How was your 2009? As I look back at mine - moved into a new house, lost a job, got cancer, became a chemo addict, sold the new house - plus all the associated emotional swings caused by all the drama (fears) I am just glad its over.
I haven't had chemo for a month now and the last week has finally resulted in better energy and mind clarity. In case I haven't told you before along with the other side effects of chemo is a "brain fog" which is debilitating when you don't have a lot of brain cells to start with!
The doctor visit this week sets up the new year for us. While the spots on the liver continue to be reduced there is no escaping the reality of a maintenance program from now on. In actuality, my maintenance will be what my 11th treatment was - both avaston (blood vessel starvation of cancer cells and not an actual chemo drug) and 5FU (chemo) will be administered every 2 weeks. The oxal (the really nasty chemo) is over but it has done its damage. I can hardly type due to no feeling in my fingers. The numbness in hands and feet will continue to get worse for awhile then I can expect a gradual improvement. The oxal results in the condition known as neropathy which has caused my foot drop (basically its all nerve damage).
I'll still have the pump on for 2 days after the infusion so every 2 weeks I'll have 3 days where I have to deal with a 6 hour infusion in the hospital and a couple more days of infusion by external pump that I will wear. We'll - so be it. What's the alternative? To me - the goal is to continue to get stronger and have better endurance - that will improve quality of life. Remember - this cancer cannot be cured - only controlled (for a period of time).
What will 2010 bring? For us it means closing on this house, moving back to Elbing, rennovating, remodeling and getting re-instated into the community. All in all its a "praise the Lord" scenario because we'll be able to do this - and there was a period of time in 2009 when I wasn't sure this would ever be a reality due to sickness and no buyer for our house.
I'm not big on New Year's resolutions - but here is what I have learned in 2009 - nothing is more important than relationships (with our Lord and Saviour, wife and family, friends and acquaintances). Thanks to all who have helped us through 2009 with your comments, encouragement and visits. We are blessed with such a strong support (includes prayer) community.
Love to all and a Happy New Year!
Gary & Sandy
Thursday, December 31, 2009
Tuesday, December 1, 2009
Dec 1 - anniversary and lots of good news!
Today is our 31st anniversary and we are celebrating not only the goodness of marriage but good news from the doctor and news of a buyer for our house!
Yesterday we visited with the oncologist and the CEA count is down to 13. Yes, that's correct - 13. That is a long way from where we started. The doctor grinned and said I was a poster child for getting well on this treatment! Great! I complained (just a little) about the side effects and how they are getting worse so he decided to drop the particular chemical that is causing the major side effects (sensitivity to cold, numbness in hands & feet, nausea, fatigue). I have taken 10 of the maximum 12 doses of this and it sure doesn't hurt my feelings to drop it. So I am hoping I just breeze through this treatment (and the next).
I am feeling much stronger as I start this treatment. So after 2 more of these we do the cat scan routine then go on a maintenance program. That's when things will get interesting - there is no prescribed protocol for maintenance on folks like myself that are dealing with metastasized colon cancer. So when we get to that point the doctor will prescribe what he thinks best and we shall see how I respond.
So praise the Lord for the good report! And - can you believe it? We have a buyer for the house. That is another praise item for all of you who have been praying. We have set a closing date of March 1 to give me time to make necessary arrangements for moving back home - to Elbing.
We had the best Thanksgiving ever and we hope you all did also. The weather was just great and our houseful of company was able to enjoy the outdoors as well as the indoors. So the blessings just continue (although we think we are going to get a dose of winter yet this week.
Stay tuned!
Gary
Yesterday we visited with the oncologist and the CEA count is down to 13. Yes, that's correct - 13. That is a long way from where we started. The doctor grinned and said I was a poster child for getting well on this treatment! Great! I complained (just a little) about the side effects and how they are getting worse so he decided to drop the particular chemical that is causing the major side effects (sensitivity to cold, numbness in hands & feet, nausea, fatigue). I have taken 10 of the maximum 12 doses of this and it sure doesn't hurt my feelings to drop it. So I am hoping I just breeze through this treatment (and the next).
I am feeling much stronger as I start this treatment. So after 2 more of these we do the cat scan routine then go on a maintenance program. That's when things will get interesting - there is no prescribed protocol for maintenance on folks like myself that are dealing with metastasized colon cancer. So when we get to that point the doctor will prescribe what he thinks best and we shall see how I respond.
So praise the Lord for the good report! And - can you believe it? We have a buyer for the house. That is another praise item for all of you who have been praying. We have set a closing date of March 1 to give me time to make necessary arrangements for moving back home - to Elbing.
We had the best Thanksgiving ever and we hope you all did also. The weather was just great and our houseful of company was able to enjoy the outdoors as well as the indoors. So the blessings just continue (although we think we are going to get a dose of winter yet this week.
Stay tuned!
Gary
Friday, November 20, 2009
Nov 20 - where has the time gone?
Wow - its Friday November 20. Thanksgiving is next week and we aren't completely ready yet - but we'll keep trying. I just got done with treatment #10 - can you believe it? I felt stronger going into this treatment than any before so something must be working. So far so good - just the usual side effects.
The good news is if I have it all figured out correctly is there are only 2 more treatments left - then I can go on a maintenance program and we shall see what the cancer does then. I am REALLY looking forward to being done with the 12 chemo treatments I am on now. Every 2 weeks is draining.
We've had good sunny days lately - and that helps a lot with attitude. I am not a fan of gray, rainy days and need my dose of sun to help with the cheery outlook. We have been working on putting some Christmas lights up - and that is cheerful as well.
Next week we have lots of family coming and that will be special. Then after they are all gone I go back to the oncologist to get the latest update before the next 2 treatments start. We trust all will be more good news.
Sandy and I are reading a new book called "Anti-Cancer". Its really moving and addresses emotional and nutritional type information and is written by a doctor that had brain cancer. Its really quite eye opening to read and understand how many people are affected by all this.
All for now - I just wanted to get a quick update out. We are doing ok and actually a little better so praise the Lord for that!
Gary
The good news is if I have it all figured out correctly is there are only 2 more treatments left - then I can go on a maintenance program and we shall see what the cancer does then. I am REALLY looking forward to being done with the 12 chemo treatments I am on now. Every 2 weeks is draining.
We've had good sunny days lately - and that helps a lot with attitude. I am not a fan of gray, rainy days and need my dose of sun to help with the cheery outlook. We have been working on putting some Christmas lights up - and that is cheerful as well.
Next week we have lots of family coming and that will be special. Then after they are all gone I go back to the oncologist to get the latest update before the next 2 treatments start. We trust all will be more good news.
Sandy and I are reading a new book called "Anti-Cancer". Its really moving and addresses emotional and nutritional type information and is written by a doctor that had brain cancer. Its really quite eye opening to read and understand how many people are affected by all this.
All for now - I just wanted to get a quick update out. We are doing ok and actually a little better so praise the Lord for that!
Gary
Tuesday, November 3, 2009
Nov 3 and back on line - with oncologist update
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
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
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
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