I can’t deny it’s been a rough couple of weeks. About half-way through cycle number four I fell down and had to get Terry to help me up. I wasn’t hurt, but was checked into the hospital when I reported the incident.
Soon after checking in, things got worse. I threw up, a very bad development with an ileostomy. A CT scan revealed irritation of the intestinal wall causing a partial blockage. They put a tube down my nose for a couple of days and had me take in nothing by mouth. This was followed by a few more days of clear liquids only. In the meantime they decided to drip TPN, which is a nutritional supplement delivered through your blood stream.
Currently I’m getting TPN and am on a diet of pureed food, like someone with a broken jaw would get. It’s pretty bad here in the hospital, but Terry has bought a machine to do the pureeing at home, and I’m allegedly going to be released today.
I also had a low grade fever when I checked into the hospital. It took them awhile to get a handle on it, but they did, and I was able to start round five of my chemo on time. I’m now on day four. On the plus side, I’m feeling little pain, and I’m able to concentrate enough to read, watch t.v. and listen to music. My weight is holding steady. On the negative side, I’m really weak. I can’t play guitar, and need a walker to get around. I also have no appetite and have to force myself to eat what I can.
So, it’s one day at a time. Seventeen more days on this cycle and then 21 days for the last cycle. Hopefully, I’ll be ready for my stomach operation by then. That will require recovery time, but maybe in a couple of months I’ll be starting to feel better.
More immediately, it looks like I'll be home today and see Judy and Koz-B . That will lift to my spirits.
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