Shock Treatment: Friday, Aug. 21,2009

He said it wouldn't hurt. But by the time he figured out that the electrical signal from my right knee to my foot wasn't getting through (must be a short circuit I guess) he did the only thing he could do - crank up the amperage (volts or whatever was on the end of the dial) and shoot me with a good jolt of electricity. Ouch. That one got my attention. It got my leg's attention too because it started spasms on its own - jerking and flopping around like a fish out of water.
It was supposed to be simple - just a little neurological test with electricity and needles. So after the guy with the electricity got done shocking me (and the good leg too) he already knew there was a problem. Well, I knew their was a problem too. Then the doc came in with his long needle (it won't hurt....much....). And after the doc got done sticking the needle and humming and talking to himself and occasionally asking me if I was doing ok (sure - I sweat like this all the time doc) he agreed - there is a problem.
In laymen's terms the nerve that controls the foot ain't workin' from my knee down. And there is some minor damage to my good leg in the same areas. In a couple of weeks we find out the official diagnosis but for now we're sticking to the story that its a side effect of the chemo.
The good news is I was strong enough to be gone from the house for 11 hours today. And we ate out twice with family and friends (I highly recommend the double fried chicken with white gravy and mashed potatoes with white gravy at Cracker Barrel). What's it going to do - kill me? Ha!
We walked a couple of miles yesterday and I slept the night through. Great. Today I sat down on a friends couch in the afternoon and dropped right off to sleep. But don't we all want our afternoon naps?
So I am enjoying this non-chemo week watching the rain, making plans with my wife for the future (wow - I said it - we really are starting to make plans for the future so I must be feeling better).
Stay tuned - Gary