Hello all. I hope this finds you all tolerably well. I apologize for my failure to post on a more timely basis and truly appreciate your prayers and good thoughts in the interim.
My preop radiation and chemo ended a week ago today. As I sit here, I'm tired but I (freaking finally) have the energy to spend a little time here, and I am virtually pain free.
I did work throughout the 5 1/2 weeks, but went to half days the last two weeks on the advice of my doctor. He explained that even sitting (I'm a desk jockey) was irritating things, so he recommended I spend the extra laying down. It was good advice.
The pain never really receded--in fact, at times, it got pretty bad, especially when BMs started to hurt. Oddly, the anti-diarrheal drug trial I was on (got a second shot at week four) worked too darn well--the BMs were solid, firm, and felt like I was being impaled by Vlad himself when they passed. I actually had to get on stool softeners during radiation!
A lot of the pain was my own fault, too. Despite several dressing-downs, I am a stubborn man and would routinely try and hold off the pain meds until it was bad. Of course, doing that, by the time I took something it took even longer to take effect. I'd give myself a D- on pain management, but I think (I hope) I learned something.
They didn't have to stop chemo at any point, but the fatigue got progressively worse. While I was working 4 hours a day, it felt like a hundred. I'd just come home and lay around and then go to bed--tough with 1 1/2 year-old boy--but I really didn't have the energy to do much of anything except those four hours of work and a little time with my family. That's the big reason I was off the board--energy hoarding.
Here I am, a week after all that mess stopped, and the improvement has been remarkable. I'm still tired, but working 8 hours a day (well today--ramped up from five on Monday) and doing some chores and such. There is virtually no pain--less actually than before I started. Every day is a little better. Showers without the pump are a gift from Heaven.
That said, all this is cool down for the surgery. I meet with my surgeon on 9 September, and expect that surgery will be a couple weeks after that. I'm trying simultaneously to not think about it and to prepare myself.
My best to each and all of you, Cancerdad in particular. I expect to be about the board more in the future, at least until I go into the hospital.
So good to hear from you, Kevin! Enjoy your hiatus before surgery, keep up the rest and by all means, keep your pain management in check. There's no reason for you to tough it out. Don't make things more difficult on yourself. We are not in the primitive age, and there are many things that can help you.
You mention anti-diarrhea meds, and I wanted to mention that I was never on "meds", only Immodium, which I found that 1/2 tablet 2x day helped to make a stool that was manageable. Altho, when you incorporate pain meds, which have a constipation effect, you need to adjust from there. My doctor recommended Senna tablets for that. Keep the water flowing!! Stock up and have lots on hand if you do not drink the tap water.
Again, good to hear from you Keep up the resting. Don't push too hard altho you feel like you can handle it. Your body has been working vewy vewy hard inside. Take very good care of yourself. It will not always be this way. Your family will appreciate having you around for many more years!
Best wishes, Julesss (cancer sucks!) <big big shouts!>
dear kevin, hello!! so great to hesr from you I have been reading all the post and when they seemed to have stopped from you, I was really worried. I am sooooo glad you are doing better, I feel a prayer has been answered. How is your wife? I will continue to have you and your family in my prayers. I feel like shouting because you are posting again!!!!!!! my best to you. ML
Thanks, Julesss and ML. Cool down and recovery continue to go well. Pain has dropped off to very little or none, and the energy is pretty good, although nothing even close to before.
Thanks for asking about Rosie, my wife. We're now about half through the pregnancy, with our second boy due on 20 Jan. She is doing very well; the sickness of the first trimester is gone, but she's feeling pretty tired at the end of a day, like me. It's usually a race to the recliner most evenings here. But she is holding up well and keeps Kellen, our 18 month-old, corraled pretty well during the day when I'm at work. Boy, we sure have learned a lot about time and energy management, with my treatment and her pregnancy. The approaching suregery for me will be a bit of a test, but we'll muddle through with the help of family and friends.
Nothing like a life-threatening illness to focus one's thoughts as to the importance of family, I'll say that.
Hello all. I hope this finds you all tolerably well. I apologize for my failure to post on a more timely basis and truly appreciate your prayers and good thoughts in the interim.
My preop radiation and chemo ended a week ago today. As I sit here, I'm tired but I (freaking finally) have the energy to spend a little time here, and I am virtually pain free.
I did work throughout the 5 1/2 weeks, but went to half days the last two weeks on the advice of my doctor. He explained that even sitting (I'm a desk jockey) was irritating things, so he recommended I spend the extra laying down. It was good advice.
The pain never really receded--in fact, at times, it got pretty bad, especially when BMs started to hurt. Oddly, the anti-diarrheal drug trial I was on (got a second shot at week four) worked too darn well--the BMs were solid, firm, and felt like I was being impaled by Vlad himself when they passed. I actually had to get on stool softeners during radiation!
A lot of the pain was my own fault, too. Despite several dressing-downs, I am a stubborn man and would routinely try and hold off the pain meds until it was bad. Of course, doing that, by the time I took something it took even longer to take effect. I'd give myself a D- on pain management, but I think (I hope) I learned something.
They didn't have to stop chemo at any point, but the fatigue got progressively worse. While I was working 4 hours a day, it felt like a hundred. I'd just come home and lay around and then go to bed--tough with 1 1/2 year-old boy--but I really didn't have the energy to do much of anything except those four hours of work and a little time with my family. That's the big reason I was off the board--energy hoarding.
Here I am, a week after all that mess stopped, and the improvement has been remarkable. I'm still tired, but working 8 hours a day (well today--ramped up from five on Monday) and doing some chores and such. There is virtually no pain--less actually than before I started. Every day is a little better. Showers without the pump are a gift from Heaven.
That said, all this is cool down for the surgery. I meet with my surgeon on 9 September, and expect that surgery will be a couple weeks after that. I'm trying simultaneously to not think about it and to prepare myself.
My best to each and all of you, Cancerdad in particular. I expect to be about the board more in the future, at least until I go into the hospital.
Cheers,
Kevin
Kevin:
Just thinking about you and wondering how you are doing? If you have a chance, give us a quick shout.
Keep up the resting. Don't push too hard altho you feel like you can handle it. Your body has been working vewy vewy hard inside. Take very good care of yourself. It will not always be this way. Your family will appreciate having you around for many more years!
<big big shouts!>
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