Time's Closing in

It's been a few days since I've posted anything -- mostly because until yesterday afternoon there wasn't really anything medical to report.

But Tuesday I went in to visit with the Oncologist and finalize treatment plans. So, we're as official as we can be at this point. I'll start treatment on Monday, Oct 6. The treatment will be five 2-week cycles. Each 2-week cycle will begin with my taking some chemo drugs at home on Sunday then going in Monday morning for them to install a "pump" that I'll carry with me all week and will give me measured doses of another chemo drug throughout the week. From there I'll go in for a radiation treatment, go back for an I.V. dosage of a 3rd chemo drug that will take a few hours, and then it's back for another radiation treatment. The rest of the week -- Tuesday thru Friday -- I'll go for a morning and afternoon radiation treatment each day then, Saturday morning, I'll go down for them to remove the pump. I take the second week of each cycle off to complete the two weeks then start it all over again the following Sunday.

Five of those mean my last week of treatment will be the week of December 1st. Yes, I already have that marked on my calendar.

This morning my Ortho Doc juggled his schedule to work around my appointments at KU and met with me at 6:45. Really appreciated that. Plus, he gave me my arm back so I'm even more happy about that. Up until this morning I've had strict instructions to do NOTHING with that arm other than keep it in the sling or let it hang by my side. P.T. did some stretching with it but nothing I did my self. So now I get to start working back in to using the arm again. Probably take another month or two before it's much use to me, but we're making progress.

I then went to KU for a swallow study. Pretty cool, actually. Basically a video-X-Ray where they watch and record my swallowing different things. Some liquid, some thick liquid, a graham cracker and a pill. I got to watch out of the corner of my eye and it was pretty neat. I got a passing grade on my swallowing technique and abilities. Quite an athelete, eh?

Also spent some time with the folks that will be handling installation of my PEG Tube and Port tomorrow. Had to go over all the what to do and not do in the hours leading up to my appointment. The best part is that I can't eat after 6:00 am and won't get to each again until mid-morning on Friday. Say what! I've been doing everything I can to gain the 10 lbs I was instructed to gain and have conditioned my body for non-stop food intake. Now I not only lose 24-hours opportunity for weight gain but also have to tell my body "no food" for 24+ hours?

The weight gaining thing isn't going that well in the first place. I've been trying to do my job but, as of Tuesday morning, had only managed to gain one pound. Jenny and I did go to Lidia's last night with Ron and Alice. I had the all-you-can-eat Pasta Trio and, I thought, performed admirably. But all momentum will be lost on Thursday.