Well, I don't know what to share first: the computer melt down I caused or the oncologist report. Hmmm,,,,,,ok, first we go with the oncologist.
The oncologist had all GOOD NEWS. The uptick in the CEA count last month to 48 is now back down to 33. That's good and we don't have to have an unscheduled scan. A second good indicator is I gained a little weight. Now most of you don't think of that as a good thing but for a cancer patient that is good news. It indicates I can eat and complete the rest of the tasks associated with fueling your body. And I admit, last month we ate out in restaurants a lot more as I felt better and visited with friends so that probably contributed to the cause. Also - the doctor poked around on my stomach and said it was soft as a baby. Hmmm,,,,what - no hardbody? Oh well - for this case its good news not to have any thing feeling out of the ordinary in the stomach region.
So we stay on the plan - I had chemo today. But maintenance is is the discussion now for next year. The good thing about that is I will be able to drop the oxaliplatin. That is the nasty stuff that causes the worst side effects - super sensitivity to cold (today it was 62 degrees and I had to wear gloves and needed a scarf while I was out doing some yard work after getting out of the hospital). And of course the fatigue and lack of stamina continues to be a constant companion.
Ok - now for the computer. Yup - I did it. And I consider myself somewhat a technical person. I downloaded some optimizing software that destroyed the computers ability to function completely. Thankfully the real techies were able to back up and restore all my files while reloading the operating system (XP) and reloading all the OEM quicksets (Dell). So now I am back online and recovering from email withdrawal.
What else is new? Lots of great visits from friends - let's keep that up please because it is a real source of inspiration. And lots of emails from friends that can't visit - that's cool.
Stay tuned - Gary
Tuesday, November 3, 2009
Wednesday, October 7, 2009
This picture was snapped after church the other day. We attend Hope Community Church in Andover, KS and you are all welcome to join us anytime! But if you are coming please let us know so we can be at the same service with you.
I'm on my first day of chemo and the steroids are doing there thing - I can't sleep so I am trying to figure out how to post pictures, set up distribution lists, well, you get the idea. Its going to be a short night I think.
Stay tuned and thanks for your comments - Gary
article on fatigue Oct 7 pm
Sandy found this article on fatigue. It explains what is going on better than anything else I have read. I thought you all might enjoy it also.
Fight Fatigue with Your Fork
Fatigue can be a debilitating side effect of cancer treatment, but food choices can make a real difference in maintaining energy.
By Laurie Wertich
We all know what it’s like to feel a little tired—maybe you hit a midafternoon slump at work or you can’t quite get up the energy to jump out of bed after a night of fitful sleep. But if you’re a cancer patient, you may also know what it’s like to feel genuine fatigue, and that’s a totally different story.
Fatigue is not the same as tiredness. Everyone feels tired now and then, but fatigue is characterized by an overwhelming lack of energy that is not relieved by sleep. Some patients refer to it as “paralyzing.”
Fatigue is one of the most common side effects of cancer and its treatment. It can result from medications, anemia, infection, stress, poor nutrition, inadequate rest, and more.
“In your regular life, fatigue is when you feel tired and you’re lying on the couch after work and then your friend calls and invites you to the movies and you suddenly have a new burst of energy because that sounds like great fun,” says Carolyn Katzin, MSPH, CNS, a nutritionist with more than 20 years’ experience helping cancer patients. “But with cancer it’s a different kind of fatigue. You don’t get that new burst of energy. That reserve is just not there.”
The lack of reserve can wreak havoc on a cancer patient’s daily life. Suddenly, a task as simple as grocery shopping feels tantamount to scaling Mount Everest.
Food Is Fuel
There is no silver bullet for fighting fatigue. It has so many different causes and patterns that it may require the use of many strategies for effective treatment. There is one thing that might help, though, and it is something you can control: food.
Cancer treatment increases the nutritional demands of the body. The body is working to fight cancer, fight infection, and cope with the effects of treatment. It kicks into overdrive and it needs fuel—in the form of calories.
Because food can be such a fun, delicious, and social experience, we sometimes forget that the primary purpose of food is to fuel our bodies, in much the same way as we use gas to fuel our cars. If your car runs out of gas, it will sputter to a halt. The same is true for your body.
Not all food is created equal, however. Some foods will boost your energy, whereas others will leave you feeling drained. The trick is learning to identify the highest-quality fuel for your body.
Building and Stoking the Fire
Your body doesn’t need just food in the fight against fatigue—it needs the right kinds of food, in the right quantities, and at the right times. What you eat, what you don’t eat, and how often you eat are the keys to increasing your energy.
According to Katzin, maintaining stable blood sugar levels is imperative. Although blood sugar has become a common catchphrase, do we really understand what it means? It requires us to think about how food breaks down in the body.
Think of feeding your body as similar to feeding a fire. We use both paper and wood to build a fire. The paper catches fire first and then burns out quickly; the wood more burns slowly over a longer period of time. We can look at food in much the same way. Some foods act like paper because they deliver sugar into the bloodstream quickly and then fizzle out; other foods act like wood and deliver sugar more slowly over a longer period of time, providing a more sustainable form of energy. If you want to keep your internal fire—your energy—burning, you want to keep your blood sugar at a consistent, stable level, rather than letting it spike and dip.
Balance Blood Sugar
But how do you identify which foods are the paper and which foods are the wood? One helpful resource is the glycemic index, which ranks foods according to their effects on blood sugar levels. Foods that are lower on the glycemic index are usually higher in fiber, so they deliver sugar more slowly over time.
“Low glycemic index foods provide the best type of energy,” says Katzin. These are foods such as green vegetables, raw carrots, whole-wheat bread, brown rice, wild rice, oatmeal, and sweet potatoes. In contrast, cancer patients may want to avoid high glycemic foods such as white rice, white bread, pasta, corn, soda, cookies, and candy.
In addition to choosing low glycemic foods, Katzin recommends eating small, frequent meals to maintain stable blood sugar. This is the equivalent of throwing an extra log on the fire so that it doesn’t burn out. It’s easier to keep that fire going than it is to rebuild it. Similarly, it’s less taxing on the body to keep blood sugar stable rather than to try to raise it after it has plummeted.
Pack in the Protein
Maintaining stable blood sugar is just one part of the equation in the fight against fatigue. It is also important to consume nutrients that help build a strong body.
Cancer patients need to eat a little more protein than they would under normal circumstances. Protein helps repair body tissue, strengthen the immune system, and ensure growth. When our bodies are deficient in protein, we have a lowered resistance to infection and it can take longer to recover from illness. As such, additional protein is critical during and after cancer treatment because it helps prevent infection and heal tissue damage.
Good sources of protein include fish, poultry, dairy products, lean meat, nuts, and legumes. Katzin suggests eating protein in an easy-to-digest form, such as whey protein powder, which can be added to a smoothie.
Beware the Bonk
Some foods are so tempting; they taste great and seem to provide a quick burst of energy—right up until the “bonk,” when your blood sugar drops and you’re left feeling lethargic, cranky, and exhausted.
When you’re already feeling fatigued, you can’t afford to sacrifice precious energy for the quick high that sugar and caffeine might offer. Saying no to sweets and soda might be your biggest safeguard against a downward spiral of exhaustion.
“The problem with refined sugar is that it is delivered into your bloodstream so fast,” says Katzin. “Some people feel immediately quite energetic and then they feel quite tired rather quickly. It’s like a pendulum; what goes up must come down.”
Katzin also cautions against stimulants that have caffeine in them, such as coffee, green tea, dark chocolate, and guarana. “It doesn’t really serve you to try to override it by taking in a bunch of stimulants because, in the end, the fatigue is going to be even worse. It’s sort of like trying to spend your way out of an overdraft. It just doesn’t work.”
Drink Up
Dehydration is a common problem associated with cancer treatment. It can result from vomiting, diarrhea, fever, infection, or simply inadequate liquid intake. Many cancer patients get so dehydrated that they have to receive fluids intravenously.
Dehydration is exhausting and very taxing to the body. The best way to deal with dehydration is to prevent it. It is important to consume water, as well as electrolytes, which are minerals such as sodium and potassium that are essential to health. Many sports drinks on the market offer a proper balance of electrolytes; however, these are often also loaded with sugar, so it is important to read labels carefully.
Facing Down Fatigue
“Fatigue is very disturbing to a lot of people, especially high-energy people who are used to being very functional,” says Katzin. But, she cautions, “Fatigue is a normal side effect of cancer, so it’s not to say we shouldn’t feel fatigue—because it’s the body’s natural response—but there are some things we can do to boost energy.”
Food won’t eliminate fatigue altogether, but it will provide the body with the vital energy it needs to function and heal. Although this seemingly simple remedy can be challenging for cancer patients faced with nausea, vomiting, and appetite loss, Katzin insists that it is important. She recommends that patients think of eating in the same way they approach their medication: “You have to take it at certain times and at a certain dose—it’s the same with food.” She emphasizes that maintaining good nutrition is critical to coping with cancer treatment and its side effects.
“Just be kind,” Katzin says. “Think of food as a way of nourishing yourself, giving to yourself, healing yourself.”
Eating for energy doesn’t mean you have to obsess over your diet. When choosing foods, simply ask yourself, Will this energize me or deplete me? Then choose accordingly.
Fight Fatigue with Your Fork
Fatigue can be a debilitating side effect of cancer treatment, but food choices can make a real difference in maintaining energy.
By Laurie Wertich
We all know what it’s like to feel a little tired—maybe you hit a midafternoon slump at work or you can’t quite get up the energy to jump out of bed after a night of fitful sleep. But if you’re a cancer patient, you may also know what it’s like to feel genuine fatigue, and that’s a totally different story.
Fatigue is not the same as tiredness. Everyone feels tired now and then, but fatigue is characterized by an overwhelming lack of energy that is not relieved by sleep. Some patients refer to it as “paralyzing.”
Fatigue is one of the most common side effects of cancer and its treatment. It can result from medications, anemia, infection, stress, poor nutrition, inadequate rest, and more.
“In your regular life, fatigue is when you feel tired and you’re lying on the couch after work and then your friend calls and invites you to the movies and you suddenly have a new burst of energy because that sounds like great fun,” says Carolyn Katzin, MSPH, CNS, a nutritionist with more than 20 years’ experience helping cancer patients. “But with cancer it’s a different kind of fatigue. You don’t get that new burst of energy. That reserve is just not there.”
The lack of reserve can wreak havoc on a cancer patient’s daily life. Suddenly, a task as simple as grocery shopping feels tantamount to scaling Mount Everest.
Food Is Fuel
There is no silver bullet for fighting fatigue. It has so many different causes and patterns that it may require the use of many strategies for effective treatment. There is one thing that might help, though, and it is something you can control: food.
Cancer treatment increases the nutritional demands of the body. The body is working to fight cancer, fight infection, and cope with the effects of treatment. It kicks into overdrive and it needs fuel—in the form of calories.
Because food can be such a fun, delicious, and social experience, we sometimes forget that the primary purpose of food is to fuel our bodies, in much the same way as we use gas to fuel our cars. If your car runs out of gas, it will sputter to a halt. The same is true for your body.
Not all food is created equal, however. Some foods will boost your energy, whereas others will leave you feeling drained. The trick is learning to identify the highest-quality fuel for your body.
Building and Stoking the Fire
Your body doesn’t need just food in the fight against fatigue—it needs the right kinds of food, in the right quantities, and at the right times. What you eat, what you don’t eat, and how often you eat are the keys to increasing your energy.
According to Katzin, maintaining stable blood sugar levels is imperative. Although blood sugar has become a common catchphrase, do we really understand what it means? It requires us to think about how food breaks down in the body.
Think of feeding your body as similar to feeding a fire. We use both paper and wood to build a fire. The paper catches fire first and then burns out quickly; the wood more burns slowly over a longer period of time. We can look at food in much the same way. Some foods act like paper because they deliver sugar into the bloodstream quickly and then fizzle out; other foods act like wood and deliver sugar more slowly over a longer period of time, providing a more sustainable form of energy. If you want to keep your internal fire—your energy—burning, you want to keep your blood sugar at a consistent, stable level, rather than letting it spike and dip.
Balance Blood Sugar
But how do you identify which foods are the paper and which foods are the wood? One helpful resource is the glycemic index, which ranks foods according to their effects on blood sugar levels. Foods that are lower on the glycemic index are usually higher in fiber, so they deliver sugar more slowly over time.
“Low glycemic index foods provide the best type of energy,” says Katzin. These are foods such as green vegetables, raw carrots, whole-wheat bread, brown rice, wild rice, oatmeal, and sweet potatoes. In contrast, cancer patients may want to avoid high glycemic foods such as white rice, white bread, pasta, corn, soda, cookies, and candy.
In addition to choosing low glycemic foods, Katzin recommends eating small, frequent meals to maintain stable blood sugar. This is the equivalent of throwing an extra log on the fire so that it doesn’t burn out. It’s easier to keep that fire going than it is to rebuild it. Similarly, it’s less taxing on the body to keep blood sugar stable rather than to try to raise it after it has plummeted.
Pack in the Protein
Maintaining stable blood sugar is just one part of the equation in the fight against fatigue. It is also important to consume nutrients that help build a strong body.
Cancer patients need to eat a little more protein than they would under normal circumstances. Protein helps repair body tissue, strengthen the immune system, and ensure growth. When our bodies are deficient in protein, we have a lowered resistance to infection and it can take longer to recover from illness. As such, additional protein is critical during and after cancer treatment because it helps prevent infection and heal tissue damage.
Good sources of protein include fish, poultry, dairy products, lean meat, nuts, and legumes. Katzin suggests eating protein in an easy-to-digest form, such as whey protein powder, which can be added to a smoothie.
Beware the Bonk
Some foods are so tempting; they taste great and seem to provide a quick burst of energy—right up until the “bonk,” when your blood sugar drops and you’re left feeling lethargic, cranky, and exhausted.
When you’re already feeling fatigued, you can’t afford to sacrifice precious energy for the quick high that sugar and caffeine might offer. Saying no to sweets and soda might be your biggest safeguard against a downward spiral of exhaustion.
“The problem with refined sugar is that it is delivered into your bloodstream so fast,” says Katzin. “Some people feel immediately quite energetic and then they feel quite tired rather quickly. It’s like a pendulum; what goes up must come down.”
Katzin also cautions against stimulants that have caffeine in them, such as coffee, green tea, dark chocolate, and guarana. “It doesn’t really serve you to try to override it by taking in a bunch of stimulants because, in the end, the fatigue is going to be even worse. It’s sort of like trying to spend your way out of an overdraft. It just doesn’t work.”
Drink Up
Dehydration is a common problem associated with cancer treatment. It can result from vomiting, diarrhea, fever, infection, or simply inadequate liquid intake. Many cancer patients get so dehydrated that they have to receive fluids intravenously.
Dehydration is exhausting and very taxing to the body. The best way to deal with dehydration is to prevent it. It is important to consume water, as well as electrolytes, which are minerals such as sodium and potassium that are essential to health. Many sports drinks on the market offer a proper balance of electrolytes; however, these are often also loaded with sugar, so it is important to read labels carefully.
Facing Down Fatigue
“Fatigue is very disturbing to a lot of people, especially high-energy people who are used to being very functional,” says Katzin. But, she cautions, “Fatigue is a normal side effect of cancer, so it’s not to say we shouldn’t feel fatigue—because it’s the body’s natural response—but there are some things we can do to boost energy.”
Food won’t eliminate fatigue altogether, but it will provide the body with the vital energy it needs to function and heal. Although this seemingly simple remedy can be challenging for cancer patients faced with nausea, vomiting, and appetite loss, Katzin insists that it is important. She recommends that patients think of eating in the same way they approach their medication: “You have to take it at certain times and at a certain dose—it’s the same with food.” She emphasizes that maintaining good nutrition is critical to coping with cancer treatment and its side effects.
“Just be kind,” Katzin says. “Think of food as a way of nourishing yourself, giving to yourself, healing yourself.”
Eating for energy doesn’t mean you have to obsess over your diet. When choosing foods, simply ask yourself, Will this energize me or deplete me? Then choose accordingly.
Update from Oncologist Wednesday October 7
Well, its been awhile. But we'll get to that later. First the news from the oncologist. Last week I had a CAT scan (what kind of barium do you prefer - strawberry, vanilla or chocolate?). Yesterday we had an appointment with the Oncologist and he said my body was having a dramatic response to the chemo. The liver spots are smaller by over 50% and some he couldn't even see that used to be there. His bottom line was I couldn't be responding any better to the treatment. The CEA count however increased from 25 to 48 and we don't know why. The doctor didn't seem alarmed over the spike - we'll just have to see what it is next month.
So I am scheduled for 3 more months of the chemo. The end result is I will have 6 months of chemo then we see what is next. There won't be any surgery scheduled unless I am bleeding or obstructed in the bowel. So far I have no problems with that.
My weight is still holding its own and that also seems to be a big relief to the doctor. I tell Sandy that means more pie and ice cream - and her response has something to do with alternatives such as fruits and vegetables!
I continue to suffer from fatigue and sensitivity to cold. I am talking with other chemo patients and they suffer the same - there is no escape. I am learning that if I have a "big" day then the next day I might as well be prepared to sleep more.
Man we are busy! How did I ever have time to work? Of course - its 9:00 am by the time I get a couple cups of coffee down and get the daily newspaper read. So I figure if I get a couple of hours activity in the morning and a couple hours in the afternoon that's pretty good.
We have been getting out - to church events, car shows, chili feeds, art shows, furniture shopping, and visiting the kids and grandkids in Elbing. I also try to spend time in the garage doing simple things like cleaning windshields and scrubbing bugs off the paint. We put a new windshield in the Mazda Protoge last week and its sure nice to not have to see the cracks anymore. Any bets on how long it lasts before a rock pits it?
Fall is setting in here - and the new grass is growing good. We are so pleased to finally have a yard! We can't walk in it yet because we keep it wet all the time but it sure looks better than rocks and mud.
I am at the hospital as I write this - I got hooked up to the chemo and am captive now until done. And of course 2 more days on the pump. Its a cycle that can't be broken I guess. By now I am an experienced chemo person and know what to expect. Uggh - that can get depressing so I'll think about something else for awhile.
By the way - if you want to email me go ahead and use my AOL account garywgiles@aol.com
I monitor that almost daily and I forget to check the other account. I heard from some of you that its been awhile since I updated the blog so I'll try to update more frequently. Its just that I get busy on my non-chemo week (busy being a relative term compared to what busy used to mean).
Stay tuned - Gary
So I am scheduled for 3 more months of the chemo. The end result is I will have 6 months of chemo then we see what is next. There won't be any surgery scheduled unless I am bleeding or obstructed in the bowel. So far I have no problems with that.
My weight is still holding its own and that also seems to be a big relief to the doctor. I tell Sandy that means more pie and ice cream - and her response has something to do with alternatives such as fruits and vegetables!
I continue to suffer from fatigue and sensitivity to cold. I am talking with other chemo patients and they suffer the same - there is no escape. I am learning that if I have a "big" day then the next day I might as well be prepared to sleep more.
Man we are busy! How did I ever have time to work? Of course - its 9:00 am by the time I get a couple cups of coffee down and get the daily newspaper read. So I figure if I get a couple of hours activity in the morning and a couple hours in the afternoon that's pretty good.
We have been getting out - to church events, car shows, chili feeds, art shows, furniture shopping, and visiting the kids and grandkids in Elbing. I also try to spend time in the garage doing simple things like cleaning windshields and scrubbing bugs off the paint. We put a new windshield in the Mazda Protoge last week and its sure nice to not have to see the cracks anymore. Any bets on how long it lasts before a rock pits it?
Fall is setting in here - and the new grass is growing good. We are so pleased to finally have a yard! We can't walk in it yet because we keep it wet all the time but it sure looks better than rocks and mud.
I am at the hospital as I write this - I got hooked up to the chemo and am captive now until done. And of course 2 more days on the pump. Its a cycle that can't be broken I guess. By now I am an experienced chemo person and know what to expect. Uggh - that can get depressing so I'll think about something else for awhile.
By the way - if you want to email me go ahead and use my AOL account garywgiles@aol.com
I monitor that almost daily and I forget to check the other account. I heard from some of you that its been awhile since I updated the blog so I'll try to update more frequently. Its just that I get busy on my non-chemo week (busy being a relative term compared to what busy used to mean).
Stay tuned - Gary
Thursday, September 24, 2009
Chemo mix and suntanning 9/24/09
Its been awhile so I'll get you as good an update as I can. I am in day 3 of this 6th chemo treatment. They changed the mix this time due to weight loss and it has gone much better. Last time I mentioned it was really rough but this time its much much better. I don't know if its due to the mix or if I am just tolerating it better but the reaction to cold and fatigue have been much better. I feel the steroids stronger this time also and that helps - although I can't sleep very long (its 3:34 am as I write this and I already have a pot of Starbucks brewed).
The last couple days have been just georgous weather wise. On and off sunshine and temperatures that make you want to sit out the patio. Yesterday I was out almost all day - working in the yard, eating peanuts and grapes while resting on the patio and watching the sprinkler system run. What a pleasure - sunlight, green grass starting to grow (fescue - not bermuda thank God!), blue skys and white puffy clouds. I got enough sun yesterday I still feel it in my face today. But I would love to have people think I am retired and spend all my time on the golf course! (That probably isn't gonna happen since I don't know how to play golf).
Leah and Tim were home last weekend for a wedding and we had a blast seeing them and family. It seems like everyday last week was full which is how we try to plan the non-chemo weeks. Today I get the pump off and we will head for Newton to watch one of our grandsons (Noah) play flag football. I am teasing Sandy I am going to have to figure out how to tailgate party at 3rd grade football games.
Next week is an important week. The doctor has me scheduled for a cat scan on Monday then a week from next Tuesday we meet with the doctor and get the results. This is the first cat scan since I started chemo 3 months ago and we are praying the results will be spectacular. Please join us in prayers for this. All indicators are good although I still get scolded by the nurses for having too large of expectations for recovey. You who know me will understand that I always have large expectations.
Speaking of large - Sandy is throwing out all my fat clothes. I am maintaining my weight loss and we are glad for that. Although I would like to lose more weight to make the BMI cops happy the doctor doesn't want to see any weight loss - because of the fear that its the cancer causing it. So be it - I can live at this weight and feel good - and get the occasional important foods like cake, pie, ice cream - well, you get the idea.
I had two friends from the past at Boeing get ahold of me yesterday that had just heard from others in the network that I was sick. It was great talking with them. One dear friend has been to Lourdes in France with the Knights of Malta (I hope I got that correct - its a similar organization to Knights of Columbus). He brought some holy water back from Lourdes and will bring me some. I appreciate all faith based support and we had a great talk about his visit and look forward to more. So please keep passing on the news about me to your friends and acquaintances because I love the calls and visits. It makes my weeks and life better.
We officially have our house up for sale now. The extent of it is a sign out front. The house has been completed by the builder and we consider our own now. The yard is in and landscaping is sufficient for now. But I don't want to take less than I have in this place so I expect it will be awhile until it sells. So I get to live here and enjoy it all for now.
Well, the coffee is getting cold and its time for another cup. All for now - stay tuned and thanks so much for all your support - Gary
The last couple days have been just georgous weather wise. On and off sunshine and temperatures that make you want to sit out the patio. Yesterday I was out almost all day - working in the yard, eating peanuts and grapes while resting on the patio and watching the sprinkler system run. What a pleasure - sunlight, green grass starting to grow (fescue - not bermuda thank God!), blue skys and white puffy clouds. I got enough sun yesterday I still feel it in my face today. But I would love to have people think I am retired and spend all my time on the golf course! (That probably isn't gonna happen since I don't know how to play golf).
Leah and Tim were home last weekend for a wedding and we had a blast seeing them and family. It seems like everyday last week was full which is how we try to plan the non-chemo weeks. Today I get the pump off and we will head for Newton to watch one of our grandsons (Noah) play flag football. I am teasing Sandy I am going to have to figure out how to tailgate party at 3rd grade football games.
Next week is an important week. The doctor has me scheduled for a cat scan on Monday then a week from next Tuesday we meet with the doctor and get the results. This is the first cat scan since I started chemo 3 months ago and we are praying the results will be spectacular. Please join us in prayers for this. All indicators are good although I still get scolded by the nurses for having too large of expectations for recovey. You who know me will understand that I always have large expectations.
Speaking of large - Sandy is throwing out all my fat clothes. I am maintaining my weight loss and we are glad for that. Although I would like to lose more weight to make the BMI cops happy the doctor doesn't want to see any weight loss - because of the fear that its the cancer causing it. So be it - I can live at this weight and feel good - and get the occasional important foods like cake, pie, ice cream - well, you get the idea.
I had two friends from the past at Boeing get ahold of me yesterday that had just heard from others in the network that I was sick. It was great talking with them. One dear friend has been to Lourdes in France with the Knights of Malta (I hope I got that correct - its a similar organization to Knights of Columbus). He brought some holy water back from Lourdes and will bring me some. I appreciate all faith based support and we had a great talk about his visit and look forward to more. So please keep passing on the news about me to your friends and acquaintances because I love the calls and visits. It makes my weeks and life better.
We officially have our house up for sale now. The extent of it is a sign out front. The house has been completed by the builder and we consider our own now. The yard is in and landscaping is sufficient for now. But I don't want to take less than I have in this place so I expect it will be awhile until it sells. So I get to live here and enjoy it all for now.
Well, the coffee is getting cold and its time for another cup. All for now - stay tuned and thanks so much for all your support - Gary
Saturday, September 12, 2009
Chemo keeps taking its toll Saturday 9/12/09
I am losing my optimism. Each time I take chemo I think it will get easier. It doesn't. It gets harder. The effects last longer. The fatigue is worse. The fingers hurt worse. The cold sensitivity gets worse. I'm getting tired of being sick. Are these the words of a chronic complainer? I hope not. I am coming off treatment #5 and while the numbers say I am getting better right now on day 5 of this chemo week I still have not bounced back like I think I should.
So we walk. When we can. And talk and tell each other how much we enjoy each moment we have together. Sandy is doing great things with the yard. And the sprinkler system installation has started. So by Halloween we should have great beautiful GREEN grass to feast our eyes on. Real grass - Fescue. Not bermuda. You know why? I got to choose! Whohoo!
I had a visit from my nephew today. Its great to have family. What a treasure. And we had a visit from friends. Wow - that makes the day go by fast. And then I took a well deserved nap. But I woke up in time to see the last half of the Notre Dame-Michigan game. Wow - when did college football become that much fun?
I'm looking forward to next week. Its a non-chemo week and we have it chockfull of activities. Starting with the Kansas State Fair on Monday. I am planning on eating a Pronto Pup. I hope my digestive track can handle it cuz its gonna happen.
All for tonight - stay tuned - thanks for listening - Gary
So we walk. When we can. And talk and tell each other how much we enjoy each moment we have together. Sandy is doing great things with the yard. And the sprinkler system installation has started. So by Halloween we should have great beautiful GREEN grass to feast our eyes on. Real grass - Fescue. Not bermuda. You know why? I got to choose! Whohoo!
I had a visit from my nephew today. Its great to have family. What a treasure. And we had a visit from friends. Wow - that makes the day go by fast. And then I took a well deserved nap. But I woke up in time to see the last half of the Notre Dame-Michigan game. Wow - when did college football become that much fun?
I'm looking forward to next week. Its a non-chemo week and we have it chockfull of activities. Starting with the Kansas State Fair on Monday. I am planning on eating a Pronto Pup. I hope my digestive track can handle it cuz its gonna happen.
All for tonight - stay tuned - thanks for listening - Gary
Sunday, September 6, 2009
Good Morning America! from Springfield, MO Sunday Sept. 6
We went to the oncologist Friday and received great news. The CEA marker (count) had dropped to 25. Yup - that's right - 25. The doctor was extremely pleased but warned me that he doesn't just manage to the numbers. So he made me get up on the workbench (not being in the medical field that's all I know to call it) and he started poking around on my stomach and neck. But when done he said I was doing superb. Wow. I hadn't lost any weight and he thought that was a good thing also.
So the bottom line is he thinks maybe I can go into a maintenance program by the first of the year. That means a modified chemo I think - but he mentioned that I wouldn't have to endure the pump for 2 days. Well, that's good news. While part of me dreads 4 more months of the bi-weekly chemo treatments the other part of me says buck it up cowboy and take your medicine.
I felt good enough to drive to Springfield, MO Friday. It was great to be back on the road. Saturday was my birthday and our son and grandson took us out to a Brazilian steak house - that was quite an experience and very enjoyable.
This last week has been filled with visiting with family and friends and I feel myself getting stronger all the time. If I over do it then I know that a long nap is coming. I still have to fight off the fatigue from the chemo but its getting better.
So the bottom line is he thinks maybe I can go into a maintenance program by the first of the year. That means a modified chemo I think - but he mentioned that I wouldn't have to endure the pump for 2 days. Well, that's good news. While part of me dreads 4 more months of the bi-weekly chemo treatments the other part of me says buck it up cowboy and take your medicine.
I felt good enough to drive to Springfield, MO Friday. It was great to be back on the road. Saturday was my birthday and our son and grandson took us out to a Brazilian steak house - that was quite an experience and very enjoyable.
This last week has been filled with visiting with family and friends and I feel myself getting stronger all the time. If I over do it then I know that a long nap is coming. I still have to fight off the fatigue from the chemo but its getting better.
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