Here's the truth and it's not pretty

First of all I want to tell you for my birthday yesterday Melvin got me 1 doz red roses. He felt so bad he couldn't take me to dinner or do anything for me other than be there for me. The roses are beautiful and I am thoroughly enjoying them even though I can't smell them (due to nausea).

So I thought it was time to give you all some insight into what I am going through. I know I have kind of doing that but this will give you a total picture.

Starting from the head down. I have small headaches about 50% of the time. I am having a huge amount of mucous drainage for which I am taking medicine. My sense of smell is extremely sensitive. Any little funky smell and I get very nauseated. My mouth feels like it has been burned and I have the nastiest taste in my mouth. Nothing will get rid of it. My teeth and gums hurt. I feel semi nauseated all the time. (I'm taking medicine for that also). I also alternate between chills and being hot. (But no temperature)
Below the belt. From the hair line in the private area I am bright red from burns. This continues to the back with the burns going about 1=2 inches beyond where my leg attaches to my body. So needless to say any underwear is a killer. I have burns extending out on the cheeks of the butt again about 2-3 inches. I get to put salve on all the burn areas 3 times a day. It helps for about 2 hours.
So everything above the belt is from the chemo. Everything below the belt is from radiation. I have been told the radiation effects will leave faster than the chemo effects even though the radiation will keep working for 1 month after I finish treatment. (Monday is my last day) Tomorrow I get disconnected from the chemo. With the side effects I am currently having I am hoping that my side effects aren't worse the second week like they were after the first chemo. I know it will probably take a week after I am disconnected to start feeling human again. But I am starting to see the light at the end of the tunnel. I hope all of you realize this was written for informational purposes. The next time you know someone going through chemo and or radiation you will realize that saying hope you have a great day isn't quite what you want to say. There really aren't any great days. There are bad days and days not so bad. Prayers are the best and letting the person know you are there for them. Which all of you have done for me and I can't tell you how much I appreciate it and love you for it.
Hopefully the rest of this blog will be about my recovery and way back to decent health. Hope you have a great weekend. KTPC Rose

At 9:30 tonight I will be half way thru my chemo. I am having trouble writing this as I am laying down and my stomach is acting up. I have a feeling I will be needing my nausea medication before long. I just hope it takes care of the problem. My nose has also started acting up. Some smells make me sick. That is an indication my food consumption will start going down. So, if I don't write tomorrow you know it has become a major feat to do so. At least I will have the PGA championship to entertain me over the next 2 days. Thank you for all of your prayers and cards. Love to all

2 lb weight on my hip

I made it through getting hooked up to chemo today. Everyday I am told something different. Do the docs not know how frustrating this is for someone who feels so out of control anyway? Today I was informed the chemo would be for 5 days not 4. We made the guy prove it by showing us the written orders by the doc because we were definitely told 4 days. So I will be disconnected on Sat morning. The plus side is supposedly this is not as strong as the first one and of course I don't have one drug at all. Which should be better. He also said that after I get through with the treatment the first week after will be a side effect week but after that I should get better quickly if I make an effort to do so. Quickly of course means several months but that is for 90% recovery. I also don't have to have the chemo bag changed every day I have enough in one pouch to last until I'm through. So that will be one less hassle also. On Saturday someone will arrive at my house at promptly 9 something to disconnect me as I was hooked up at 9 something. (9:20) 120 hours of continuous crap....
I have to admit I'm already getting a taste in my mouth. It's not bad its not good its just annoying. But that will be the guy that will cut down my appetite because I get to the point I can't taste much.
I did want to tell you I ran into a friend of mine at BPS on Friday. She is going through her 2nd cancer treatment. With the same docs that I have. It is a different type of cancer but still talking to her just made me feel so good. I didn't feel like I was so alone out there. I mean I see all the people in the docs offices getting treatment and know there are large amounts of people in similar situations but to sit down and compare notes particularly when she has had previous experience was just relief or I don't know it's hard to describe.
So, I will keep all of you posted. The second countdown will start after I sleep with my little guy (pump/chemo) tonight. KTPC this week and next week will be biggies. Love to all

Another day another experience

Yesterday I surprised myself. I wanted Melvin to take me to Bass Pro Shop so I could look/purchase about 4 items. For those of you who have been in the store know it is huge. I thought I would have to sit and direct Melvin but I walked to the back corner of the store and then to the 2nd floor and looked around up there. I then walked to where the car was parked. After that we went to the pharmacy at MSU and the gals have been asking about me so I went in to say hi to them. Then I had my back adjusted because I was having back pain. I did sleep for about a hour in the afternoon but then we went out to Old Chicago for a nice early birthday celebration. Unfortunately when I got up this morning I found out there was more to my back pain.
I had all the symptoms of urinary tract infection. Now my radiation doc has been expecting this because the main question for her is are you peeing ok? So I call the office thinking I will get an oncall doc with it being Saturday, and instead I was told to go to urgent care. So Mel and I head out at 8:30 this morning to urgent care and guess what, I was right. So now I'm on antibiotics for the urinary tract infection. What fun!
I can tell that I have gained some strength so I'm glad about that. I want everything I have to face this next round of chemo.
I hope you are having a good weekend. It was really hot today but it is supposed to be cooler tomorrow and next week. KTPC Look for next weeks adventures! Love you

Hairless?

I'm not growing any hair anyplace. It has been a week since I have had to shave. Ladies, don't get excited the trade off is not worth it. I am still losing bits of hair on my head. I actually have 1 bald spot. I'm waiting until I look like a little old man with fringe. I'm actually hoping it does that because with a cap it still looks like I have some hair. I'm really hoping I don't lose my eyebrows and eyelashes. I just can't imagine that.
I ended up going into the doc office yesterday (unplanned) because I was getting very nervous about the next round of chemo and the lack of info anyone was telling me. I did get someone to sit down and answer our questions. I found out that someone will come to where I have radiation and they will use one of the doc offices to "hook me up". I will get my anti nausea med first but this time I will not get the one drug that only lasts for one hour. After the anti nausea drug I will go straight to the 24 hour drip. They will put it on a portable pump in a pack with it hooked into my port and off I go. Each day when I go to radiation there will be someone there to change the bag until Friday when they unhook me. Sounds simple enough. If only it goes that easy.
I have been feeling pretty good today. I did have about a 2 hour nap this morning. But it allowed me to make a couple of phone calls and visit with Scott when he came over for awhile. And I did do about 10 minutes of house cleaning after I came home from radiation. So it wasn't a completely worthless day.
We have the weekend coming up. I hope everyone has a good one. It is supposed to be pretty warm here so I will staying inside keeping myself occupied (as usual). KTPC Love to all

I had a pretty good day yesterday. I felt like I could do just a little around the house. Today was different. I don't know if it was because of what I did yesterday or just one of those days. Some days are definitely better than others.
I think part of the problem today was I sat for a longer time than I should have when my pain med was nearing wear off time. I have to kind of plan when I sit. Right now I am semi lying on the couch. Thank goodness for batteries and wireless networking. The radiation doc said I looked like I was doing better but warned me of the future (next week). I did ask about the med that I have to apply with gloves and the nurse said it is a big to do over the fact they want a sterile enviornment. She said I could apply it with my hands just as long as I washed them before and after of course. So evidently it isn't as potent as what the instructions said.
Ken, I enjoyed your comments and memories. Others that read it are going to wonder what kind of family I married into but I declare it is the best. I wouldn't have it any other way.
Hope everyone is having a good week. Love to all

One more side effect

Hi Everyone,
Just when it seems things are starting to smooth out something else comes up. On Friday, I found some bumps in areas I am not supposed to have bumps. I called the radiation doc and they prescribed me a new (another) med because this is a type of infection. The medicine is scary. The directions are you are supposed to apply it with gloves and double wash your hands. So I'm wondering if I'm going to have any underwear left after using this stuff. I mean will it burn holes in my underwear? Can I expect to be walking around and all of sudden have strings surrounding me? Oh well, I guess I will wait and see on that one.
Hope all of you are having a good weekend. It started out rainy here but is starting to clear up and is supposed to be clear all day tomorrow. Scott and his girl are supposed to come over tomorrow to cook Mel and I dinner. Scott's girl is from a farm and they butchered chickens with Scott kind of helping so he brought us some chickens. But that is another story. Hope you have a good Sunday. KTPC Love to all.