March 25, 2007
I apologize for my extended absence from the blog. The messages from many of you are still sitting in in-box. I’m really sorry I haven’t been able to respond. For reasons I’ll try to explain here, it will be a while before I can get back to you.
About two days after my last chemo and radiation treatments, the first week of February, I got as sick as the proverbial dog. All of the side effects caught up with me. The physicians told me that the effects are “cumulative,” though a lot of people get sick much earlier in the process.
Fortunately, my hip recovery is coming along nicely. I still have some stiffness, but it seems to be diminishing by the week.
February and most of March are pretty much a blur for me. All I did during that period was contend with one chemo / radiation side effect after another. There were days when I barely moved. I lost my appetite to the point that I simply didn’t want anything to do with the stuff. In the midst of this, dehydration set in. That landed me in the hospital for a night, where I was pumped full of fluids.
Finally, two days ago, I turned the corner for the better. Just in time for my surgery.
I’ll be undergoing esophageal surgery to remove the cancerous tumor, a procedure I think of as my “gizzardectomy,” on Tuesday, March 27.
I’ll be in the hospital for ten days, the first seven of which I won’t be given any food or water by mouth. All of my nutrition during that period will be administered via a stomach tube. I tried to negotiate with the surgeons for ice chips but came away from the meeting empty-handed. They told me not worry since I’ll be heavily sedated much of the time anyway. My bet is that the nurses will by day four take a strike vote!
While I’m completely out of commission, a friend of mine, known by her screen name, Aspiring2BMe, will be making posts on this blog regarding my progress.
Thank you for your kind thoughts and prayers. I hope to be back to all of you real soon.
About two days after my last chemo and radiation treatments, the first week of February, I got as sick as the proverbial dog. All of the side effects caught up with me. The physicians told me that the effects are “cumulative,” though a lot of people get sick much earlier in the process.
Fortunately, my hip recovery is coming along nicely. I still have some stiffness, but it seems to be diminishing by the week.
February and most of March are pretty much a blur for me. All I did during that period was contend with one chemo / radiation side effect after another. There were days when I barely moved. I lost my appetite to the point that I simply didn’t want anything to do with the stuff. In the midst of this, dehydration set in. That landed me in the hospital for a night, where I was pumped full of fluids.
Finally, two days ago, I turned the corner for the better. Just in time for my surgery.
I’ll be undergoing esophageal surgery to remove the cancerous tumor, a procedure I think of as my “gizzardectomy,” on Tuesday, March 27.
I’ll be in the hospital for ten days, the first seven of which I won’t be given any food or water by mouth. All of my nutrition during that period will be administered via a stomach tube. I tried to negotiate with the surgeons for ice chips but came away from the meeting empty-handed. They told me not worry since I’ll be heavily sedated much of the time anyway. My bet is that the nurses will by day four take a strike vote!
While I’m completely out of commission, a friend of mine, known by her screen name, Aspiring2BMe, will be making posts on this blog regarding my progress.
Thank you for your kind thoughts and prayers. I hope to be back to all of you real soon.
posted by Explorer of The Universe at 11:42 PM
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