Welcome back! I can't stress how much I've missed you all. Stepping away from the blog really highlighted how much it meant towards maintaining my sanity through-out my journey with cancer.
Speaking of my journey with cancer... it turns out that my journey is far from over. Before I get to that, allow me to step back for a moment so I can catch you up to the present.
The last time I blogged, I had just been tattooed; commemorating my journey with cancer by having the word fighter placed on my forearm. To me, that tattoo represented mission accomplishment. I had prevailed over surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation. I had my body and my spirit put through a gauntlet. My resiliency had been tested more so than ever before. And through it... I validated my warrior ethos.
I felt it was a good time to put my blogging on hold so I could focus more on getting my life back on track.
Since then, I have re-entered the workforce. Today marks the beginning of my second week back to work. It feels amazing being back in uniform - doing what I do best... being an American Airman.
I have also taken the necessary steps to continue my education at the University of Arizona. For those of you that did not know... I was working towards my second Masters in Business Administration. The program I was enrolled in was 100% online. I didn't mind the online program, especially after having completed both my bachelors and first masters completely online. As much as I don't mind the online structure... I felt as though I had missed out on the college experience. With that said, I reached out to the dean and inquired about swapping over to one of the in-residence programs. The university does not normally allow students to swap programs, but they were willing to make and exception for me. So... stating in August, I will be attending UofA as an on-campus student. I have enrolled into the evening program, where I will attend classes every Tuesday from 4 pm to 10 pm. This is an opportunity I ever thought would be possible. If you knew my academic background, you would understand why this means so much to me.
Since my last blog, I have also had two medical check-ups. One was a week and a half ago with my radiation oncologist and the other was today with my medical oncologist.
My radiation oncology appointment followed suit with all my other RadOcn appointments. Jess and I got there early just so we could sit in the waiting room to wait upwards of an hour before getting to see the doc. When I did see the doc, it was like playing stump the chump... where I was the chump and the doc tried his best to prove that I was worse off than I really was. Now, if you recall... I was supposed to feel the effects of the radiation for a month to two months following my last treatment. I did feel horrible after treatment, but I healed quickly. Well, apparently I healed a lot quicker than my doctor would have expected. He was quite impressed with my progress. As he ran down a list of common ailments to be expected, I shot them down one after another. The only negative outcome to that appointment was finding out I had to take a couple medications everyday for year or more. Aside from that, I will not return to Radiation Oncology until November.
Today was my appointment with the medical oncologist. She is the doctor overseeing the clinical trial I agreed to way back when this whole nightmare first started. Anyway... my appointment kicked off with my doctor and her two assistants entering the examination room. One of her assistants is a resident in training, while the other is her nurse. Both have been engaged in my treatment since the very beginning.
The team of three entered the room together. We immediately jumped into conversation, most me filling the team in on how I've been over the past month and a half since they saw me last. Luckily Jess was there to fill in the blanks as I skimmed over important details.
It was very evident the team expected me to be worst off than I was. My doctor had me jump-up onto the exam table so she could get a better assessment of my medical status. When she looked into my mouth, she was taken back. So much so, she had the other two gals look into my mouth as well. I don't know what in my mouth was so impressive, but clearly she had some reservations on how well I thought I was.
So... I'm looking good. Where do we go from here?
I've engaged in many discussion over the past week and half in regards to my future in the Air Force. I have not seen my primary care provider yet, so knowing where exactly we are in regard to the Medical Evaluation Board is uncertain. All I know for a fact is that a team of Air Force doctors must determine whether or not I am medically fit to continue service in the Air Force. The two biggest contributing factors are whether or not I am able to do my job and whether or not I am able to deploy. Being that I'm healing well, I have been feeling confident that I will soon return to full work status, having no reason for the Air Force to separate me.
Ideally... I'd like to finish my twenty year career. Twenty years is considered a full career... and after seventeen years, being this close only to be given the boot would be a slap in the face. Twenty years is the minimum amount of time I need to receive a retirement check. That retirement check means everything after having given seventeen years of my life to the service. Walking away with nothing more than a thank you would set me back tremendously.
Anyways... back to the doctor.
So, my medical oncologist goes on to tell me they have been piecing together my Survivorship Care Plan. This is the plan they are putting together, tailored specifically for me, in hopes of providing me all the treatments and care needed to ensure this cancer never returns. This care plan is designed to take place over a two year period, with doctor visits scheduled every three months at a minimum.
Ah... every three months for two years? That is going to create a problem.
This means I will remain NON-deployable for another two years. This means I will remain useless in the eyes of the Air Force for another two years.
I explained how this care plan might hurt my chances of finishing my twenty years in the Air Force. My intentions where not to avoid the care plan, but to voice my concerns. My doctor heard me out then went on to inform me that she knew for a fact the military and VA treats all head and neck cancers as being service connected. This basically means the military assumes responsibility for my having developed cancer. This is great news for me. This means I have a good chance of collecting a decent disability and/or medical retirement check if they deem me unfit for service. So... as much as I want to do my twenty years... I feel confident I will walk away having Uncle Sam take care of me.
So... my future outlook.
I have another appointment scheduled for September 18th (the day before my birthday.) This appointment will determine a few things. First... it will determine whether or not my body has healed enough to have my first CT/PET scan since having treatment. It will also determine whether or not I am ready to move forward with the next step of the clinical trial. You see... I have a couple more rounds of chemo I must get, along with more oral medications in order to complete the clinical trial. This is all part of my tailored Survivorship Care Plan. This also prolongs my treatment... which again, prevents me from getting a clean bill of health from the military.
If I had to predict my future... I think the military will rule against me staying in the service. I think they will offer me a medical retirement plan. Hopefully it will be at a high enough percentage that I can walk away without feeling robbed. If not, I will repeal their decision in hopes of getting to stay in the service. I also have the option of hiring a VA lawyer to fight the disability rating, thus increasing the percentage earned.
Right now... my future is quite cloudy. I suppose only time will tell. Right now, I need to focus on healing.
So, before I let you go, allow me to fill you in on my current medical status:
The mucus is no more! My hair is growing back on the back side of my head, but not so much on my chin and neck. My saliva production has diminished quite a bit. I have been left with dry mouth, which is annoying, especially when my throat seizes up while talking. The fatigue I once had has greatly decreased. I still get tired, but not so much so I feel the need to sleep for hours on end. My neck burns are completely gone... although I am left with patches where my skin had peeled. My tongue sores are completely gone. My tongue is still numb, but that is a result of the surgery, not the chemo or radiation. My neck scar looks good. I'm still battling lymphedema, but not nearly as bad as it once was. And... I'm down a total of 30 pounds.
My taste is slowly returning. I can only taste bitter things... so food is still out, but beer is back on the table. I don't mean to sound like an alcoholic, but after not tasting anything for a month and a half... being able to taste anything is pure bliss. I was a HUGE fan of IPAs (India Pale Ale) which is a style of hoppy beer. IPAs are known for being very bitter. Imagine an extra bitter grapefruit. Anyways... IPAs taste like IPAs, which is one of the fears I had going into this journey (loosing the ability to enjoy an IPA.)
Well... I know that was a mouthful. Maybe I shouldn't have stopped blogging. Anyways, I will update you later as more critical information becomes available.
I hope you all are doing well. I greatly appreciate your continued support. Have a fantastic week!
Cheers!
Monday, July 24, 2017
Friday, July 14, 2017
A Fighter's Journey
Welcome back everyone. I apologize for not touching base yesterday... I was busy getting a new tattoo.
I feel like we're coming to the end of an exhausting journey. I was diagnosed with Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the tongue on February 3rd, 2017. It has been a long journey... one I hope to never travel again. After fighting my way back from a major surgery, chemo, radiation, and months of psychological agony... I have just about reached the light at the end of the tunnel.
This will be the end of my daily blog entries. I will continue to update you as new information comes in, but my primary focus right now is to reintegrate myself with my home and work obligations. I hope to get myself back to a sense of normalcy. I have a little bit of healing left to do, but we're talking about some very minor stuff.
I can't claim victory until my PET/CT scans in August, but I can declare myself a fighter. Cancer is a horrific disease that no person should have to face. It take a warrior spirit to face this crap head-on. The journey is long and exhausting. It takes a toll both physically and psychologically. It forces people to address death as a possibility. It requires people to look inside themselves to determine what they are willing to sacrifice in order to buy more time here on Earth. It requires sacrifice. Whether it is the loss of a body part, a function, or one's quality of life... no one escapes cancer without paying their way via some sort of sacrifice.
I have thought about my journey extensively over the past few weeks. I was looking for a word that would describe this experience. The first work that came to me was survival. It sounded right... you hear many people claim to have survived cancer. But... I don't know that survival is the right word. I survived Hurricane Hugo. I survived flying on a plane which I had no control of. I survived a cruise without getting food poisoning. You see... people have no control of situation in which they survive. Defeating cancer is not a survival type situation. A person can choose whether of not they will fight their disease. They can choose whether or not to take their medications, complete their exercises, and attend their treatments. Most importantly, people can choose the demeanor they portray as they fight for their lives. You see... this isn't survival. This is a fight. Defeating cancer is work. It requires a fighter mindset. It requires courage and resilience. It requires a person to be a fighter.
The word I chose to best describe my bout with cancer is "fighter." In order to beat this disease, a person must be a fighter. You cannot simply wait it out and hope for the best. Cancer moves quickly, and doesn't discriminate against age, sex, or level of health. When it happens, a person must make a decision quickly whether or not that will sink or swim. So, in memory of these past five months, I got a tattoo on my forearm with the word "fighter." It was designed to look as though it was written with ribbon. The ribbon carries the colors representing head and neck cancer awareness: burgundy and ivory.
The tattoo represents the fight... not the outcome. I will not know whether or not I'm in the clear for awhile. Even after my initial PET and CT scans, I will be in remission for years. But, I feel comfortable in saying I gave it my all. Win or loose... I fought this crap the best I could.
Thank you all for walking alongside me throughout this journey. Your support allowed me to hold my head high, even when things got tough.
I will not keep you in the dark. As I learn new information, I will return to the blog to publish those updates. For now... I need to focus on getting my life back on track.
Before I leave you, I'd like to plug my fundraiser one last time. If you'd like to help me achieve my dream of hiking the Pacific Crest Trail... please visit my fundraiser page on GoFundMe:
https://www.gofundme.com/from-cancer-warrior-to-trail-junkie
Thank you all. You mean the world to me!
Chris
I feel like we're coming to the end of an exhausting journey. I was diagnosed with Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the tongue on February 3rd, 2017. It has been a long journey... one I hope to never travel again. After fighting my way back from a major surgery, chemo, radiation, and months of psychological agony... I have just about reached the light at the end of the tunnel.
This will be the end of my daily blog entries. I will continue to update you as new information comes in, but my primary focus right now is to reintegrate myself with my home and work obligations. I hope to get myself back to a sense of normalcy. I have a little bit of healing left to do, but we're talking about some very minor stuff.
I can't claim victory until my PET/CT scans in August, but I can declare myself a fighter. Cancer is a horrific disease that no person should have to face. It take a warrior spirit to face this crap head-on. The journey is long and exhausting. It takes a toll both physically and psychologically. It forces people to address death as a possibility. It requires people to look inside themselves to determine what they are willing to sacrifice in order to buy more time here on Earth. It requires sacrifice. Whether it is the loss of a body part, a function, or one's quality of life... no one escapes cancer without paying their way via some sort of sacrifice.
I have thought about my journey extensively over the past few weeks. I was looking for a word that would describe this experience. The first work that came to me was survival. It sounded right... you hear many people claim to have survived cancer. But... I don't know that survival is the right word. I survived Hurricane Hugo. I survived flying on a plane which I had no control of. I survived a cruise without getting food poisoning. You see... people have no control of situation in which they survive. Defeating cancer is not a survival type situation. A person can choose whether of not they will fight their disease. They can choose whether or not to take their medications, complete their exercises, and attend their treatments. Most importantly, people can choose the demeanor they portray as they fight for their lives. You see... this isn't survival. This is a fight. Defeating cancer is work. It requires a fighter mindset. It requires courage and resilience. It requires a person to be a fighter.
The word I chose to best describe my bout with cancer is "fighter." In order to beat this disease, a person must be a fighter. You cannot simply wait it out and hope for the best. Cancer moves quickly, and doesn't discriminate against age, sex, or level of health. When it happens, a person must make a decision quickly whether or not that will sink or swim. So, in memory of these past five months, I got a tattoo on my forearm with the word "fighter." It was designed to look as though it was written with ribbon. The ribbon carries the colors representing head and neck cancer awareness: burgundy and ivory.
The tattoo represents the fight... not the outcome. I will not know whether or not I'm in the clear for awhile. Even after my initial PET and CT scans, I will be in remission for years. But, I feel comfortable in saying I gave it my all. Win or loose... I fought this crap the best I could.
Thank you all for walking alongside me throughout this journey. Your support allowed me to hold my head high, even when things got tough.
I will not keep you in the dark. As I learn new information, I will return to the blog to publish those updates. For now... I need to focus on getting my life back on track.
Before I leave you, I'd like to plug my fundraiser one last time. If you'd like to help me achieve my dream of hiking the Pacific Crest Trail... please visit my fundraiser page on GoFundMe:
https://www.gofundme.com/from-cancer-warrior-to-trail-junkie
Thank you all. You mean the world to me!
Chris
Wednesday, July 12, 2017
On the Path of Recovery - Day 15
Greeting everyone, welcome back to another installment that is my crazy journey with cancer.
Today, I had an appointment with my radiation oncologist. The appointment went well. Jess and I got there a bit early, which can never be good with this doc... he's always late. So, we sat there for the thirty minutes that we were early, plus another thirty minutes. After an hour... I get to go back. Even after being placed in an exam room, guess what we did? That's right, we waited.
The doc eventually made his way into the exam room. He was a bit shocked to see me so soon. I don't know why... it was the date he requested. My exam went well. I think he was surprised to see how well I had healed considering we are only two weeks out from my last treatment. He gave me a quick look-over and told me I was going to be prescribed two new meds... UGH! The meds are supposed to help soften the scar tissue. Apparently the radiation is going to continue scaring me up for the rest of my life. Well this sucks. I have to take pills for the rest of my life? What a nightmare. Oh, and one of the pills causes nausea. Yay... my favorite!
The appointment went quick once the doc finally made it into the exam room. My next appointment with him is in November.
Afterwards, Jess and went to a couple RV dealerships to look around. We're looking to possibly buy an RV that is good for family camping. We're not sure yet. Our biggest concern would be that we don't use it enough. The problem is... we won't know until we try. So, that's in the talks. We'd be more than happy to hear your thoughts. Do you have an RV? How does the family like it? What should we know before getting one? And by the way... we are looking at getting a trailer, not a driving RV.
Well, I'm off to bed. It was a good day. Still no taste. I'll keep you posted.
Today, I had an appointment with my radiation oncologist. The appointment went well. Jess and I got there a bit early, which can never be good with this doc... he's always late. So, we sat there for the thirty minutes that we were early, plus another thirty minutes. After an hour... I get to go back. Even after being placed in an exam room, guess what we did? That's right, we waited.
The doc eventually made his way into the exam room. He was a bit shocked to see me so soon. I don't know why... it was the date he requested. My exam went well. I think he was surprised to see how well I had healed considering we are only two weeks out from my last treatment. He gave me a quick look-over and told me I was going to be prescribed two new meds... UGH! The meds are supposed to help soften the scar tissue. Apparently the radiation is going to continue scaring me up for the rest of my life. Well this sucks. I have to take pills for the rest of my life? What a nightmare. Oh, and one of the pills causes nausea. Yay... my favorite!
The appointment went quick once the doc finally made it into the exam room. My next appointment with him is in November.
Afterwards, Jess and went to a couple RV dealerships to look around. We're looking to possibly buy an RV that is good for family camping. We're not sure yet. Our biggest concern would be that we don't use it enough. The problem is... we won't know until we try. So, that's in the talks. We'd be more than happy to hear your thoughts. Do you have an RV? How does the family like it? What should we know before getting one? And by the way... we are looking at getting a trailer, not a driving RV.
Well, I'm off to bed. It was a good day. Still no taste. I'll keep you posted.
Tuesday, July 11, 2017
On the Path of Recovery - Day 14
Welcome back! I hope you all are doing well on this glorious Tuesday. If not, I hope your week makes a turn for the better tomorrow - Hump Day!
My day has been pretty good. I was much more productive today than I have been. I think a lot of my new found energy is coming from the extra bag of LH I've added to my daily meal intake. I guess I was starving my body to the point I felt like worthless crap everyday.
Anyways, I was a busy bee today. I went on a bike ride, a 1.5 mile hike, and cleaned my office. I had started my morning in front of the television, but decided I didn't want to do that anymore.
Health wise... I'm feeling pretty good. My back hurts a little bit, but I think that is fatigue from my increased activity level. I'm still spitting, but not nearly as much. There is very little mucus now... mostly just saliva. I think my biggest problem now is breaking the habit.
I haven't had any new developments in the taste department... bummer. I'm getting extremely anxious. I so badly want to start eating, but I know it is impossible when food tastes as fowl as it does now. Oh well. I've been told that when the taste returns... it happens quickly. I truly hope so...
So, there was something ironic that happened to me I would like to share. It has to do with eating! Some of you may have seen the picture of my new sleeping bag... I posted it on Instagram. Well, a guy here in Tucson saw my picture and decided to start following me. His Instagram name is: @foodiesoftucson. Well, this guy clearly knows nothing about me or my condition. His Instagram page is FULL of pictures of the most delicious looking dishes. I mean... the guy must know ALL the best places to eat in Tucson. As I was torturing myself browsing through his pictures, I couldn't help but to wondering why I couldn't have found this guy BEFORE I lost my taste. Anyways... I know it means nothing to most of you, but it was something I couldn't help chuckling at. I'm just happy I'm able to find humor in my misfortunes.
I have a follow-up appointment tomorrow at the radiation oncologist. I'm pretty excited to go in. I feel like its progress... even if it's just the doc telling me everything looks good.
Well... I hate that I'm leaving you with another short blog entry, but I don't know what else to tell you. I suppose short is better at this point on my journey. I guess we should leave it at that and thank our lucky stars that this blog isn't littered with bad news.
Have a good day tomorrow. Do something amazing. In fact... treat yourself to something special. Why... because you deserve it and you never know what hurdles you may face in the future that will prevent you from indulging. Don't just make the most of your day... make the most out of life!
My day has been pretty good. I was much more productive today than I have been. I think a lot of my new found energy is coming from the extra bag of LH I've added to my daily meal intake. I guess I was starving my body to the point I felt like worthless crap everyday.
Anyways, I was a busy bee today. I went on a bike ride, a 1.5 mile hike, and cleaned my office. I had started my morning in front of the television, but decided I didn't want to do that anymore.
Health wise... I'm feeling pretty good. My back hurts a little bit, but I think that is fatigue from my increased activity level. I'm still spitting, but not nearly as much. There is very little mucus now... mostly just saliva. I think my biggest problem now is breaking the habit.
I haven't had any new developments in the taste department... bummer. I'm getting extremely anxious. I so badly want to start eating, but I know it is impossible when food tastes as fowl as it does now. Oh well. I've been told that when the taste returns... it happens quickly. I truly hope so...
So, there was something ironic that happened to me I would like to share. It has to do with eating! Some of you may have seen the picture of my new sleeping bag... I posted it on Instagram. Well, a guy here in Tucson saw my picture and decided to start following me. His Instagram name is: @foodiesoftucson. Well, this guy clearly knows nothing about me or my condition. His Instagram page is FULL of pictures of the most delicious looking dishes. I mean... the guy must know ALL the best places to eat in Tucson. As I was torturing myself browsing through his pictures, I couldn't help but to wondering why I couldn't have found this guy BEFORE I lost my taste. Anyways... I know it means nothing to most of you, but it was something I couldn't help chuckling at. I'm just happy I'm able to find humor in my misfortunes.
I have a follow-up appointment tomorrow at the radiation oncologist. I'm pretty excited to go in. I feel like its progress... even if it's just the doc telling me everything looks good.
Well... I hate that I'm leaving you with another short blog entry, but I don't know what else to tell you. I suppose short is better at this point on my journey. I guess we should leave it at that and thank our lucky stars that this blog isn't littered with bad news.
Have a good day tomorrow. Do something amazing. In fact... treat yourself to something special. Why... because you deserve it and you never know what hurdles you may face in the future that will prevent you from indulging. Don't just make the most of your day... make the most out of life!
Monday, July 10, 2017
On the Path of Recovery - Day 13
Good evening everybody!
Boy, I'm on a high tonight! I was invited by my Fire Chief to attend the Second Annual Emergency Services Recognition Ceremony for Arizona's Second District. This is an initiative that was founded by the current Congresswoman for Arizona's Second District - Martha McSally. Anyways... our department was submitted for the Best Emergency Services Organizations... and WON! So, I was super happy for my department for winning such a awesome award. I was also extremely happy to be back in uniform. The event aside... I was really, really happy to be back among my co-workers. It has been a little over three months since I last worked. Let me tell you... I am ready to go back! I haven't missed work this bad - EVER.
Being able to put on my uniform today was so rewarding. To me, it's not just a uniform. It is a symbol of what I do for my country. It is a reminded that I am apart of something much bigger than me. And most importantly... it was a sharp reminded of who has REALLY been taking care of me since being diagnosed February 3rd of this year. Looking in the mirror, I saw the words sewn over my left breast-pocket, "U.S. Air Force." I haven't been asked to pay a single dollar for any of my dozens of medical appointments and treatments. This country... the United States of America... who owns that uniform that I am blessed to wear, has taken care of me and my family for the last five months. That is what my uniform reminded me tonight, and I couldn't be more proud of it.
So, tonight was a good night. In fact... today in general was a good day. I'm feeling better, and I can tell I'm regaining some of my energy. I'm still spitting in a cup, but I've learned how to work my way around that issue if I have to. My hair and taste-buds still need to grow back, but I have faith that day will come shortly.
It's getting really close to my bedtime, so I'm going to cut this blog short. I hope you all had a swell Monday, and I hope the best in the days to come.
Boy, I'm on a high tonight! I was invited by my Fire Chief to attend the Second Annual Emergency Services Recognition Ceremony for Arizona's Second District. This is an initiative that was founded by the current Congresswoman for Arizona's Second District - Martha McSally. Anyways... our department was submitted for the Best Emergency Services Organizations... and WON! So, I was super happy for my department for winning such a awesome award. I was also extremely happy to be back in uniform. The event aside... I was really, really happy to be back among my co-workers. It has been a little over three months since I last worked. Let me tell you... I am ready to go back! I haven't missed work this bad - EVER.
Being able to put on my uniform today was so rewarding. To me, it's not just a uniform. It is a symbol of what I do for my country. It is a reminded that I am apart of something much bigger than me. And most importantly... it was a sharp reminded of who has REALLY been taking care of me since being diagnosed February 3rd of this year. Looking in the mirror, I saw the words sewn over my left breast-pocket, "U.S. Air Force." I haven't been asked to pay a single dollar for any of my dozens of medical appointments and treatments. This country... the United States of America... who owns that uniform that I am blessed to wear, has taken care of me and my family for the last five months. That is what my uniform reminded me tonight, and I couldn't be more proud of it.
So, tonight was a good night. In fact... today in general was a good day. I'm feeling better, and I can tell I'm regaining some of my energy. I'm still spitting in a cup, but I've learned how to work my way around that issue if I have to. My hair and taste-buds still need to grow back, but I have faith that day will come shortly.
It's getting really close to my bedtime, so I'm going to cut this blog short. I hope you all had a swell Monday, and I hope the best in the days to come.
Sunday, July 9, 2017
On the Path of Recovery - Day 12
Hello World! Welcome back to another day... another look into this crazy journey that is my life.
Today has been a day of taking chances. I woke-up feeling about the same as I did yesterday. I was still spitting into a cup, just not as much as yesterday. It seems that the mucus build-up lessens with each day.
Yesterday, I told you about the work function I want to attend tomorrow where we are getting to meet Congresswoman Martha McSally. Well, this function requires me to be in uniform. This requires me to get a haircut because I was beginning to look like Shaggy from Scooby Doo. I was worried about getting my haircut because I was still producing this spit/mucus crap. Well, I was determined, and where there is a will, there is a way. So, my initial plan was to draw-up a note to the hair stylist explaining the situation and describing what I needed done to my hair. Well, I did this, and I was pleased with the plan. Jess and I headed out for a day of errands... first stop, getting my haircut. I had to wait for forty-five minutes before it was my turn. This meant sitting in a waiting room, hold the spit in my mouth for a long time. Well... I wasn't about to do that. So, I began swallowing my spit, and would you know... it worked. It was as if everything was normal. I had my note, but didn't really need it because I was able to talk to the stylist with no problems.
After my haircut, we went to the Tucson Mall. I needed to go to REI, and Jess wanted to provide Oscar (Jess' brother whom we have custody of) an opportunity to walk through the mall. So, I went to REI to return something I had bought. I was worried earlier in the day that I wouldn't be able to make the exchange due to the mucus/spit issue, but since I had found a fix for the problem... no issues, another win.
We bought Oscar some new school cloths, so that took awhile. By the time we were done in the mall, it was a little past 5:00. I was hungry because I had missed a tube feeding. Jess and Oscar were also a little hungry.
I told Jess I would be up for a trial run at a Chinese buffet. So... we headed down the street to a place called U-Like Chinese Buffet. WELL... let me tell you. The place smelled weird... kinda like pine cleaner and propane. I thought it might have been my jacked-up senses, but Oscar confirmed it while we were eating. So... I say while "we" were eating, but all I was doing was gagging and nearly puking with every bite of food I tried. I tried MANY little samples of food, but everything still has the same bland, horrible, nasty taste. I tried a range of things to include: chicken, broccoli, mushroom, pineapple, noodles, rice, etc. EVERYTHING made me gag. I couldn't bare it.
Well... you can't fault me for giving it go. I guess I have awhile longer on the good ol' tube. Nothing but LH for me!
I didn't see any questions from anyone, but I received many kind words from many of you. The invite remains open... if you have any questions, please do not hesitate to ask.
Here we are... another weekend down. Tomorrow is the first day of a new week. I excited for two reasons. First, I'm going into work tomorrow where I will see some of my colleagues. If you can't tell... I look forward to going back to work. And second, I have a follow-up appointment this week with my radiation oncologist. This is exciting because I haven't had any medical appointments lately and I'm beginning to miss it... as crazy as that sounds. It also means I'm one step closer to being done with this whole mess. I can tell you though... my doctor is not going to be happy that I've lost this much weight.
I hope everyone had a safe weekend. I wish you a great Monday and week to follow.
Today has been a day of taking chances. I woke-up feeling about the same as I did yesterday. I was still spitting into a cup, just not as much as yesterday. It seems that the mucus build-up lessens with each day.
Yesterday, I told you about the work function I want to attend tomorrow where we are getting to meet Congresswoman Martha McSally. Well, this function requires me to be in uniform. This requires me to get a haircut because I was beginning to look like Shaggy from Scooby Doo. I was worried about getting my haircut because I was still producing this spit/mucus crap. Well, I was determined, and where there is a will, there is a way. So, my initial plan was to draw-up a note to the hair stylist explaining the situation and describing what I needed done to my hair. Well, I did this, and I was pleased with the plan. Jess and I headed out for a day of errands... first stop, getting my haircut. I had to wait for forty-five minutes before it was my turn. This meant sitting in a waiting room, hold the spit in my mouth for a long time. Well... I wasn't about to do that. So, I began swallowing my spit, and would you know... it worked. It was as if everything was normal. I had my note, but didn't really need it because I was able to talk to the stylist with no problems.
After my haircut, we went to the Tucson Mall. I needed to go to REI, and Jess wanted to provide Oscar (Jess' brother whom we have custody of) an opportunity to walk through the mall. So, I went to REI to return something I had bought. I was worried earlier in the day that I wouldn't be able to make the exchange due to the mucus/spit issue, but since I had found a fix for the problem... no issues, another win.
We bought Oscar some new school cloths, so that took awhile. By the time we were done in the mall, it was a little past 5:00. I was hungry because I had missed a tube feeding. Jess and Oscar were also a little hungry.
I told Jess I would be up for a trial run at a Chinese buffet. So... we headed down the street to a place called U-Like Chinese Buffet. WELL... let me tell you. The place smelled weird... kinda like pine cleaner and propane. I thought it might have been my jacked-up senses, but Oscar confirmed it while we were eating. So... I say while "we" were eating, but all I was doing was gagging and nearly puking with every bite of food I tried. I tried MANY little samples of food, but everything still has the same bland, horrible, nasty taste. I tried a range of things to include: chicken, broccoli, mushroom, pineapple, noodles, rice, etc. EVERYTHING made me gag. I couldn't bare it.
Well... you can't fault me for giving it go. I guess I have awhile longer on the good ol' tube. Nothing but LH for me!
I didn't see any questions from anyone, but I received many kind words from many of you. The invite remains open... if you have any questions, please do not hesitate to ask.
Here we are... another weekend down. Tomorrow is the first day of a new week. I excited for two reasons. First, I'm going into work tomorrow where I will see some of my colleagues. If you can't tell... I look forward to going back to work. And second, I have a follow-up appointment this week with my radiation oncologist. This is exciting because I haven't had any medical appointments lately and I'm beginning to miss it... as crazy as that sounds. It also means I'm one step closer to being done with this whole mess. I can tell you though... my doctor is not going to be happy that I've lost this much weight.
I hope everyone had a safe weekend. I wish you a great Monday and week to follow.
Saturday, July 8, 2017
On the Path of Recovery - Day 11
Welcome back! I hope you all are enjoying your summer weekends. We received our first taste of the Sanoran Desert's 2017 Monsoon Season. We had a couple really good rain falls along with some high winds and rolling thunder. I must say... it is a nice change, although I'll be ready for it to be done and over with in a month or so.
Today was much like yesterday. My health really hasn't changed much from what I reported yesterday. My patience with this mucus is running REALLY low... like empty! It wouldn't be that big of a deal, except it prevents me from carrying on a conversation. I can't get a sentence out without having to spit into my cup. I desperately want to attend a work function on Monday evening, but... 1. I need a hair-cut... like SUPER BAD! and 2. I refuse to tag along with my boss in my dress blues to meet Arizona Congresswoman Martha McSally while I'm drooling all over myself. I know I can play the cancer card, but I have personal standards.
Well, since I don't have anything new to report... I figured I'd fill you in on some things I do through-out the day. I mostly watch T.V. We have a Smart T.V. which is hooked-up to the internet, so I get the option of movies on demand, Netflix, Hulu, Youtube, and Cox Cable. I usually spend the first hour or two watching the news. During this time, I receive my first tube feeding via a gravity bag. Once that is done, I usually watch a couple episodes of a Netflix series. Lately, I've been watching House of Cards and iZombie. A couple episodes in will be about the time I take-in my second tube feeding. Once my meal is done, I'm usually pretty exhausted. I'll then head upstairs for my first nap.
After my first nap, I'll return to my chair and begin watching YouTube videos. I've been following a few different vloggers whom are currently hiking the PCT. Each hiker will upload a bunch of videos each time they stop in a town for a resupply. It sounds crazy watching different hikers hike the same trail sections over and over again, but it really is fascinating how different each vlogger presents their experience. I mean... we're talking about 2600 miles worth of trail. Each video is only 15-20 minutes long. Sure there are some things that are captured by over and over again, but you would be surprised how different the videos are from one hiker to the next. Plus, I figured I'll know exactly what to do when it's my turn to make that journey.
I usually get tired again at some point and return upstairs for a second nap. Today I used this extra time to squeeze in a fourth tube feeding, bumping my daily calorie intake by another 450 calories.
Jess will normally wake me up around dinner time. She will eat dinner around 6:00, but I'll usually wait until 7:00 before I take-in my last meal for the night. I've noticed that if I eat too soon... I'll be extremely hungry in the morning... like, hunger pains! At 8:00, I relinquish the T.V. to Jess, who will then watch her shows while I come blog with you all. After I blog, I go upstairs, take a shower, and watch the evening news in bed until Jess comes in around 10:00.
I know it sounds pretty amazing... that's my life right now. Once this mucus issue is resolved, I'll make an attempt to increase my activity level. It's just annoying right now having to spit every couple seconds into a cup. The mucus seems to increase as my productivity level increases, so I've decided to just hang-tight.
Well, feel free to leave me questions if there is anything you would like to know. You should know by now I'm an open book. Don't worry about offending me or being too intrusive. I've made the choice to share this experience, and want you all to know exactly what I'm dealing with.
Have a good Sunday.
Today was much like yesterday. My health really hasn't changed much from what I reported yesterday. My patience with this mucus is running REALLY low... like empty! It wouldn't be that big of a deal, except it prevents me from carrying on a conversation. I can't get a sentence out without having to spit into my cup. I desperately want to attend a work function on Monday evening, but... 1. I need a hair-cut... like SUPER BAD! and 2. I refuse to tag along with my boss in my dress blues to meet Arizona Congresswoman Martha McSally while I'm drooling all over myself. I know I can play the cancer card, but I have personal standards.
Well, since I don't have anything new to report... I figured I'd fill you in on some things I do through-out the day. I mostly watch T.V. We have a Smart T.V. which is hooked-up to the internet, so I get the option of movies on demand, Netflix, Hulu, Youtube, and Cox Cable. I usually spend the first hour or two watching the news. During this time, I receive my first tube feeding via a gravity bag. Once that is done, I usually watch a couple episodes of a Netflix series. Lately, I've been watching House of Cards and iZombie. A couple episodes in will be about the time I take-in my second tube feeding. Once my meal is done, I'm usually pretty exhausted. I'll then head upstairs for my first nap.
After my first nap, I'll return to my chair and begin watching YouTube videos. I've been following a few different vloggers whom are currently hiking the PCT. Each hiker will upload a bunch of videos each time they stop in a town for a resupply. It sounds crazy watching different hikers hike the same trail sections over and over again, but it really is fascinating how different each vlogger presents their experience. I mean... we're talking about 2600 miles worth of trail. Each video is only 15-20 minutes long. Sure there are some things that are captured by over and over again, but you would be surprised how different the videos are from one hiker to the next. Plus, I figured I'll know exactly what to do when it's my turn to make that journey.
I usually get tired again at some point and return upstairs for a second nap. Today I used this extra time to squeeze in a fourth tube feeding, bumping my daily calorie intake by another 450 calories.
Jess will normally wake me up around dinner time. She will eat dinner around 6:00, but I'll usually wait until 7:00 before I take-in my last meal for the night. I've noticed that if I eat too soon... I'll be extremely hungry in the morning... like, hunger pains! At 8:00, I relinquish the T.V. to Jess, who will then watch her shows while I come blog with you all. After I blog, I go upstairs, take a shower, and watch the evening news in bed until Jess comes in around 10:00.
I know it sounds pretty amazing... that's my life right now. Once this mucus issue is resolved, I'll make an attempt to increase my activity level. It's just annoying right now having to spit every couple seconds into a cup. The mucus seems to increase as my productivity level increases, so I've decided to just hang-tight.
Well, feel free to leave me questions if there is anything you would like to know. You should know by now I'm an open book. Don't worry about offending me or being too intrusive. I've made the choice to share this experience, and want you all to know exactly what I'm dealing with.
Have a good Sunday.
Friday, July 7, 2017
On the Path of Recovery - Day 10
Welcome back.
Well, we made it through another week. For many of you, it was a short week. For me... the days seem to drag on. There really isn't a whole bunch to report now-a-days.
The mucus continues to thin out, but still plagues me. I still tote around my foam cup... spitting into every couple minutes. Every so often, I'm required to hack-up something special. I hope the end of this mucus nightmare is near!
My weight loss is somewhat a concern. I seem to be loosing a pound a day. I can tell the lack of calories is having an effect on my energy levels, as I get extremely winded just climbing the stairs. Jess keeps urging me to increase the number of feeding, but the LH leaves me bloated and with a horrible case of acid re-flux. So, today I drank a high-calorie Ensure. I was able to take-down the entire drink, which pleases me. I could detect the chocolate flavor, but no thanks to my taste buds. I'm pretty confident the chocolate sensation I am getting comes from my sent detection... or whatever. I don't know how all that works... I just know sent helps with taste. Anyways, I think I will include a drink as an afternoon snake for here on out. Hopefully it will be enough calories to level me off. As I stated in the past... normally I'd be okay loosing weight, but in this case, I'm loosing muscle and not fat. I can really tell in my legs.
My tongue feels much better today. The sore is still there, but it doesn't hurt nearly as bad as it has in the past. In fact, I haven't used my mouth rinses nearly as often as I normally would.
My neck is slimming down quite a bit, which means the swelling must be going down. Jess has helped with messaging the lymph and swelling again, now that the pain has gone away.
I am healing, which is good. I have to focus on the small wins, otherwise I would go nuts. I'm ready for this to be done and over with. I'm ready to return to my normal life. This cancer thing has drawn-out long enough. Never again will I complain about a flu that takes me out for a couple days. I'll take a couple days over this any day. The end of July will mark four months of no work. Lets go already!
Thanks for allowing me to rant and rave. And, thanks for coming back everyday. I'll see your happy faces again tomorrow.
Well, we made it through another week. For many of you, it was a short week. For me... the days seem to drag on. There really isn't a whole bunch to report now-a-days.
The mucus continues to thin out, but still plagues me. I still tote around my foam cup... spitting into every couple minutes. Every so often, I'm required to hack-up something special. I hope the end of this mucus nightmare is near!
My weight loss is somewhat a concern. I seem to be loosing a pound a day. I can tell the lack of calories is having an effect on my energy levels, as I get extremely winded just climbing the stairs. Jess keeps urging me to increase the number of feeding, but the LH leaves me bloated and with a horrible case of acid re-flux. So, today I drank a high-calorie Ensure. I was able to take-down the entire drink, which pleases me. I could detect the chocolate flavor, but no thanks to my taste buds. I'm pretty confident the chocolate sensation I am getting comes from my sent detection... or whatever. I don't know how all that works... I just know sent helps with taste. Anyways, I think I will include a drink as an afternoon snake for here on out. Hopefully it will be enough calories to level me off. As I stated in the past... normally I'd be okay loosing weight, but in this case, I'm loosing muscle and not fat. I can really tell in my legs.
My tongue feels much better today. The sore is still there, but it doesn't hurt nearly as bad as it has in the past. In fact, I haven't used my mouth rinses nearly as often as I normally would.
My neck is slimming down quite a bit, which means the swelling must be going down. Jess has helped with messaging the lymph and swelling again, now that the pain has gone away.
I am healing, which is good. I have to focus on the small wins, otherwise I would go nuts. I'm ready for this to be done and over with. I'm ready to return to my normal life. This cancer thing has drawn-out long enough. Never again will I complain about a flu that takes me out for a couple days. I'll take a couple days over this any day. The end of July will mark four months of no work. Lets go already!
Thanks for allowing me to rant and rave. And, thanks for coming back everyday. I'll see your happy faces again tomorrow.
Thursday, July 6, 2017
On the Path of Recovery - Day 9
Welcome back everyone!
Today is Thursday, but unlike most of my Thursdays, today has been pretty good. My day was uneventful, mostly filled with television and naps. I'm finding that this fatigue is getting worse by the day. But, you know what... I'll take fatigue over that mucus any day!
Speaking of mucus... my mucus issue has been reduced to an over-production of spit with the occasional slime ball being hacked up. I'm still spitting a lot out throughout the day, just not all the mucus it used to be. I've been drinking more water today, which no longer tastes like sewage.
I've been keeping a close eye on my tongue. It looks like I've got some taste buds growing back, but I haven't tested them out yet. I don't really know how I want to go about testing the little buggers out yet, but I'm anxious to eat real food again. I'm thinking I will wait until the spitting-up issue is resolved before I dive into the food.
My throat is still sore, but it is insignificant compared to what it was.
The only lingering issue is the sore on the side my tongue. I can tell it has healed a bit, bit when I agitate it... it lets me know.
As the big issues become little issues, I begin focusing my attention to other issues. The tinnitus in my ears may be worse than I thought. The ringing... although nearly faint... is constant and very noticeable when I focus my attention towards it. It is both ears, so at least my bad hearing is balanced. That is supposed to go away after a couple months.
This is day two of being off my medications. So far... so good! I haven't felt the need for them, and I had a bowel movement this morning.
I have a follow-up appointment on the 12th with my radiation oncologist. I'm looking forward to that appointment. It is one more appointment closer to putting this all behind me. Who knows... it may be the last time I see that doc!
Well... tomorrow is a new day. It's Friday... which means we all get to start our weekend. I'm going to get a haircut because I'm in desperate need of one.
My GoFundMe fundraiser is still active. In fact, I'm nearing the end! Thank all of you that have donated so far. If you would like to check out my fundraiser, please visit my GoFundMe site: https://www.gofundme.com/from-cancer-warrior-to-trail-junkie
Have a swell Friday!
Today is Thursday, but unlike most of my Thursdays, today has been pretty good. My day was uneventful, mostly filled with television and naps. I'm finding that this fatigue is getting worse by the day. But, you know what... I'll take fatigue over that mucus any day!
Speaking of mucus... my mucus issue has been reduced to an over-production of spit with the occasional slime ball being hacked up. I'm still spitting a lot out throughout the day, just not all the mucus it used to be. I've been drinking more water today, which no longer tastes like sewage.
I've been keeping a close eye on my tongue. It looks like I've got some taste buds growing back, but I haven't tested them out yet. I don't really know how I want to go about testing the little buggers out yet, but I'm anxious to eat real food again. I'm thinking I will wait until the spitting-up issue is resolved before I dive into the food.
My throat is still sore, but it is insignificant compared to what it was.
The only lingering issue is the sore on the side my tongue. I can tell it has healed a bit, bit when I agitate it... it lets me know.
As the big issues become little issues, I begin focusing my attention to other issues. The tinnitus in my ears may be worse than I thought. The ringing... although nearly faint... is constant and very noticeable when I focus my attention towards it. It is both ears, so at least my bad hearing is balanced. That is supposed to go away after a couple months.
This is day two of being off my medications. So far... so good! I haven't felt the need for them, and I had a bowel movement this morning.
I have a follow-up appointment on the 12th with my radiation oncologist. I'm looking forward to that appointment. It is one more appointment closer to putting this all behind me. Who knows... it may be the last time I see that doc!
Well... tomorrow is a new day. It's Friday... which means we all get to start our weekend. I'm going to get a haircut because I'm in desperate need of one.
My GoFundMe fundraiser is still active. In fact, I'm nearing the end! Thank all of you that have donated so far. If you would like to check out my fundraiser, please visit my GoFundMe site: https://www.gofundme.com/from-cancer-warrior-to-trail-junkie
Have a swell Friday!
Wednesday, July 5, 2017
On the Path of Recovery - Day 8
Welcome back. I hope you all had a swell Independence Day weekend. I apologize for the sudden pause in blog posts... I needed a break, and I figured the holiday weekend would be my best excuse.
I do apologize if I caused any worry, but I assure you, I am alive and well. In fact, I made some significant strides over the last couple days. I haven't been forced to vomit since the episode I reported to you in my last log entry. So, that's... three days now! A significant factor seems to be that my mucus build-up had changed significantly overnight - for the better. Instead of having the super thick, ropy mucus... it is not much lighter, clear and more like baby snot. It's still annoying and consistently prevents me from being able to talk like a normal human. The mucus seems to develop quicker than it did, but it is easily cleared, which prevents the activation of my gag reflex.
Aside from the mucus, there have been other development. I can also feel new hair follicles growing both on my neck neck and in my hair line (rear). I can also tell my tongue sore is starting to heal. The lesion has gotten smaller, but still hurts and requires me to numb my mouth using a variety of mouth rinses. I told Jess I thought I had experienced a taste sensation, but I was unable to replicate the experience, leading me to believe that it was a false alarm.
As of today, I am pulling myself off all opioid based pain medications. This means I am also holding-off from taking any medications associated constipation. My plan is to slowly re-introduce my body to a normal life of no medications. This way, I can begin driving myself around and prepare to re-enter the world of work!
So, as of now, my biggest fight is fatigue. I get tired extremely fast... especially after exerting myself. I want to give the exercise bike another shot, but I'm afraid the mucus will only complicate my efforts. Once this mucus stops, I will be on the bike.
I almost forgot... my throat. My throat is still sore, but gets better with eat passing day. It is still difficult to swallow, but not nearly as bad as it was. I'm still struggling with drinking water like a normal person. Its not that I can't, I just have not desire to do so. I'm afraid I've become too dependent on this feeding tube.
My weight has dropped a bit. I started the whole cancer thing weighing almost 340 lbs. This morning I weighed-in at 206. So... I've lost a little over 30 lbs. Now... I know we've talked about this before. On any other occasion, me loosing 30 lbs would have been encouraged. But, because I am battling cancer... any weight loss can be detrimental to my healing. The truth is... I'm not taking-in the calories I was told to. But, in my own defense... it is not as easy as you might think. The LH causes a bit of acid re-flux and I'm having to substitute tube time with hydration sessions. I can't just pump as much as I want into my stomach. It only holds so much before it requires some time to digest.
Well... I hope this gets us all caught-up. Again, I apologize for the break. It was needed!
I do apologize if I caused any worry, but I assure you, I am alive and well. In fact, I made some significant strides over the last couple days. I haven't been forced to vomit since the episode I reported to you in my last log entry. So, that's... three days now! A significant factor seems to be that my mucus build-up had changed significantly overnight - for the better. Instead of having the super thick, ropy mucus... it is not much lighter, clear and more like baby snot. It's still annoying and consistently prevents me from being able to talk like a normal human. The mucus seems to develop quicker than it did, but it is easily cleared, which prevents the activation of my gag reflex.
Aside from the mucus, there have been other development. I can also feel new hair follicles growing both on my neck neck and in my hair line (rear). I can also tell my tongue sore is starting to heal. The lesion has gotten smaller, but still hurts and requires me to numb my mouth using a variety of mouth rinses. I told Jess I thought I had experienced a taste sensation, but I was unable to replicate the experience, leading me to believe that it was a false alarm.
As of today, I am pulling myself off all opioid based pain medications. This means I am also holding-off from taking any medications associated constipation. My plan is to slowly re-introduce my body to a normal life of no medications. This way, I can begin driving myself around and prepare to re-enter the world of work!
So, as of now, my biggest fight is fatigue. I get tired extremely fast... especially after exerting myself. I want to give the exercise bike another shot, but I'm afraid the mucus will only complicate my efforts. Once this mucus stops, I will be on the bike.
I almost forgot... my throat. My throat is still sore, but gets better with eat passing day. It is still difficult to swallow, but not nearly as bad as it was. I'm still struggling with drinking water like a normal person. Its not that I can't, I just have not desire to do so. I'm afraid I've become too dependent on this feeding tube.
My weight has dropped a bit. I started the whole cancer thing weighing almost 340 lbs. This morning I weighed-in at 206. So... I've lost a little over 30 lbs. Now... I know we've talked about this before. On any other occasion, me loosing 30 lbs would have been encouraged. But, because I am battling cancer... any weight loss can be detrimental to my healing. The truth is... I'm not taking-in the calories I was told to. But, in my own defense... it is not as easy as you might think. The LH causes a bit of acid re-flux and I'm having to substitute tube time with hydration sessions. I can't just pump as much as I want into my stomach. It only holds so much before it requires some time to digest.
Well... I hope this gets us all caught-up. Again, I apologize for the break. It was needed!
Sunday, July 2, 2017
On the Path of Recovery - Day 5
Hello everyone, I hope you all are doing well.
I am writing this blog on my cellphone, from the comforts of my bed. I got sick again today, only it wasn't in the morning, it was during the afternoon. It happened while I was in the restroom washing my hands. Anyways, I'll save you the details tonight. Somehow I strained my back while vomiting in the sink. I had taken a nap after the incident, and when I awoke, my back was killing me. So, I am now in bed just hanging out with a heating pad on my back.
Since I am doing this from my phone, I am going to keep it short. I'll give you a more detailed look into my day tomorrow.
I hope everyone is doing well.
I am writing this blog on my cellphone, from the comforts of my bed. I got sick again today, only it wasn't in the morning, it was during the afternoon. It happened while I was in the restroom washing my hands. Anyways, I'll save you the details tonight. Somehow I strained my back while vomiting in the sink. I had taken a nap after the incident, and when I awoke, my back was killing me. So, I am now in bed just hanging out with a heating pad on my back.
Since I am doing this from my phone, I am going to keep it short. I'll give you a more detailed look into my day tomorrow.
I hope everyone is doing well.
Saturday, July 1, 2017
On the Path of Recovery - Day 4
Happy Saturday, everyone!
I woke-up a little late today, but after last night... I'd say I earned it. I took a shower right after I completed my blog last night. Jess was in the bedroom getting ready for bed and I was feeling the sudden urge to clear my airway of some pesky mucous. I began-in on an a epic episode of hacking and cough, which quickly turned into gagging and dry heaving. It wasn't before too long that I was puking uncontrollably, for the second time that day. I had just fed just before I wrote my blog, so my belly was still full of dinner. Needless to say... I lost dinner... in the shower. It's a good thing I'm on a liquid formula; that could have been a nasty mess to clean-up. Anyways, I was eventually on my hand and knees feeling extremely vulnerable. This was way worst than the vomit session I had in the morning. This time I got to the point where nothing was left in my stomach, but my body insisted to continue to try. Every time my body went into contractions, I tried my hardest to expel whatever was in my throat. When the contractions ended, I would attempt to gasp for air... trying to avoid aspirating and vomit of mucus in the process. When it was all over... I felt exhausted.
I can't continue having these violent vomiting episodes. So, today I started taking Mucinex in hopes it will thin-out some of this mucus. The problem is... the mucus is SO thick and sticky that it isn't easily cleared from the airway, which then leads to be gagging. It is also extremely "ropy." There are two different forms the mucus comes in: big, dark, think wads; and extremely long, sticky strands. I kind you not... the "ropy" ones are like Spider-Man's webs. I even joked with Jess, telling her I got "shot in the mouth by Spider-Man." Anyways, the Mucinex seems to be helping to thin it out, so that is good.
I also plan on calling my doctor to inquire about a suction unit. I think having a suction unit on hand will help clear-up some of this non-sense that is building-up in my throat. Unfortunately, it's the weekend, so I'll have to wait until next week.
Other than that... today has been fine. I didn't have any crazy episodes this morning, and I'm hoping for the same tonight. I can't afford to loose any more calories.
Jess and I each picked a throwback movie to watch tonight. She picked "Varsity Blues" which has been one of my favorite sports movies. I went WAY back and picked "Flight of the Navigator." If you haven't heard of it... it is a Disney movie from 1986. It's SUPER good... one of my favorites! It's a great movie for the whole family... just go watch it.
Anyways... there isn't much to report today. It was a decent day with nothing out of the ordinary to report. I'm hoping tonight results in the same. If not, I will make sure to report it to you tomorrow.
Have a swell holiday weekend, and remember... BE SAFE!
I woke-up a little late today, but after last night... I'd say I earned it. I took a shower right after I completed my blog last night. Jess was in the bedroom getting ready for bed and I was feeling the sudden urge to clear my airway of some pesky mucous. I began-in on an a epic episode of hacking and cough, which quickly turned into gagging and dry heaving. It wasn't before too long that I was puking uncontrollably, for the second time that day. I had just fed just before I wrote my blog, so my belly was still full of dinner. Needless to say... I lost dinner... in the shower. It's a good thing I'm on a liquid formula; that could have been a nasty mess to clean-up. Anyways, I was eventually on my hand and knees feeling extremely vulnerable. This was way worst than the vomit session I had in the morning. This time I got to the point where nothing was left in my stomach, but my body insisted to continue to try. Every time my body went into contractions, I tried my hardest to expel whatever was in my throat. When the contractions ended, I would attempt to gasp for air... trying to avoid aspirating and vomit of mucus in the process. When it was all over... I felt exhausted.
I can't continue having these violent vomiting episodes. So, today I started taking Mucinex in hopes it will thin-out some of this mucus. The problem is... the mucus is SO thick and sticky that it isn't easily cleared from the airway, which then leads to be gagging. It is also extremely "ropy." There are two different forms the mucus comes in: big, dark, think wads; and extremely long, sticky strands. I kind you not... the "ropy" ones are like Spider-Man's webs. I even joked with Jess, telling her I got "shot in the mouth by Spider-Man." Anyways, the Mucinex seems to be helping to thin it out, so that is good.
I also plan on calling my doctor to inquire about a suction unit. I think having a suction unit on hand will help clear-up some of this non-sense that is building-up in my throat. Unfortunately, it's the weekend, so I'll have to wait until next week.
Other than that... today has been fine. I didn't have any crazy episodes this morning, and I'm hoping for the same tonight. I can't afford to loose any more calories.
Jess and I each picked a throwback movie to watch tonight. She picked "Varsity Blues" which has been one of my favorite sports movies. I went WAY back and picked "Flight of the Navigator." If you haven't heard of it... it is a Disney movie from 1986. It's SUPER good... one of my favorites! It's a great movie for the whole family... just go watch it.
Anyways... there isn't much to report today. It was a decent day with nothing out of the ordinary to report. I'm hoping tonight results in the same. If not, I will make sure to report it to you tomorrow.
Have a swell holiday weekend, and remember... BE SAFE!
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