Woo-hoo...home this arvo. Continuation of treatment (by pills) at home.
Thanks for all the prayers, votives, scented candles, and other methods employed on my behalf.
Home for Christmas!
Waiting for my next dose of chemo to start. This will sound odd, but increasingly I feel that the doctors are wrong about me. Yes, I've got something wrong that needs fixing, and maybe I should think about early retirement. But the idea that my life is at risk feels absurd. Apart from being tired, and therefore enjoying sick leave, I'm fine. Ah well, what do I know?
Difficult territory, this. I never had the square root of a tithe of any kind of discomfort or inconvenience at any stage until the treatment was well advanced. Then it all happened and there are still daily reminders - always will be. The fundamental rule must be that, despite the millions of cancer patients around, the experience is different for each one of us. Which observation is no damn use to anyone, I know.
Almost a month ago I had another surgical procedure to remove some tumours in my bladder. Not bad this time, and recovery was painful but simple. This past Friday I had a rather large bleed which means the tumours have returned and chewed their way through a blood vessel. I'll always consider myself fortunate if this happens as it is usually an early warning and the medicos can get the cancer early. I'm waiting for a call from my surgeon with a date for surgery. This will be my 10th surgery, some of them more dire than others. I'm praying for good news.
My Christmas prayer is for everyone suffering from any of the seeming endless varieties of this evil disease and for the families and friends who suffer along with us. God bless us, everyone!
I've had a rough couple of days with vomiting and being faint. Last night I had to be taken out during the Prayer of Consecration (embarrassing, but not as bad as fainting and having the paramedics show up).
What a wonderful church family I have! The alto next to me signaled to her partner (apparently they had arranged a system for themselves some time ago); he got my chair, and took me out quietly and got me where I needed to go. I did pass out, but only for a few moments, and he mercifully refrained from dialing 911.
The sexton appeared, and let me into the rector's office (where there is a sofa to lie down on), fetched pillows, ice chips, cookies, and water; the senior warden materialized (she saw me go out, but had to wait until her pew went to communion to exit) and sat with me until the service was over, and the dear choir couple with whom I had dinner and rode to church got out. Then we all went to the choir room, got out of our vestments, and went home.
I felt well enough that we could exchange presents, and have a wee dram (exceptionally wee, in my case) of the Highland Park 18 sent me by @Margaret, and drink her health. Another friend offered to come spend the night with me, but she has tiny visiting grandchildren, and I declined: she needed to be there to see their little faces this morning.
I slept through the night. And I now have a new anti-nausea drug, fetched for me by the Junior Child. Deo gratias!
An eventful day, Ross. It's heartwarming to read of the support system you have - and always inspiring and humbling to hear the positive spin you manage to put on things.
Echoing what Nenya said. And such good news, @Rossweisse, that there are more options out there. And good news also that @Galilit is home from the hospital.
Holding @Robert Armin and @idj in the light, along with all who post here.
Bad night. Kept waking up to vomit, which is odd as that is normally linked with eating. Still my nephew and his wife have dropped in, which is lovely, and I'll go back to sleep once I've checked the Ship.
@Robert Armin, hopefully you've had some restorative zzzzzzzzz...
IANAD, but, re the vomiting, could it simply be an unlooked-for reaction to some medication or other? Or to a D & V bug going the rounds? Either way, I trust it will pass. If not, please to contact your GP or whoever asap.
I spent the morning in the ER, but escaped being incarcerated there precisely because of my beyond-compromised immune system. Vomiting is a problem, because of dehydration. Also, it's icky.
Tentative positive update- Mom has been on her oral chemo for about a month, and her latest scan demoted her liver spots from Stage 4 to Stage 2 - not sure if the scan revealed a mistake in the first assessment or the meds have just really kicked ass— and her treatment course has been reduced from 6 months to 3 months.
My mum overlooked the blood tests she needed before her port could be fitted so she is waiting at the hospital for the test results. They should be available in a couple of hours so hopefully this will just be a minor blip and it should still be fitted then. It's remarkable how upsetting it is though.
Good sleep yesterday and last night, with no more vomiting. Deo Gratias. As I get further from the chemo injection (Tuesday) I feel better, but I've noticed my hair is falling out again.
My mum overlooked the blood tests she needed before her port could be fitted so she is waiting at the hospital for the test results. They should be available in a couple of hours so hopefully this will just be a minor blip and it should still be fitted then. It's remarkable how upsetting it is though.
An eventful day, Ross. It's heartwarming to read of the support system you have - and always inspiring and humbling to hear the positive spin you manage to put on things.
It truly is heartwarming isn't it? I got all teary reading about the fellow alto and her prepared signal to her husband. Ross is surely well loved IRL as well as on the ship.
Happy for Bunnywithanaxe's mom!
So sorry for all the vomiting.
May that wonderful feeling of peace descending that always follows the Christmas rush for me, fall on all of you as well.
You know... I really miss the old pre-cancer body and the pre-chemo brain. They weren't all that good and they were ageing, but it was better than this. Short, dark winter days will do this to you. I'll add my swears and prayers to Amos', remembering that if I can still curse at it, it can't be all that bad.
I've had a useless sort of day (I WILL get my Christmas letter written at some point, truly), and my digestive system has been worthless. (Dear GI Tract, I do not need to lose any weight, truly, so please let up, thanks.) I am trying to do my hosting, and keep (a) falling asleep, (b) upchucking, or (c) seriously falling asleep. Wonderful people have brought lots of lovely food, and I would like to eat it!
Prayers for all especially @Rossweisse , that all sounds beyond vile.
My brother continues to improve. Let's hope there are no more hiccoughs, though I'm pretty sure there will be
Good sleep yesterday and last night, with no more vomiting. Deo Gratias. As I get further from the chemo injection (Tuesday) I feel better, but I've noticed my hair is falling out again.
I'm glad you're feeling better. Chemo is no walk in the park. I guess we all have to get used to baldness after chemo.I guess it isn't too good to be vain about our silken locks. I pray for every good thing for you!
Coincidentally with my pitiful moaning (several posts above) about my rearranged body, I got a call from an old friend asking if I'd like to go to iFly (https://www.iflytoronto.com/) with his grandson. Now, I know very well this can't work for all cancer patients, even some well out of active treatment, but I took him up on it and I went flying this afternoon. I'm not ever going to be an expert, but I loved every moment. I was interested to see that they can take people who normally get around in wheelchairs, so, some of you...
Having had a few days feeling sorry for myself because I'm looking odd without hair, I'm bouncing back. I've decided I'm a natural for Gollum in the new set of films due out any day now. They're based on six words Tolkien scribbled on the back of a fag packet, and Jackson is turning these into a 19 part epic. Fame will be mine!
Comments
Thanks for all the prayers, votives, scented candles, and other methods employed on my behalf.
Home for Christmas!
Yay, Galilit, delighted to read this.
Galilit, hope you're feeling better.
Hopes for those in need of some;
Comfort for the afflicted.
My Christmas prayer is for everyone suffering from any of the seeming endless varieties of this evil disease and for the families and friends who suffer along with us. God bless us, everyone!
Prayers ascending, @idj
I've had a rough couple of days with vomiting and being faint. Last night I had to be taken out during the Prayer of Consecration (embarrassing, but not as bad as fainting and having the paramedics show up).
What a wonderful church family I have! The alto next to me signaled to her partner (apparently they had arranged a system for themselves some time ago); he got my chair, and took me out quietly and got me where I needed to go. I did pass out, but only for a few moments, and he mercifully refrained from dialing 911.
The sexton appeared, and let me into the rector's office (where there is a sofa to lie down on), fetched pillows, ice chips, cookies, and water; the senior warden materialized (she saw me go out, but had to wait until her pew went to communion to exit) and sat with me until the service was over, and the dear choir couple with whom I had dinner and rode to church got out. Then we all went to the choir room, got out of our vestments, and went home.
I felt well enough that we could exchange presents, and have a wee dram (exceptionally wee, in my case) of the Highland Park 18 sent me by @Margaret, and drink her health. Another friend offered to come spend the night with me, but she has tiny visiting grandchildren, and I declined: she needed to be there to see their little faces this morning.
I slept through the night. And I now have a new anti-nausea drug, fetched for me by the Junior Child. Deo gratias!
Holding @Robert Armin and @idj in the light, along with all who post here.
IANAD, but, re the vomiting, could it simply be an unlooked-for reaction to some medication or other? Or to a D & V bug going the rounds? Either way, I trust it will pass. If not, please to contact your GP or whoever asap.
Hope you're feeling better (and less icky) @Rossweisse, and @Robert Armin.
Tentative positive update- Mom has been on her oral chemo for about a month, and her latest scan demoted her liver spots from Stage 4 to Stage 2 - not sure if the scan revealed a mistake in the first assessment or the meds have just really kicked ass— and her treatment course has been reduced from 6 months to 3 months.
So— hallelujah and kenohora.
Continued prayers for all.
All got sorted, thankfully.
It truly is heartwarming isn't it? I got all teary reading about the fellow alto and her prepared signal to her husband. Ross is surely well loved IRL as well as on the ship.
Happy for Bunnywithanaxe's mom!
So sorry for all the vomiting.
May that wonderful feeling of peace descending that always follows the Christmas rush for me, fall on all of you as well.
<votive> @Robert Armin and @Rossweisse
My brother continues to improve. Let's hope there are no more hiccoughs, though I'm pretty sure there will be
I'm glad you're feeling better. Chemo is no walk in the park. I guess we all have to get used to baldness after chemo.I guess it isn't too good to be vain about our silken locks. I pray for every good thing for you!