The Countdown Begins

Well, I now have 13 more radiation treatments and 2 more chemotherapy treatments. I'm half-way there. This is the first one of the two weeks we were supposed to be in Florida. So, instead of walking along the water in the beautiful, white sand...I'm here, walking down the halls of UPMC Cancer Center. Instead of eating fabulous seafood, I'm having Ensure & protein shakes. Instead of lying on a beach chair in the fabulous sun, I'm lying in a recliner watching my chemo dripping into my body. But, that's O.K. because I have all this to look forward to in the future. The trip, I mean, (but also the chemo because I get to have more after the surgery..Yippeeee!)  Anyway, this was a bad weekend-lots of stomach pain. We got it all straightened out though. Three more new meds. One is a preventive medication so I don't get a yeast infection of the esophagus. Sounds nasty and is quite painful, I understand. The other soothes and coats my esophagus & stomach, and the third helps empty my stomach. I was having this phenomenon of eating or drinking 1/2  ounce of anything and I was totally full & unable to eat/drink any more. That definitely wasn't working out while trying to maintain my weight. So, between the stomach meds, cough meds, anti-nausea meds, pain meds, and anti-reflux meds., I am doing my part to keep the pharmaceutical business hopping. At chemo today, because of my prior weekend, I got an extra bag of fluids again and some extra anti-emetics. I think I'll get another bolus toward the end of the week. Shawn, Jen, & Cooper are on the way home to North Carolina  :(  He was able to take me to chemo, radiation, & Dr. visit today :) We're going to try to go to Kara & Donny's for dinner tonight :)  Alan will get a break from kitchen duty. Hope this catches everyone up. What a loyal bunch of friends you are. My good friend said it best when she got sick, "Angels came out of the woodwork." ..........and they have!   Love, Linda