiation. They are aiming the most powerful shots in the left sinus area where the tumor was mainly found. As I have 200 Centigrays every time I go in, after six treatments I'm up to a lever of 1200 cg total. It you do the math, that is a 1000 cg every week and will take 5 weeks. After that, I get a "boost" of a 1000 cg over the last week, concentrated in the area where the tumor was, i.e. the left sinus area. There is the total of teh 6 weeks of radiation. This is standard procedure to do it this way Radiation really isn't a "weekly" or "daily" thing, I am going to get the amount of radiation prescribed, a day missed, is a day made up. And it accumulates. Just because right now all the pain I have is in the bridge of my nose, and as long as nobody is poking it, I can ignore it, is seems like not much is happening. However, the doctor assures me that as the level of radiation rises, so will my discomfort.
So, now is the time for all good men to come to the aid of...well, anyway. it is time for all radiation patients to eat up!! And it is HARD work, let me tell you.
P.S.
The results of my scans are clear, which feels really, really, good right now.
P.P.S.
Sadly, I removed an unkind comments from a previous post. It is the first time I've ever had to do that. I don't know the person who commented, I don't know exactly was she was getting at. It simply may have been spam. At any rate, it is gone, I apologize to any who may have seen it.
9 comments:
The Chairman's Wife, said...
I won't leave an unkind comment! I'll leave a nice comments on how I appreciate your spirit through this ordeal. Eat up! Get your rest! And this this nasty C off to oblivion! Still think of you lots.
July 23, 2012 at 9:52 PM
Renee said...
You are so brilliant Shelley, to keep all this jargon straight! It leaves my thinking, Huh?, What? ...but I do understand the eat up part. Life is odd in a lot of ways. When you need to pig out, it taste like SPOONS, of all things! Oh, how I love your way of putting things into words. But bleh...a metal taste in the mouth is most unpleasant! I am so happy your Mom is there and so so SO happy your scans were clear. Thinking about you nonstop!!!!!
July 24, at 8:11 PM
Anonymous said...
Love your positive attitude. No time to feel sorry for yourself!! So glad to hear the scans looed good. I enjoy reading your posts so much; even going through what you are having to go through, your are so inspiring to me. Thankful your mom can be here to help out. Keep fighting girl!!
July 24, 2012 at 8:46 PM
Anonymous said...
That last one was from me. Sorry I left our my name! Holly
July 24, 2012 at 8:46 PM
John and Sandy Linder said...
You are quite a trooper. Glad you are doing as well as you are. Thanks for keeping us updates so we can follow your experience and pray for you to keep full of courage.
July 24, 2012 at 9:53 PM
Gramma's Corner said...
Arrgh, this new laptop I have has the mouse pad set to "click when I hover" so I deleted the last comments by accident, and of course, I can't figure out how to fix the mouth pad. I'll have to email my computer guy.
July 25, 2012 at 8:12 AM
(10 years later--I can figure this out for myself now.)
Dan & Cyndie said...
I just love popping in to see how you are both here & at your house :)
So good scans are clear!!
You inspire me to be MORE!!!
love your attitude, your spirit and just plum love YOU!!!
thinking of your daily :)
July 25, 2012 at 11:25 AM
The J's said...
Wow! And I am SO glad you have your mom there to help. That is huge!! Stay focused on WELL! SO glad the scans were good!
July 25, 2012 at 2:14 PM
Darcie said...
Wouldn't you know it...the one time your scale need to go up. :-) Hope your appetite comes back a big so that you can keep some healthy weight, to help you through it all! Still thinking and pulling for you!
July 26, 2012 at 10:06 PM
