Call it cabin fever, but really I felt rotten most of the time. I didn't feel like getting out.
A week of recovery after chemo treatment #3 was followed by a lumbar puncture to to put chemo in the brain spinal cord. That procedure was followed by a week long headache before the docs decided that when the puncture was done, the body didn't seal the hole. So back for another procedure to fix the leak. After that it was time for the next chemo treatment -- #4. That was over a week ago and this morning I was feeling good enough to go for a hike. A short one.
It was a solo hike. I knew it would be a slow hike with lots of rests. My cell phone was with me just in case of a problem. The hike was about a mile and a half.
It felt so good to be outside in the desert. It was a great way for me to get rejuvenated.
The goal of chemotherapy is to kill the actively growing cells. The side effect is that the drugs in that chemotherapy attacks any growing cell in the body -- i.e. skin and the digestive tract.
The chemo treatments have a cumulative effect on the body. The wrinkles have wrinkles. I'm down eight pounds from the first chemo. I can't spare that loss. Food doesn't taste good. The most recent chemo added neuropathy to the side effects. Typing this blog is a challenge.
The neuropathy is a game changer. When I researched the neuropathy side effect, typically it goes away after three to five months. The caveat is that it may never go away.
Considering this treatment ordeal is elective, I've made an appointment with the oncologist with lots of questions about the risks of stopping now.
Lloyd, I've got you on my prayer list for the duration. That may not be much consolation right now but it is all I can do for you. I think your desert hike was definitely good medicine for you. I hope you may have home health care to check on you routinely. Get well, soon.
ReplyDeleteI've been thinking about you and wondering how you were doing. And of course hoping things were easier than you thought they would be. I'm sorry that's not the case. Whatever you decide to do will be best for you, of course. You've done all the research and once you get answers from your oncologist you'll make the right decision. You are in my thoughts, Lloyd.
ReplyDeleteOh, Lloyd, how horrible. They're messing with your spinal cord? !? Frightening! I'm so sorry for what you're going through.
ReplyDeletelloyd...I have been thinking and praying for you having just finshed your archives and current posts. Try to persevere! Based on your archive posts, I think your daughter would want you to try everything possible to beat this cancer. As a suggestion, you might want to see another doctor regarding the treatment and loss of appetite. My sister-in-law went thru a cancer ordeal with similar conditions i.e. pain and inability to keep food in her system. She change specialists(Cancer centers of America) who put her on a different regiment and she was able to eat again after many months and a loss of many lbs. I lived in the Cave Creek AZ area for a number of years and I believe there is a Cancer Center of America in Scottsdale or Phoenix. She has been cancer free for over 5 years and is doing fine. I will send you an e-mail on my thoughts regarding your 13 years of wandering soon. signed...your friend from Morrison past
ReplyDeleteJim, With the post about the General Store in Morrison, I thought I might see a comment from you.
DeleteThere was a second opinion from the UofA med center with a lymphoma specialist who endorsed the proposed treatment plan. The final decision is up to me. Regardless whether I stop now or go to the end, there are no guarantees. That is the nature of cancer.
Lloyd- Thank you for the update. I too have been wondering how things were getting along. Ordeals such as you're going through are always terrible times, but as the others have already commented, you are in our thoughts and all of us, whether we know you only through this blog, or have had the privilege of meeting in person, we all send you good wishes and healing thoughts.
ReplyDeleteLloyd, please know that I will continue praying for you. May it be God's will to heal you, completely. Blessings, Lynn
ReplyDeleteYou are in my thoughts and prayers blog buddy. You have been my mentor as I made decisions to go Full Time.
ReplyDeleteYou are in my thoughts and prayers blog buddy. You have been my mentor as I made decisions to go Full Time.
ReplyDelete