16 November 2006

Here we are on the morning of the ole 1-4 day and doing so so I guess. Just wanted to thank everyone who's called, sent email's and posted to the blog. It means a lot to me to know you are all out there praying or thinking about me.
I'm doing okay or as as good as can be expected. I've had minimal side effects with the exception of getting tired very quickly throughout the day and a little nausea during the evening.
My routine has been getting up around 0700 and trying to do a little work on the computer, then get something to eat and take a few meds that the docs have prescribed for me. Shower comes next. That is a real pain the ass, as I have to have Marjie tape up my the bandage covering this PICC line really good on my right arm so it won't get wet, hang the Chemo Pump outside the shower so it won't get wet, then I inch my way in there and shower as best I can keeping right arm lifted out of water spray while also trying to keep the Feeding tube (PEG) tube dry (that doesn't work). We put one of those new shower heads on that has a 6' portable handle which seems to be working much better than the regular shower head, so bottom line is that even though it's a bit of a hassle, I still get to take a shower everyday.
After my shower, Marjie flushes the PEG and changes the dressing on it and I get dressed and ready for whatever we have going on during the day.
Ran some errands around town on Tuesday for a couple hours and it wasn't so bad, but after a couple hours I began to get pretty tired and started feeling nauseated, so we headed home and I spent the rest of the evening on the couch.
Same routine for yesterday except instead of running errands, we took Coho for walk and finished refilling the hot tub.
Seems that if I take it easy a little more often, it's not to bad dealing with side effects. I'm trying to eat small meals and drink plenty of fluids throughout the day rather than just a couple bigger meals like usual.
I guess time will tell as far as what I'm to expect with the side effects. Haven't lost any hair yet, no tingling of the toes or hands. Every once in a while I thought I've experienced a tingling in my mouth...not sure if I'm just imagining it or not, but who knows.
Tomorrow at noon, I go to see the surgeon that removed the mass out of my neck. He's a great doctor and wants to continue seeing me to just to keep up with the situation. I think this will be the last time I see him for another month or so, but he wants to stay in the loop.
At 3pm I go back to the chemotherapist, Dr. Atienza and get this pump taken off me for a couple weeks. We talked to his nurse yesterday and the plan is for me to build back up white blood cells for the following two weeks, then start on the 4th of December with the next dose of Chemo like I'm going through now.
So if I have it right, it's one week of chemo, two weeks off, 1 more week of chemo, two weeks off, then we start the radiation/chemo...but that's another month down the road.
I'm gonna close for now, hope this makes some sense....Time for some breakfast and need to get going on the morning routine...Thanks again for everyone's support! Your thoughts and prayers must be working cause I'm still here doing ok.