11 December 2006

Wow! Do I ever feel better today. Marjie had to go to work this morning and take care of Department Head stuff and submit the paperwork for the HUMS transfer, so she figured she'd get up at 0400 and head out the door by 0500. I had been tossing and turning most of night and had woken several times with bouts of diarrhea, so I went ahead and got up with her. Had about a half a bowl of oatmeal and some grape juice which went down fine and my stomach was actually feeling a little better. Made some coffee later in the morning and that also seemed to work just fine. Ate a half of a chicken sandwich and some yogurt later, then had a tuna fish sandwich and some chips later on.
One more bout with the diarrhea and now my gut seems to have calmed down. Time will tell, but I figure, now that I've been able to get some solid food in my stomach, and the Nuelasta shot is working, maybe this diarrhea crap will be over or at least contained to once a day instead of 6 o 7. I know this is probably TMI (Too much information), but I'm telling it like it is.

Other side effects I'm experiencing: Ringing in the ears! Big time! Seems it comes and goes all day long. It just kind of starts and goes on and on. Stops and starts again? I've also noticed some changes in my hearing??? Hard to describe, but some noises are just different and really bother me. More to follow on this as I'll be monitoring this closely.
Another is a really funny feeling in my mouth. The roof of my mouth feels like sandpaper as well as the inside cheeks of my mouth. My taste buds almost went back to normal a week or so ago, but now seems like things are tasting funny again. I have to ask Marjie and David how things taste just to make sure it's not me thinking something tastes funny.
As far as how I feel on a scale of 1-10, I'd say I'm up to a 6-7 right now. Definitely have more energy and really haven't felt too nauseated for most of the day.

Had another doctors appointment with Dr. Hollis to check on the feeding tube. Marjie and I have noticed this past week that I'm getting some more drainage/snot looking stuff on the bandage when she changes it. We think, this might be caused by the chemo drugs that I'm getting and possibly it's getting a little infected. Dr. Hollis looked at it this afternoon and didn't seem too concerned, but went ahead and put me on another batch of antibiotics to combat it. He prescribed a different drug this time called Levaquin and I'm supposed to take this for 7 days. He also wants us to not put the bandage on and see if a little air might help it out????? He told us what to look for as far as an infection and sent us on our way with another follow up in a month if all clears up. Guess we'll see!

Went back Naval Hospital to get the prescription filled....thought I learned my lesson last time....there were 50 people ahead of us and it was going to be at least an hour wait....screw that! Left there and went to the civilian pharmacy, got the prescription filled as well as another dose of the Emends since we were already there. 15 minute wait here so we sat in the little lunchroom there and I ordered a grilled cheese sandwich. Didn't quite taste like I was expecting, but at least I ate it and didn't feel sick.
That's about it for now, not much else going on, just trying to deal with this situation and get healed.
Marjie is back to work for the time being but able to leave work around noon so as I see things, it shouldn't be a problem with her going to work and taking care of Navy business and then coming home in the afternoon to help me out. Hopefully this HUMS deal will pan out for us.
Thanks again for everyones support and prayers. They are much needed.