Just a short note to let you all know that the doctor removed the feeding tube yesterday. There are no longer tubes coming out of my body, I can sleep and turn over without the tube getting caught and causing pain. It is a very liberating feeling to have it out, I feel like a whole person now.
I still have a sore throat and a sore mouth but they will heal with time. Thanks again for being my sounding board. Being able to write and send my feelings out to you has made it easier on me. I hope 2009 is a good year for all.
I continue to Fight On.
Michael
Thursday, January 22, 2009
Monday, January 19, 2009
Monday, January 19, 2009
The last week went very well with the doctors; my Radiation oncologist gave me permission to go back to work on February 2nd and the notes in my medical records made the comment NERD. Now that does not mean he thinks I am a nerd it mean No Evidence of Reoccurring Disease. He also gave me a return to work letter which I have given to my HR department and they have given me the OK to return to work as well.
We also meet with the medical oncologist who gave me the OK to get the feeding tube out. I can not get an appointment with the Gastro doc until January 28th so I have to wait until then to have it removed.
Next week we are meeting a nutritionist who will help with getting me on the right kind of foods. Right now I drink a lot of Boost to supplement my diet. I am hoping to keep my weight where it is for the long term. It would be OK to loose another 15 pounds but I would like to do that with diet and exercise at maybe a pound a week.
For now that is about it, until March at which time I will have my PET Scan which will be the final clean bill of health and then I will be checked ever 6 months for a couple years and then once a year until I get to 5 years cancer free.
The healing process in my mouth is still slow, my tongue is still sore and I hurt my throat eating soup that was to spicy. It will be a few weeks before I have any more news, I will let you know when the feeding tube is out and how it goes with the nutritionist. I am starting a new way of life, a new way of thinking and a new way of living. I have been walking a 1 ½ miles but yesterday extended it to 1 ¾ miles. It is a very slow walk but after a mile I start to sweat a bit and I am tired after I finish. It is a start and one I do everyday. I am sleeping better and doing more around the house each day. That is not say much since Patty has done everything for months.
Let me say I am luckiest man in the world to have Patty as my wife. With out her I do not know how I would have got through the last 4 months. Patty has been there every step of the way. From the first visit to first ENT doctor who ordered the fine needle biopsy and when we got the conformation that yes indeed I did have cancer and every appointment and treatment after that. She held a pail while I threw up in it, got up in the middle of the night to give me medicine. She has supported me, given me hope when I had none, and not only was my wife, but my nurse, and my cheerleader, she was there when I needed her. There is nothing more that you can ask is for someone to be there when you need them and Patty did that. Thank you, I love you with all my heart, you’re the best.
The last week went very well with the doctors; my Radiation oncologist gave me permission to go back to work on February 2nd and the notes in my medical records made the comment NERD. Now that does not mean he thinks I am a nerd it mean No Evidence of Reoccurring Disease. He also gave me a return to work letter which I have given to my HR department and they have given me the OK to return to work as well.
We also meet with the medical oncologist who gave me the OK to get the feeding tube out. I can not get an appointment with the Gastro doc until January 28th so I have to wait until then to have it removed.
Next week we are meeting a nutritionist who will help with getting me on the right kind of foods. Right now I drink a lot of Boost to supplement my diet. I am hoping to keep my weight where it is for the long term. It would be OK to loose another 15 pounds but I would like to do that with diet and exercise at maybe a pound a week.
For now that is about it, until March at which time I will have my PET Scan which will be the final clean bill of health and then I will be checked ever 6 months for a couple years and then once a year until I get to 5 years cancer free.
The healing process in my mouth is still slow, my tongue is still sore and I hurt my throat eating soup that was to spicy. It will be a few weeks before I have any more news, I will let you know when the feeding tube is out and how it goes with the nutritionist. I am starting a new way of life, a new way of thinking and a new way of living. I have been walking a 1 ½ miles but yesterday extended it to 1 ¾ miles. It is a very slow walk but after a mile I start to sweat a bit and I am tired after I finish. It is a start and one I do everyday. I am sleeping better and doing more around the house each day. That is not say much since Patty has done everything for months.
Let me say I am luckiest man in the world to have Patty as my wife. With out her I do not know how I would have got through the last 4 months. Patty has been there every step of the way. From the first visit to first ENT doctor who ordered the fine needle biopsy and when we got the conformation that yes indeed I did have cancer and every appointment and treatment after that. She held a pail while I threw up in it, got up in the middle of the night to give me medicine. She has supported me, given me hope when I had none, and not only was my wife, but my nurse, and my cheerleader, she was there when I needed her. There is nothing more that you can ask is for someone to be there when you need them and Patty did that. Thank you, I love you with all my heart, you’re the best.
Friday, January 9, 2009
Cancer Thoughts 21
Friday, January 09, 2009
Changes are happening slowly very slowly but they are happening. I am completely off all of the pain medication since Christmas. I am driving a bit; eating all of my meals by mouth the food is pureed still although this morning I had regular scrambled eggs and cottage cheese with no problem.
I am walking each morning and I up to about a mile and a quarter in 30 minutes, I am very tired after so it is a work in progress. My mouth is still has sores on my tongue and inside my mouth. Until they are gone it is going to be hard to add foods. The food must be very bland as it causes a lot of pain. I am at the point where nothing is happening fast enough, I am still tired, my energy is low and have to work at everything.
My concentration is much better; I can actually read now. My neighbors Mike and Mary gave me a book called Anti cancer a new way of life by David Servin-Schreiber MD. PhD. I am reading and studying this book in order to change my life. The book gives ideas on diet, exercise, attitude and ways to stop cancer from coming back. I have bought into it and hope to have a new attitude and a new way of eating.
We are waiting for approval from the insurance company to see a nutritionist to help with my diet while for a number of reasons. One is to give me a diet that will fall within the guidelines of Anti cancer for now that I can puree and still maintain my weight. I have lost another 4 pounds, now if you saw me before cancer you would think 4 pounds is good but I am now about to go under 200 pounds and that is not good, the doctors want me to maintain my weight not loose more. My wife bought a size large pajama bottom that fit just fine. Rick and Justin’s (My step son and Nephew in there late 20’S) bathing suit are a little big on me. If I stay where I am now I am good with it, I do not want to loose any more weight, or go the opposite way and start eating bad and gaining. So the plan is to work with a nutritionist to get the diet down to keep me healthy and cancer free.
I see my entire team of oncologist next week, so I will give you an update after that. I am bored, tired, my mouth hurts and I want this to be over now. I need patients, energy and a positive attitude and right now I am not sure I have them, at least all at the same time. I am doing my best some of the time and some of the time I just get by.
I still choose to Fight On.
Love Michael
Changes are happening slowly very slowly but they are happening. I am completely off all of the pain medication since Christmas. I am driving a bit; eating all of my meals by mouth the food is pureed still although this morning I had regular scrambled eggs and cottage cheese with no problem.
I am walking each morning and I up to about a mile and a quarter in 30 minutes, I am very tired after so it is a work in progress. My mouth is still has sores on my tongue and inside my mouth. Until they are gone it is going to be hard to add foods. The food must be very bland as it causes a lot of pain. I am at the point where nothing is happening fast enough, I am still tired, my energy is low and have to work at everything.
My concentration is much better; I can actually read now. My neighbors Mike and Mary gave me a book called Anti cancer a new way of life by David Servin-Schreiber MD. PhD. I am reading and studying this book in order to change my life. The book gives ideas on diet, exercise, attitude and ways to stop cancer from coming back. I have bought into it and hope to have a new attitude and a new way of eating.
We are waiting for approval from the insurance company to see a nutritionist to help with my diet while for a number of reasons. One is to give me a diet that will fall within the guidelines of Anti cancer for now that I can puree and still maintain my weight. I have lost another 4 pounds, now if you saw me before cancer you would think 4 pounds is good but I am now about to go under 200 pounds and that is not good, the doctors want me to maintain my weight not loose more. My wife bought a size large pajama bottom that fit just fine. Rick and Justin’s (My step son and Nephew in there late 20’S) bathing suit are a little big on me. If I stay where I am now I am good with it, I do not want to loose any more weight, or go the opposite way and start eating bad and gaining. So the plan is to work with a nutritionist to get the diet down to keep me healthy and cancer free.
I see my entire team of oncologist next week, so I will give you an update after that. I am bored, tired, my mouth hurts and I want this to be over now. I need patients, energy and a positive attitude and right now I am not sure I have them, at least all at the same time. I am doing my best some of the time and some of the time I just get by.
I still choose to Fight On.
Love Michael
Monday, January 5, 2009
Cancer Thoughts 20
I am now completely off all of the medications, and I actually can think and feel normal again. My mouth still has sores one on my tongue and one inside my mouth, I am not sure how long they will take to heal but when they do it will be a happy day.
I am now eating all my food by mouth, the food for now gets put into the food processor and pureed, that is good in more ways than one. If we can do this for another week we will have the doctor remove the feeding tube, we don’t want to remove it too soon and then have to have it put back in.
When all the sores in my mouth and tongue heal I will be able to eat more food and chew it up,
The food I eat must be very bland I can not even handle salt on food, creamy soups, mashed potatoes, green beans, cottage cheese, eggs, and protein shakes made from milk, boost, protein powder, and ice cream. For now it is a start.
My next goal is to get my energy level up, that is an elusive target. One day I have energy can walk and do some things, the next day I am tired and just want to sleep and lay around. As time goes by I am sure it will get better.
My last radiation treatment was one month ago today on December 5th. The doctors have told not to expect miracles and that it will take time to recover from the radiation. I see that now but want to be better now.
I have been sleeping through the night for the last 4 days so that is good, the problem is now I am sleeping until 9 AM which for now is OK but on the 19th I am going to set the alarm for 6 AM and get up and start a routine of walking and so I will be ready for work on the 2nd of February.
I would like to tell you I am happy all the time but I am not. I have those moments of doubt and worry about everything from my job, bills, and my health. Sometimes it is a bit overwhelming and I get depressed. I need to be positive and focus on my health. This is where I you’re your help, encouragement, and prayers. I love your replies to my Email so feel free to let me know how you’re doing.
Yesterday Sunday the 4th was my Logan and Landon’s 1st birthday they are my grand nephews on Patty’s side of the family. It was fun, I played rock band for an hour straight I am the guitar man, Justin on drums and his sister on vocals. We made it through all the songs we tried and it was another step toward getting better. This is it for now be well.
I still choose to Fight On!
Love Michael
I am now eating all my food by mouth, the food for now gets put into the food processor and pureed, that is good in more ways than one. If we can do this for another week we will have the doctor remove the feeding tube, we don’t want to remove it too soon and then have to have it put back in.
When all the sores in my mouth and tongue heal I will be able to eat more food and chew it up,
The food I eat must be very bland I can not even handle salt on food, creamy soups, mashed potatoes, green beans, cottage cheese, eggs, and protein shakes made from milk, boost, protein powder, and ice cream. For now it is a start.
My next goal is to get my energy level up, that is an elusive target. One day I have energy can walk and do some things, the next day I am tired and just want to sleep and lay around. As time goes by I am sure it will get better.
My last radiation treatment was one month ago today on December 5th. The doctors have told not to expect miracles and that it will take time to recover from the radiation. I see that now but want to be better now.
I have been sleeping through the night for the last 4 days so that is good, the problem is now I am sleeping until 9 AM which for now is OK but on the 19th I am going to set the alarm for 6 AM and get up and start a routine of walking and so I will be ready for work on the 2nd of February.
I would like to tell you I am happy all the time but I am not. I have those moments of doubt and worry about everything from my job, bills, and my health. Sometimes it is a bit overwhelming and I get depressed. I need to be positive and focus on my health. This is where I you’re your help, encouragement, and prayers. I love your replies to my Email so feel free to let me know how you’re doing.
Yesterday Sunday the 4th was my Logan and Landon’s 1st birthday they are my grand nephews on Patty’s side of the family. It was fun, I played rock band for an hour straight I am the guitar man, Justin on drums and his sister on vocals. We made it through all the songs we tried and it was another step toward getting better. This is it for now be well.
I still choose to Fight On!
Love Michael
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