Getting better every day (isn't that a song by the Beatles?)

Well Don toughed it out through the weekend and beginning of the week and we got home from the conference on Wednesday night.  He was exhausted.  and he got in trouble with his mother for going.  No matter how old you are, your mother always tells you when you are doing the wrong thing.  You always get caught.

Meanwhile he is resting up these last couple of days.  He did great at the trade show - he was speaking on a panel and you would never have known he had been sick.  One of our clients mentioned to him that he had lost weight and looked great.  That was good for him to hear.  So much better than saying he looked like he lost weight, has he been sick.  So it validated what the drs and I have been telling him that he doesn't look sick at all.  And he needed to lose the weight.

We are now on the way to get him back to eating regular food.  Not as easy as one would think.  Nothing seems to appeal to him - not the foodie that he was a few months ago.  But that will return as will his normal taste buds.

We're heading to Taos soon for a change of pace and scene.  I think it will be good for Don to get away.  Its so relaxing for us and we really enjoy it.  I'll post some photos so you all can see how good he is looking.  Maybe we'll get him some cowboy boots.

If you haven't seen our vacation rental home in Taos, I've updated the website.  Take a look.  It's been rented so much lately for short time vacationers that we have hardly been able to get up there ourselves.  But it is supporting itself which is more than I can say for our dogs and cat...

Ups and downs

Well, it's been awhile since I have written but I thought an update was in order.  The radiation dr told us that the two weeks after treatments were not easy and he was right.  It was a real up and down experience for the full two weeks.

Now the lows aren't quite as low so there is improvement for sure.  But it's still not easy.  Don is tired alot of the time but the naps really help out.  He is still having headaches but sometimes they are not as bad now.  sometimes he still feels like crap.  (his term)

Yesterday morning was Don's first business trip since December.  He spoke at a lunch meeting in Phoenix and it went really well.  So that will make him feel like he is getting back in the groove a bit.  Monday we have a conference and trade show and he is speaking in a session on Monday.  The rest of the time he can rest up.

We're finally getting a chance to go up to Taos (we hope) in April.  I'm looking forward to a break and change of scene.  It will do Don good, I think.  And he can take some of that time to do some writing which will be good for him as well.

I'll keep the blog going for a bit because it's not a done deal yet.  Thanks everyone for sticking with us!

on the mend

This morning, the day after the emergency room visit, Don is much better.  Yesterday when I got home from work he was still in pretty bad shape but the effects of the hydration kicked in and there is a definite difference.  so I guess that is what it was.  That's an easy solution.

Today he had his last radiation and they had a little celebration with a certificate and bell ringing ceremony.  Everyone in the waiting room clapped.  ( see photos below) So no more getting up and having to go to drs first thing like we've been doing for the radiation every day.  they said he will be feeling bad for a couple of weeks yet but he is planning on coming in to work starting on Monday and taking little naps here when needed.  So that sounds like a plan.  we'll see how it goes.

Stefan is coming down from Seattle this weekend arriving on Friday afternoon and leaving mid day on Sunday.  That will be a nice break for Don and they always have a good time together so we are looking forward to that.  Don won't be up to speed yet - I'm sure it will take awhile - but we don't need to do a lot with Stefan.  Just having him around will be good.

Dizzy Don

this morning when we went to radiation Don wasn't feeling well.  he was dizzy and has been for the last few days, since the last chemo.  they checked his vitals and his heart rate was very high and it was determined that he is dehydrated.  Its not surprising because he has slept so much that he hasn't been able to watch his fluid intake so well.  So they sent us to the emergency room and hooked him up to an IV to give him fluids.  They are doing tests to make sure it isn't anything else but everyone is sure that it is just simply lack of fluids.

This same thing happened after the first chemo and we probably should have recognized the symptoms but Don always says he is drinking enough fluids.  Unfortunately Don's definition of enough fluids is not the same as the dr's.

I'll keep everyone posted and probably update this tonight.

What he wouldn't give for a home cooked meal

It's interesting (in a kind of strange way) that each of the chemos have had different results with regard to side effects.  this last one seems to have been worse than the last one.  Maybe that is really the cumulative effect on all this.  He is just exhausted and dizzy and not a happy camper.  The more he is forced to do the tube feedings, the more he sends me emails with links to food, restaurants, and pictures of pasta.  That's our boy.

The tube feedings are necessary because the food tastes so bad to him that he can't eat.  They put the tube in because they said he wasn't going to be able to swallow.  but that hasn't happened.  it's just the taste of the food.  It makes me realize how much of our social life is centered around food - either the dinner parties we are always having or going out with friends.

Gary, Beth and the Brumleys are coming over for dinner tonight.  They are bringing it (pizza and salad) so I don't have to cook and Don doesn't have to smell the food.  I could get used to this part...  Actually I do miss the cooking and Don's appreciation for it.  But that will be back soon.

One good thing coming out of this is that I'm losing the weight also.  I am eating the way I do when Don was traveling so much.  He thinks I'm not eating at all because the salad I have for lunch or smoothie substitute for a meal doesn't look like food to him.  And no wine with it?  He can hardly believe it.

cumulative effects

today is a tough one for Don.  The radiation oncologyst told us on Tuesday that he might feel worse at the end of the week and into next week.  So here it is.

There are so many medications on the table at home it looks like a drug store.  We can hardly keep them all straight.  But the drs are watching out for him and giving him things to make him comfortable.  the medication seems to be disagreeing with the liquid food they are giving him for the PEG in his stomach.

Again the drs are amazed that he is doing so well and looking good.  That makes him feel better for a moment but then back to being sick again.  I guess that's what happens when they pour poison into your veins.  Most likely the new medication will settle his stomach and he can sleep through the weekend and feel better on Monday.

It seems like just the other day we started all this.  I know it feels like forever for Don but I am just getting a handle on the whole thing and the treatments are almost over.  The only ones that are happy about all this are the dogs.  They are thrilled to have Don home with them all day.  See how excited they are??