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Monday, August 21, 2006

Travel and treatments

The entire family skipped town this past weekend, driving to see moms and dads and grandmas and grandpas before the side effects take too much toll on the quality of visits. The travel wasn't bad at all - I just tucked in the back seat with a pillow up around my neck to keep off the sun, and snoozed most of the way. Thanks to having a couple of days off of treatments, and that wonderful Thermazene cream, the redness and soreness of my face lessened nicely. Having to pass on some of my mom's best home cooking was a little more difficult - can't wait to get that taste back!
Today was lucky 13th treatment. No problems, just in and zapped like I had been doing it a long time. I saw the nurse and the doctor today for the weekly checkup, and asked the doctor about the flashes of light I see in my eyes during the first pass of the machine. (Sort of like northern lights, only faster). He said that the photons excite the retina almost like a fluorescent bulb. I asked him if that meant my eyes were being permanently damaged - he said no. So I guess I can enjoy the light show!
The nurse stressed to me that I need to keep active each day in order to stave off the fatique that tries to swallow me up. We make one trip out each day that is usually a combination of errands and visits, then add a nightly "walkies" for me and the dog. The dog loves to terrorize the neighborhood rabbits, but is too slow to catch them! (They act like a treadmill for him-grin!). Sleeping good at night, but waking up early due to pain in the cheek and jaw. Since I can't put on any of the cream before the treatment at 10 am, getting up and active keeps my mind off of the hurting. Still not as bad as what I felt with the tumor in-amazing!

2 comments:

scraps said...

And the dog is the treadmill for the rabbits - some of them are getting pretty fat and sassy.
Glad you got the trip in to see your family.

Anonymous said...

I just wanted to tell you that I think it is wonderful that you are sharing your experiences-and ideas for resources for others on this site. Once a librarian, always a librarian, I suppose.

As a fellow Omahan and cancer survivor, I can tell you that there is nowhere better to recover and receive treatment and I wish you all the best.

 
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