Another First-Day Guy
Wed and Thursday were hydration days. Today was rad only. Starting to feel better, and now have a much better understanding of this treatment and its effects.
A visiting nurse stopped by today to check up on me, and had to ask if I was the patient, as I'm not outwardly showing much evidence of my condition and treatment. In fact last Saturday I moved the equivalent of 20 sheets of 3/4 plywood out to our shed. Of course this was before chemo, but I do have a G tube in. Anyway, I took this as encouraging.
Had a good late-afternoon to evening nap today. My poor wife, a true angel, is exhausted and spending the night in the spare room because my sleep cycle is way out of wack.
Hope this isn't TMI, but I'm not feeling very affectionate, and I miss that. Hope it comes back soon. Affection and intimacy are important, and I think overlooked sometimes in the course of disease.
Oh, and I received a package from Amazon.com courtesy of a dear friend. A very pleasant surprise. The book: "Keith Richards LIFE". Appropriate in many ways.
Again, thank all who have shared experiences and encouragement. It helps, and I remain in good spirits.
Next chemo Jan. 4.
Dale
Comments
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Keep the positive attitude as long as you can. The bad days will find you soon enough. And as long as you are able to do the physical stuff - do it. Anything to keep you moving and all them muscles working!
I understand about the affection. It's hard to look at hubby and not see someone I need to baby a bit. My advice - give it when you can and receive it when you can. It will take time, and be different for a while, but it will come back.
Thanks for the update. Glad to hear you're doing well 0 -
Chemo-Drugs
Usually they give you steroids and other anti-reaction type drugs....
The days that I had the large doses of Cisplatin, Taxotere and 5FU, I'd be wired also. I mainly worked from home for about nine months during treatment (computer related work). On those chemo days, I'd be up until 3 - 4 AM. Then sleep nearly all of the next day.
As for the affection thing, I'm sure a lot just has to do with the situation, you are in a survival mode right now. The fight of and for your life.
Stay positive and involve your family and friends. One thing my wife started was an "Update Email Group" for me...it included many friends, family, and workers. It was always nice to recieve the communication and support. When I felt good, I'd sent out an update myself. Usually after events, such as chemo, ct's or pets....
Faith, Family & Friends,
John0 -
Glad
to hear from you, Time will go quickly and you will be on the road to recovery before you know it. Keep your faith and be strong. It is rough but you can do it. When you get further into treatment come here for advise. It was a God send for David and myself. You will have questions and side effects that everyone here can help you through. I am so thankful for all the members here and I don't know what we would have done without them. I hope you and your family have a great Christmas despite what you are having to indure.
Prayers are going up for you daily. Keep us updated Dale, and God speed.0 -
Hope you get thru treatmentterryscarlett said:Glad
to hear from you, Time will go quickly and you will be on the road to recovery before you know it. Keep your faith and be strong. It is rough but you can do it. When you get further into treatment come here for advise. It was a God send for David and myself. You will have questions and side effects that everyone here can help you through. I am so thankful for all the members here and I don't know what we would have done without them. I hope you and your family have a great Christmas despite what you are having to indure.
Prayers are going up for you daily. Keep us updated Dale, and God speed.
Hope you get thru treatment with limited and manageable side effects. I only had rads, no chemo. Hang in there!
Sweet0 -
On your way
You're on your way to being cancer free Dale. Generally there is a drug, usually Decadron, that can act as a stimulant. Keeps me up on chemo nights. Affection/intimacy does fade but comes back after the chemo wears off. Just keep saying "I love you". Exercise as much as you can. It helps with the side effects more than you can imagine. Keep us posted and ask as many questions as you need to. So much experience here. Lifting you up brother.
Bob0 -
Hi Dale,
Hi Dale, Well I just wanted to say good luck to you. I'm on my 15 day out of 33 of rads only. I don't have to have chemo so I have no advice on that. This is such a difficult time mentally as well as physically we all know that. It will all come back once treatment is over. Hopefully with our newfound leases on life even better!! I hope you have a very Merry Christmas. It will all be over soon then we can get on to leading "normal" lives. Shelly0 -
DaleRayarno said:Intimacy
Dale, Your love life will return, not to worry. I am 4 months post treatment, feel free to email me directly and I will tell you what I experianced rarnold@vvainc.com.
Best of luck going forward, and I do hope your experience is w/less side-effects than some of us experienced. Would suggest you don't get comfortable with what you've learned so far with experience, as sometimes things can go south a bit. My bottom-line resolution before I even got my PEG or Port was, "Come what may," and it served me well. This thing'll take you wherever it does, Dale, and I hope it's not so bad for you. Just do the Bruce Willis thing at the end of the Last Boy Scout- "be prepared. Water's wet, sky is blue..." A number of others had and have it far worse than you or I, and I hope your months of post-treatment find you recovering well. Keep the Nutrition intake, your Drs. informed on exactly what's what with you, stay with us on the ACS, and...
Believe
kcass0 -
First Day Guy
Hi, Dale. I did not get chemo for treatments, only surgery and radiation, so I cannot speak for the chemo side effects. However, I have been reading and hearing about lots of folks who have endured these treatments and have come out clean on the other side. The sister of a man I work with just came back with a clean scan after being stage 4. I also came back clean after my last scan. The point here is that yes, the treatments can be very tough, even brutal, but there is always hope. I considered myself very fortunate to get through rads with only moderate side effects. I hope you do well with your treatments and keep fighting.0 -
Update
Feeling a lot better today, but the 'hangover' isn't over yet. Have not taken nausea meds today and feeling ok. Some ringing in ears, but that's minor. Not causing a problem. Background noise.
Scraped some snow off driveway this morning after a nice breakfast. Eggs, grapes, real oatmeal, apple. Then we walked the dogs and saw some neighbors. Put the Christmas tree together, and Mrs decorated it. Took a 4 hour nap late afternoon/evening. It was a GREAT nap! Winding down now, the computer will eventually put me to sleep. Feeling a slight 'queazy', going to take a compazine and tylenol.
Life is good.
Dale0 -
DaleDale_G said:Update
Feeling a lot better today, but the 'hangover' isn't over yet. Have not taken nausea meds today and feeling ok. Some ringing in ears, but that's minor. Not causing a problem. Background noise.
Scraped some snow off driveway this morning after a nice breakfast. Eggs, grapes, real oatmeal, apple. Then we walked the dogs and saw some neighbors. Put the Christmas tree together, and Mrs decorated it. Took a 4 hour nap late afternoon/evening. It was a GREAT nap! Winding down now, the computer will eventually put me to sleep. Feeling a slight 'queazy', going to take a compazine and tylenol.
Life is good.
Dale
Sorry to hear about the treatments, they do suck. You'll have to let us know about the Richards book. I saw that the other day and thought I might give it a read.
Best of luck to you man. Let us know if you need any info about treatments and keep us posted.
Best,
Mick0 -
Happy to hear that you are feeling better and were able to eat such a good breakfast and enjoy the day with your wife.Dale_G said:Update
Feeling a lot better today, but the 'hangover' isn't over yet. Have not taken nausea meds today and feeling ok. Some ringing in ears, but that's minor. Not causing a problem. Background noise.
Scraped some snow off driveway this morning after a nice breakfast. Eggs, grapes, real oatmeal, apple. Then we walked the dogs and saw some neighbors. Put the Christmas tree together, and Mrs decorated it. Took a 4 hour nap late afternoon/evening. It was a GREAT nap! Winding down now, the computer will eventually put me to sleep. Feeling a slight 'queazy', going to take a compazine and tylenol.
Life is good.
Dale
The treatment is tough but the results are worth the side effects.
Yes, Life is good!!
Glenna0 -
Take the anti nausea medsDale_G said:Update
Feeling a lot better today, but the 'hangover' isn't over yet. Have not taken nausea meds today and feeling ok. Some ringing in ears, but that's minor. Not causing a problem. Background noise.
Scraped some snow off driveway this morning after a nice breakfast. Eggs, grapes, real oatmeal, apple. Then we walked the dogs and saw some neighbors. Put the Christmas tree together, and Mrs decorated it. Took a 4 hour nap late afternoon/evening. It was a GREAT nap! Winding down now, the computer will eventually put me to sleep. Feeling a slight 'queazy', going to take a compazine and tylenol.
Life is good.
Dale
Dale, take the anti nausea meds even if you feel good, it will keep you feeling that way and will keep you from getting dehydrated. You will have good days and bad days but at the end of treatment you will be cured and have a long life with your family. God Bless you.0 -
My husband is on practically the same schedule as you are. He had chemo on 12/13 along with radiation every week day to date. He went downhill from the beginning, but is gaining back some strength today. He's still afraid to stop taking the anti-nausea medication because of his ER visit on 12/15. We're still learning how to handle all of this. I'm glad you are doing so well--wish my husband would eat real food like you are doing. But, he had to have all of his molars pulled, so chewing is already difficult.Glenna M said:Happy to hear that you are feeling better and were able to eat such a good breakfast and enjoy the day with your wife.
The treatment is tough but the results are worth the side effects.
Yes, Life is good!!
Glenna
Keep the faith and keep going--that's what I tell my husband.
Fran0 -
Hi FranGrandFran said:My husband is on practically the same schedule as you are. He had chemo on 12/13 along with radiation every week day to date. He went downhill from the beginning, but is gaining back some strength today. He's still afraid to stop taking the anti-nausea medication because of his ER visit on 12/15. We're still learning how to handle all of this. I'm glad you are doing so well--wish my husband would eat real food like you are doing. But, he had to have all of his molars pulled, so chewing is already difficult.
Keep the faith and keep going--that's what I tell my husband.
Fran
Welcome to CSN, glad to have you here, Hoping the best for you and your husband0 -
right there with you Dale
My dads first day of rads and chemotherapy was 12/14. All went well and he has not been sick thanks to anti nausea meds. I constantly tell him about what I learn from everyone on thus board. He also had surgery for the feeding tube on 12/15. So now he has 4 rads and one chemotherapy behind him. He too doesn't look like he has undergone any treatment and he feels pretty well....I am just tense waiting for it to catch up to him. However I am grateful for a week of treatment with no side effects.
I hope you continue to do well. Our friends and family have joked that I look worse than my dad after last week. Glad you have your wife to help you out. Tell her to take care of herself as well. This is so tough for you as the patient but your wife is probably like me as I have been with.my dad at every appointment and am mentally and emotionally tired.
Keep positive and take it easy even if you feel well...don't want you to get run down or over do it. We are all going to beat this thing together.
Prayers for you
Andrea0 -
Keep your head uparjenkins said:right there with you Dale
My dads first day of rads and chemotherapy was 12/14. All went well and he has not been sick thanks to anti nausea meds. I constantly tell him about what I learn from everyone on thus board. He also had surgery for the feeding tube on 12/15. So now he has 4 rads and one chemotherapy behind him. He too doesn't look like he has undergone any treatment and he feels pretty well....I am just tense waiting for it to catch up to him. However I am grateful for a week of treatment with no side effects.
I hope you continue to do well. Our friends and family have joked that I look worse than my dad after last week. Glad you have your wife to help you out. Tell her to take care of herself as well. This is so tough for you as the patient but your wife is probably like me as I have been with.my dad at every appointment and am mentally and emotionally tired.
Keep positive and take it easy even if you feel well...don't want you to get run down or over do it. We are all going to beat this thing together.
Prayers for you
Andrea
Dale,
It would appear by your profile pic that you're a fire fighter. I'm also a fire fighter and have fought and beat cancer. I'm glad to hear that you haven't been beat down by side effects yet! I am nearly 16 months post-treatment and can tell you that while those couple months were the toughest of my life, I'm now completely healthy and loving life, cancer free. I'll agree with some of the others in recommending you take your anti-nausea meds even if you're feeling fine. can't remember how many times I felt fine one hour, and the next was hugging the porceline throne because I didn't feel like choking down all the pills. Stay as active as possible and keep your spirits high! I'll keep your in my prayers.
Jason0 -
Same here....and a "heads up"Dale_G said:Update
Feeling a lot better today, but the 'hangover' isn't over yet. Have not taken nausea meds today and feeling ok. Some ringing in ears, but that's minor. Not causing a problem. Background noise.
Scraped some snow off driveway this morning after a nice breakfast. Eggs, grapes, real oatmeal, apple. Then we walked the dogs and saw some neighbors. Put the Christmas tree together, and Mrs decorated it. Took a 4 hour nap late afternoon/evening. It was a GREAT nap! Winding down now, the computer will eventually put me to sleep. Feeling a slight 'queazy', going to take a compazine and tylenol.
Life is good.
Dale
Hi Dale...welcome to the site. You won't find more supportive, understanding folks anywhere.
My husband just finished the same treatment you are going thru (he's 10 days out). He had the same experience as you at the beginning....in fact he looked so healthy for so long that people, including some docs, assumed he was way better than he felt. Make sure to share your symptoms with docs so they don't "assume" that you are feeling better than you are....
Now a "heads-up".....Gary experienced the ringing in his ears as well after chemo #1 (Cisplatin). I insisted that he share that side effect with his chemo doc before his next treatment, as I had read that cisplatin can cause hearing loss, sometimes permanent. The chemo doc was concerned as well....even though the ringing wasn't too bad for Gary, he was concerned about hearing loss, especially in a younger patient. So instead of chemo every 3 weeks, he switched to weekly and a different kind of chemo.....no more problems with ringing in ears and very little effect on hearing. Just another example of making sure to tell the docs all that you are experiencing, even if it's not bothering you much.
Take care and keep in touch as you continue onwards!0
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