Update….

Sorry to be so late with another update.  I had this silly notion that when I finished the 30 radiation treatments that I would magically feel wonderful.  I tell you, it just isn’t so.  I am improving slowly; I can swallow better and talk better.  My tongue is still extremely painful and so I am not magically able to eat solid food.  I can manage cream of wheat and cottage cheese by eating slowing and drinking a lot of water while eating.  I fix soups with a lot of fiber and calories in the blender to supplement the Boost and Ensure I am drinking.  I am managing about 1100 – 1200 calories a day.  Since I had my surgery on September 4th to today I have lost about 22 lbs.  These were not pounds that I needed to lose.

The 27th is my family Christmas gathering and I am so wanting to be able to eat something good.  I have no taste buds so everything tastes the same.  My daughter is graciously cooking our meal.  I am fixing a spiral cut glazed ham. 

I missed the cookie exchange this year and I haven’t had the energy to do any baking so my son will have some goodies to take home.  I will try and fix a few things next week.

I ended up with a ‘winged scapula’ and I am undergoing physical therapy for that.  I finished my sixth session today.

I saw my oncologist yesterday.  I have been scheduled for a Pet Scan for 23 February to find out if there is still cancer in my body.  I am praying that there is not.

I sent only a few cards this year.  I apologize to the ones of you who sent me cards and I promise to catch you next year.  Thank you all for remembering me in prayer and with kind thoughts.  I love you all!

Have a truly blessed Christmas.

Beth

Thanksgiving Update…

This morning I had my 30th and final radiation.  It has been a long tough road and I couldn’t have made it without the love and prayers from all of you.  Thank you. The good Lord held my hand  and helped me to be strong.

Now begins the healing process.  My body is still filled with radiation and will be for the next week or so.  My  neck is fried deep purple and is extremely painful.  The  whole inside of my mouth is burned including my tongue which is very painful.  It is very hard to swallow and it is like I have a very severe sore throat.  And of course I have the Bride of Frankenstein hair.

I have a follow-up next week to have my skin checked.  I have a foul smelling cream that I was given to put on my neck.  I have been reduced to drinking the Ensure type drinks.  Since I have no taste buds they all taste the same.  It is still very difficult to swallow my pills.

I am thankful to still be alive and writing this post. I hope you all have a wonderful Thanksgiving,

Love,

Beth

One year ago today, 17 November 2013

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=onDlCCPalT4

My son and a friend from Chicago had come to visit me for the weekend.  It was a very warm stormy morning and I was glad to see them leave for home that Sunday morning because the weather forecast was not good.  They had only been gone an hour when they came back.  My son’s friend had a terrible headache and so they returned. As time passed my son mentioned going to the Red Lobster in Peoria for lunch.  I really didn’t want to go as the weather was beginning to frighten me a bit. No tornado watches or warnings had been issued for our area so finally we left for Red Lobster.

This was divine intervention.  We had just been seated at Red Lobster when our waitress told us there had been a tornado in Pekin.  The rest of the day and the weeks to come were chaotic.

So many homes on my street were damaged.  They have all finally been rebuilt.  My kitchen window was blown out and for weeks after I found shards of glass in my kitchen and living room.

If my son and his friend hadn’t returned that Sunday morning I would have been in the kitchen preparing my lunch at the time the tornado struck.

Today, one year later I am getting ready to leave for my radiation treatment.  After this morning I will have 7 treatments left.  I appreciate all of your kind thoughts and prayer.

Love,

Beth

 

What it is like for me….

I get up each morning at 5AM.  I have the first morning appointment in radiation  each week day morning.  Most days I am taken in on time but some days like this morning I am taken in a bit early.  Today was my 18th appointment, I have 12 treatments left.

The reason I get up early is so  we can leave home by 7AM.  This enables us to  get a parking spot in front of the building where the radiation is done.  First thing when I get up each morning I take a tablespoon of a compound prescription and swish it around in my mouth and then swallow it.  This is to coat my tongue and throat that has been burned by the radiation,  I have to wait 15 minutes for the numbing to start.  I then can swallow my meds which feel like rocks that I am swallowing.  In the interim I make my bed and get dressed.  By this time the 15 minutes are up I take my meds and eat a bowl of cream of wheat.

I have lost some more weight (3 lbs last week) but I am not in the danger zone yet. I am forcing myself to eat as I declined the feeding tube.  It takes a long time to get a cup of soup down.  The blender has been a blessing.  Bean with bacon soup has been a staple as is cream of chicken and mashed potatoes.

Yesterday I saw an associate of my beloved Dr. McGee (my radiation oncologist).  Very nice looking young man but not nearly as nice as Dr. McGee.  I finally asked the question that I have been afraid to ask, what is my prognosis?  This Dr. M said Dr. McGee  would have to tell me but he did say my radiation has been very aggressive and they do have good results with it.

My daughter has cheerfully taken  me each day and missing part of her work day on Wednesday.  Thank you Marcia.

Thank you to Nana Diana for the prayer blog she did for me.  Such a wonderful caring lady.

I am not intending this blog to be a complaint.  I am just saying what my day is like now.  God has been good to me and I am ever thankful.

Love,

Beth