Well, it has ben a week of bad times with some good mixed in.
The last revenge of the radiation has struck. My esophagus has rebelled completely. Either scar tissue build up, ulcers, or just some kind of blockage. Nearly constant discomfort at some level near pain. We have tried one medicine for ulcers, and it has no seeming effect. We are now deciding on what to do next.
Eating is an unpleasant chore, but I am forcing myself to do it. As a result, although the weight is back down to 140, I am building little strength and endurance back. (Can't do milkshakes right now, cold is just too painful to swallow.) I have to let an Ensure come to almost room temp before I can drink it.)
My cough went dry late last week, further irritating my bronchii and triggering some bloody sputum. However, it went very wet the first part of the week as apparently a new lobe of the lung was freed up by the shrinkage of the tumor. After some ugly sputum, suddenly my pulse ox took another jump up. 98% is now the new norm, and it gets there very quickly after exertion.
In spite of the discomfort in the chest, I am sleeping well again, so that is good.
I was also very pleased and happy about the response to last weeks update. After only 3 responses week before, there were over 20 between the 2 boards last week. Friends I cannot emphasize how much that means to Sandra and I. Thank you.
Yesterday, we went ahead with round 2 of this set of chemo. This inspite of my falling red blood count. We'll see how that goes. Getting at least adequate nutrition will hopefully keep this one from knocking me too far back.
The last revenge of the radiation has struck. My esophagus has rebelled completely. Either scar tissue build up, ulcers, or just some kind of blockage. Nearly constant discomfort at some level near pain. We have tried one medicine for ulcers, and it has no seeming effect. We are now deciding on what to do next.
Eating is an unpleasant chore, but I am forcing myself to do it. As a result, although the weight is back down to 140, I am building little strength and endurance back. (Can't do milkshakes right now, cold is just too painful to swallow.) I have to let an Ensure come to almost room temp before I can drink it.)
My cough went dry late last week, further irritating my bronchii and triggering some bloody sputum. However, it went very wet the first part of the week as apparently a new lobe of the lung was freed up by the shrinkage of the tumor. After some ugly sputum, suddenly my pulse ox took another jump up. 98% is now the new norm, and it gets there very quickly after exertion.
In spite of the discomfort in the chest, I am sleeping well again, so that is good.
I was also very pleased and happy about the response to last weeks update. After only 3 responses week before, there were over 20 between the 2 boards last week. Friends I cannot emphasize how much that means to Sandra and I. Thank you.
Yesterday, we went ahead with round 2 of this set of chemo. This inspite of my falling red blood count. We'll see how that goes. Getting at least adequate nutrition will hopefully keep this one from knocking me too far back.
