Saturday, January 26, 2013
Friday, January 25, 2013
Better Yet
Am finely starting to feel like I've turned a corner re the flu. No vomiting at all today, and some semblance of an appetite - nothing extreme but better than it has been.
Realize that I neglected to report on last week's visit with the oncologist. Seems it's pretty much all good news.
For starters, I did not crack a rib as the ER resident said. Rather, it seems I had a bad pull of a muscle between two ribs. Bonus: the x-ray at taken for that diagnosis indicates there is no marked advancement of the cancer since Sept when I was last on chemo - woohoo! As for the fatigue, lightheadedness, etc. that's all part and parcel of the brain surgery recovery process. No telling how long these side effects will last, maybe months or longer. Just something I'll have to get used to it seems. Sacrum pain remains, but it nothing like pre-radiation, but won't be getting any better either. Literal bummer.
The upshot of all this is that I'm on track to begin chemo again in mid-March. If the cancer have another surge in the meantime, a "stop-gap/compassionate" chemo will be administered. The one I'm scheduled to have in mid-March is the investigative drug from a previous study I was on and there are strict rules about how soon after surgery/dexamethasone/hydramorph a course of that stuff can begin. Hence the stop-gap if needed. I'm very comfortable with all of this as the new drug doesn't have many of the side effects most of the other drugs I've taken have had.
The world will be relieved to know that I've hung up my crusader's hat re Vim & Vigour magazine. Interestingly, both the American Cancer Society and Jenny Craig wrote apologies for the pain and suffering caused by the publication (wrote the ACS because Jennifer Hudson used to be a spokesperson, and mistook JC for Weight Watchers which Ms. Hudson now speaks for). Not a single rep or agent that I was able to contact so much as acknowledged my correspondence. Proof once again that it's all about the money. Enough said.
Sunshine here today. Most welcome after a long stretch of rain. Can spring be far off?
Realize that I neglected to report on last week's visit with the oncologist. Seems it's pretty much all good news.
For starters, I did not crack a rib as the ER resident said. Rather, it seems I had a bad pull of a muscle between two ribs. Bonus: the x-ray at taken for that diagnosis indicates there is no marked advancement of the cancer since Sept when I was last on chemo - woohoo! As for the fatigue, lightheadedness, etc. that's all part and parcel of the brain surgery recovery process. No telling how long these side effects will last, maybe months or longer. Just something I'll have to get used to it seems. Sacrum pain remains, but it nothing like pre-radiation, but won't be getting any better either. Literal bummer.
The upshot of all this is that I'm on track to begin chemo again in mid-March. If the cancer have another surge in the meantime, a "stop-gap/compassionate" chemo will be administered. The one I'm scheduled to have in mid-March is the investigative drug from a previous study I was on and there are strict rules about how soon after surgery/dexamethasone/hydramorph a course of that stuff can begin. Hence the stop-gap if needed. I'm very comfortable with all of this as the new drug doesn't have many of the side effects most of the other drugs I've taken have had.
The world will be relieved to know that I've hung up my crusader's hat re Vim & Vigour magazine. Interestingly, both the American Cancer Society and Jenny Craig wrote apologies for the pain and suffering caused by the publication (wrote the ACS because Jennifer Hudson used to be a spokesperson, and mistook JC for Weight Watchers which Ms. Hudson now speaks for). Not a single rep or agent that I was able to contact so much as acknowledged my correspondence. Proof once again that it's all about the money. Enough said.
Sunshine here today. Most welcome after a long stretch of rain. Can spring be far off?
Separated at Birth
Anyone who has seen me over the past month or so will likely remember the spiffy hat Lynda knit for me. It's become my "go to" headwarmer for many reasons: it's super warm (sometimes even wear it to bed), ultra soft, has built-in personality and attitude, and doesn't get caught up in the incisions on my head. One thing about it, however, has been bothering me for some time. While I like to think the hat is one-of-a-kind, something about it is all so familiar. This morning it dawned on me: I have seen a very similar hat. I like mine better than Billy Gibbons' (of ZZ Top fame), and am not in any hurry to copy his bearded look just so the hats look even more alike. So, do you think the hats were separated at birth?
Tuesday, January 22, 2013
bugs me
The week started out well enough. Felt good enough that I have a nice visit with Momzy on Sat, went to church on Sun, and had a lovely walk in Mission Point Park with Sandra yesterday. Likely too much too soon. Also, in spite of my best efforts not to touch other people or get too close to them, it seems I have picked up a bug, likely the flu. Had a five-hour "nap" after yesterday's walk. Tried to eat some dinner, but started vomiting shortly after and continued throughout the night. Still feeling nauseous today. Got Jon to pick up some Boost, so at least I'm getting some form of nutrition. Really haven't much appetite in any case. No wonder I've lost so much weight over the past few months. Haven't been this "light" in close to 15 yrs. However, don't see Weight Watchers or Jenny Craig embracing my weight loss method any time soon.
Monday, January 14, 2013
What's the opposite of hair raising?
A couple of readers asked how my "star-spangled" hair project is coming along. Something of a let-down, truth be told.
In a previous post I noted that my hair was beginning to succumb to the effects of radiation and slowly uprooting. For some reason I hit upon the idea of taking that opportunity to cover my head with a series of little star shapes. Early attempts looked more like a new species of threatening insect. Hardly star quality ones at that.
A few days later, in a stroke of (if I do say so myself) genius, I realized the star shape might be easier to see when carved out of the follicle forest if it were somewhat larger than my earlier attempts. A large, copper, star-shaped cookie cutter provided the perfect solution. No, no, no! I did not attempt to embed said cookie cutter into my noggin. Rather, I traced the shape on a piece of cardboard which served as a template for the desired shape. By gently rubbing around the perimetre of the cardboard, I was rewarded with almost instant success. Okay, I got one and one half points (sort of) of the five-pointed star, but still a success by any measure.
I intended to continue the selective rubbing process on a daily basis, however, the big wave of fatigue hit and spoilt everything. Tossing about on a pillow dislodged several hairs. The top bit at the back fared better than the sides, but the indiscriminate friction made a right mess of any hope of star status. Sigh.
Today I better resemble a cat with a nasty bout of mange than a heavenly body. Again, sigh.
Am thinking of visiting a local barber to see if he might shave the rest of the mess off. At least then every hair would be starting anew on a truly level playing field.
Oh the things that occupy the idled mind!
In a previous post I noted that my hair was beginning to succumb to the effects of radiation and slowly uprooting. For some reason I hit upon the idea of taking that opportunity to cover my head with a series of little star shapes. Early attempts looked more like a new species of threatening insect. Hardly star quality ones at that.
A few days later, in a stroke of (if I do say so myself) genius, I realized the star shape might be easier to see when carved out of the follicle forest if it were somewhat larger than my earlier attempts. A large, copper, star-shaped cookie cutter provided the perfect solution. No, no, no! I did not attempt to embed said cookie cutter into my noggin. Rather, I traced the shape on a piece of cardboard which served as a template for the desired shape. By gently rubbing around the perimetre of the cardboard, I was rewarded with almost instant success. Okay, I got one and one half points (sort of) of the five-pointed star, but still a success by any measure.
I intended to continue the selective rubbing process on a daily basis, however, the big wave of fatigue hit and spoilt everything. Tossing about on a pillow dislodged several hairs. The top bit at the back fared better than the sides, but the indiscriminate friction made a right mess of any hope of star status. Sigh.
Today I better resemble a cat with a nasty bout of mange than a heavenly body. Again, sigh.
Am thinking of visiting a local barber to see if he might shave the rest of the mess off. At least then every hair would be starting anew on a truly level playing field.
Oh the things that occupy the idled mind!
Friday, January 11, 2013
Pillow Talk
A week into the new year and time for another post.
Haven't got much to report other than to say that I am slowly getting on with life. Cracking a rib (at least that's what the ER doctor thinks it was - got it by laying down on my bed. Really. No exciting story involved.) on New Year's Eve didn't help matters. What it did do is put me back on morphine. That, together with the dexamethasone (albeit a greatly reduced dose) had me operating with a somewhat hyper edge. Two days ago I had completely weaned myself off both meds, but am left with little in the way of energy. For example, yesterday I went to the bank and bought some groceries, all under my own steam. Came home for a four-hour nap, and still managed to be in bed by 9:30pm. Set the alarm for 8am today so I could get the garbage to the curb in time. Did that, thought I'd have another hour's rest, only to wake up at 4pm! Will no doubt take some time to be fully operational again, but at least I'll be well rested when that happens.
Haven't got much to report other than to say that I am slowly getting on with life. Cracking a rib (at least that's what the ER doctor thinks it was - got it by laying down on my bed. Really. No exciting story involved.) on New Year's Eve didn't help matters. What it did do is put me back on morphine. That, together with the dexamethasone (albeit a greatly reduced dose) had me operating with a somewhat hyper edge. Two days ago I had completely weaned myself off both meds, but am left with little in the way of energy. For example, yesterday I went to the bank and bought some groceries, all under my own steam. Came home for a four-hour nap, and still managed to be in bed by 9:30pm. Set the alarm for 8am today so I could get the garbage to the curb in time. Did that, thought I'd have another hour's rest, only to wake up at 4pm! Will no doubt take some time to be fully operational again, but at least I'll be well rested when that happens.
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