Couldn't win for losing today. Went to the hospital to do a "weigh in". I've gained 2.1 pounds which is a good thing. Don't want to try and replace all 31 that I lost after the chemo withdrawl but a slight gain to offset the upcoming loss with the next withdrawl period is better than dropping down to 170 pounds. On the up side of that, I only have one more withdrawl period for December. one for January and then I'm done in February.
Went up to Oncology and showed them the agent orange rash that now covers my entire body. Now I have an agent orange appointment and a brain scan at the catscan department tomorrow.
Thinking that I'd really done the right thing cause the agent orange appointment is almost certain to see me back on Prednezone, I went downstairs to the parking lot and prepared to eat lunch at 2:40 or so. Truck wouldn't start. It turned over just fine but wouldn't start.
Called Al Carroll's and they gave me the number of the wrecker they use. Number was busy. Now I'm stranded. I called Phil, part of my support group and friend since kindergarten days, and he came to the rescue. He picked me up, took me to get something to eat and then took me back to Tim and Kristin's.
Carroll's got in touch with the wrecker people and my truck was hauled to Al's shop. Hopefully I'll have some wheels by tomorrow's brain scan appointment. This hasn't been an easy day. The frustration of being without wheels is compounded by the ever present "sting" that comes when the agent orange is running wild.
All during the time I was at home (Leesville) I was on Prednezone and it completely controls the agent orange and everything was fine. I was working every day and never missed a single minute of work due to Agent Orange. The Prednezone is somewhat of a pain in the ass cause you have to take it on a full stomach and take it 3 times per day. Despite that, I operated as well or better than anybody else. Was always ahead of time and never missed a second of the action that takes place at work.
That may sound a little freaky to some but working for a Construction Aggregates Company is a cool thing. Barges, Push Boats, trains, rail cars, 18 wheelers, bull dozers, huge Tonka toy style front end loaders, tanks, jeeps, helicopters, gunships, you name it, we have it at work. I miss the game!
In any event, I may have to call a cab to go to the hospital tomorrow but you can bet I'll make those two appointments. I'll let ya'll know the results of the catscan as soon as they let me know.
Hangin' in there.
Sr.
Wednesday, December 9, 2009
Brain Catscan tomorrow
Tomorrow gonna be the big day for me. "We want to prove nothing is up there". I wasn't sure how I should take that comment from the hospital but I'm sure they were referring to "nothing" as tumors.
I'm not suffering from nausea today and that's 3 days in a row that I haven't been sick. Far out!
Will let ya'll know how the catscan comes out as soon as they let me know.
Sr.
I'm not suffering from nausea today and that's 3 days in a row that I haven't been sick. Far out!
Will let ya'll know how the catscan comes out as soon as they let me know.
Sr.
Monday, December 7, 2009
No nausea at all today
I think today is day 17. I've had no nausea of anykind today and didn't even take my Ondansetron till about 11:30 this morning. I think the key here is simply biting the bullet and accepting that you're gonna be one sick puppy for a couple of weeks while the withdrawl from chemo does it's thing. I hate it, it's horrible, it makes you miserable everyday and every night but it's only for two weeks. If that's the price to pay, I'll pay it for a clean bill of health. I just wish it hadn't taken so long to kill all the little boogers runnin' round in my body.
Remember, it's all about perspective. This isn't nearly as bad as fighting in Cambodia. I still say that after all this time.
Jr. coming to Shreveport for a year. Only 5 more days and he can take over the paper work for the benefit packages that I've had so much trouble with. Come on Jr.
sr.
Remember, it's all about perspective. This isn't nearly as bad as fighting in Cambodia. I still say that after all this time.
Jr. coming to Shreveport for a year. Only 5 more days and he can take over the paper work for the benefit packages that I've had so much trouble with. Come on Jr.
sr.
Sunday, December 6, 2009
Sunday Breakfast
Today is day 16 and I went to George's for breakfast this morning. No problems. Will take it easy on the couch and maybe watch a game. Not as weak as I was yesterday. It just takes time to let the body do whatever it has to do when you're coming off chemo. It's a hard ride but when it's over, you can actually eat.
Sr.
Sr.
Saturday, December 5, 2009
My 15th day off chemo
I got off chemo on November 20th, that was 15 days back.
This has been the toughest withdrawl period I've had or even imagined. I have 10 days left before all this begins again. I've eaten today but haven't had enough energy to do anything to speak of. Stayed home all day except for a run to eat with Kristin.
The nausea is still there periodically but it isn't anything at all like the nausea that comes right after the withdrawl begins. With this nausea, I should probably define it as stomach upset.
In any event, I think I've gained a pound or two in the last two days. I hope so. The 31 pound loss appears to have brought some weakness with it.
I'm hangin in there but anxious to go back south.
Sr.
This has been the toughest withdrawl period I've had or even imagined. I have 10 days left before all this begins again. I've eaten today but haven't had enough energy to do anything to speak of. Stayed home all day except for a run to eat with Kristin.
The nausea is still there periodically but it isn't anything at all like the nausea that comes right after the withdrawl begins. With this nausea, I should probably define it as stomach upset.
In any event, I think I've gained a pound or two in the last two days. I hope so. The 31 pound loss appears to have brought some weakness with it.
I'm hangin in there but anxious to go back south.
Sr.
Thursday, December 3, 2009
Weight Loss vs. Energy Level
Have lost 31 pounds and am realizing a bit of weakness as a result of that. Nausea level is there but it's very low. The more days I have since coming off chemo, the lower the nausea level becomes. It all sucks pretty much but I'm in a hell of a lot better shape than the other guys at the VA. I'm thankful for that.
The energy thing makes my mornings extremely difficult. Talk about slow starts. I can't seem to get my vocal chords working till around 11 a.m. everyday. Usually they are ready 24/7 but recently, morning "anything" has been difficult.
Hangin in there but really tired.
Curt thanks for the recollection about the concussion damage to my ear during Nighthawk ops. Even though I didn't bleed, it sure was a painful wound rec'd during battle with the dinks. I have another appointment at the VA about all of that in a few days.
Sr.
The energy thing makes my mornings extremely difficult. Talk about slow starts. I can't seem to get my vocal chords working till around 11 a.m. everyday. Usually they are ready 24/7 but recently, morning "anything" has been difficult.
Hangin in there but really tired.
Curt thanks for the recollection about the concussion damage to my ear during Nighthawk ops. Even though I didn't bleed, it sure was a painful wound rec'd during battle with the dinks. I have another appointment at the VA about all of that in a few days.
Sr.
Tuesday, December 1, 2009
Omeprezol
Kristin has a script for Omeprezol for me to take along with the Ondansetron. That hasn't completely taken away the nausea today or yesterday but it has changed my definition of nausea.
Instead of being on the verge of hugging the toilet, you simply have a stomach upset that isn't quite the kind that takes you to the thunder mug. It's the kind that puts you in the bed and inspires you to take a plastic bucket with you while hoping you won't have to use it.
Getting off chemo is way worse than getting off radiation.
I'm hangin in there and using new, improved cuss words when I talk to the cancer cells. Can't use them here cause lots of really straight folks read this but just so my big brother will know and feel comfortable that I'm still fighting hard, my new cuss word list comes directly from Tim Jr who has inquired among many of his Navy buddies to insure that I'm calling them the lowest possible names available. You know, "cussin' like a sailor".
Sr.
Instead of being on the verge of hugging the toilet, you simply have a stomach upset that isn't quite the kind that takes you to the thunder mug. It's the kind that puts you in the bed and inspires you to take a plastic bucket with you while hoping you won't have to use it.
Getting off chemo is way worse than getting off radiation.
I'm hangin in there and using new, improved cuss words when I talk to the cancer cells. Can't use them here cause lots of really straight folks read this but just so my big brother will know and feel comfortable that I'm still fighting hard, my new cuss word list comes directly from Tim Jr who has inquired among many of his Navy buddies to insure that I'm calling them the lowest possible names available. You know, "cussin' like a sailor".
Sr.
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