My Journey

1/22. 4th Rad day and 1st chemo day. Still no side effects / issues to report. Rad 1st thing in the morning, arrive at chemo office (same hospital complex, different building) at 9:00 am. Hooked up to the IV around 10am. I'm there until 3pm. Most of which is drugs / hydration other than the chemo...cistplastin I think, apologies for spelling. For me, no port as only 3 treatments. My only advice here is, take something to do...its a boring 5 hrs! If what you take to do (computer game on laptop for me) favors your right hand...ie yer right handed and you use a mouse....get the IV in your left arm. Best time to use the restroom is when they change IV bags so you wont have to lug the IV pole around with you.

4 day booty ban.....feel bad for Mrs Kid.

Also, oddly, "flush your toilet twice"....especially if you have a dog or cat that uses it as a watering hole....note in the oncology restroom.

OK, so today is Sunday, my 1st chemo was Fri and I dont feel like eating. Nor did I Sat afternoon / evening either. I had thought everyones comments about trouble eating would be due to the sore mouth but I dont have that yet. I feel OK-ish....not sick, no pain, a bit lethargic.

Just much harder than I thought it would be with the food. Protein shakes and other liquids are no problem.

8th rad day today. Side effects so far are not too bad. A little dry mouth, very mild tinitus in the left ear. Today is Thurs and the chemo 6 days ago pretty much floored me the last 4 days though I seem over the worst of it now. Food wasn't happening and felt completly unmotivated to do anything. Survived on liquid protein shakes. Back on the solids now but its a struggle.

Almost 1/4 the way through though. Have to say things tougher than I thought and probably worse to come. Good support system with wife and friends though. 

Good day all. Rad treatment 11 of 33 done today so that puts me 1/3 way through treatment. Every day is different. Yesterday, I had some get up and go, did OK eating. Today not bothering to drag myself out of bed! Wife brought home a Vitamix machine so we tested that out this morning as eating anything solid was highly unappealing today. Tossed in a mixed bag of frozen fruit, some ice and some coconut milk...a purple frozen goo was the result but entirely acceptable for consumption. Now, back to bed with football on TV and the cat hanging out.

Couple of recommendations working for me.

Aquaphor...good moisturizer for the sore bits on your neck....make sure your not using it in the hours before treatment though.

Biotine...pretty good oral mouth rinse and a spray to moisturize the mouth too.

I'll let you know how the vitamix works out but so far, so good.

So, about 12 days after my final treatment now and I think finally, the corner has been turned.

Firstly, I feel OK although week mostly due to lack of food.

The bad burns on the neck are mostly healed and at least no longer painful

Throat still sore but not as awful as it has been.

Mouth still very dry, most food still tastes awful BUT there have been some tiny improvements over the last 2-3 days.

Surviving on a Boost high cal shake, 530 cals, which I divide into 3 and add to a glass of whole chocolate milk. Takes me all day to drink the 3 but it adds up to over 1100 cals of my minimum needed 1500 cals (got this number from the radiation doc)

In addition to this, a serving of jello has kept me going.

Finally been able to add small items of food. Havarti cheese, 2 slices a day. Had some leftover beef stew. Trying lots of stuff....usually, its still awful but some things, such a s the cheese, I've been able to eat 4-5 small forkfuls. I know that sounds like nothing but after 5 weeks of zero, I consider it a victory and a start of recovery.