Sunday, October 18, 2009

Update from the OKW


Well, at least with some side effects, you know the stuff is workin.


I'm in the off week after the first two weeks of round 2. So in engineering terms this would be

2A3.


There is not a Diet Coke here at home or in my fridge at the office. This must be kinda like

quitting smoking. I even thought about having a stash for just in case. The admonition was

to cut back, so probably the cold turkey approach is overkill. I tried the coffee in the morning

YUCK!!!!! I used to like coffee.... BUUUUUT I have taste issues going on so I'll try it again.

Diet Coke is available at all convenience stores.


The itchy scalp is back, and I have little pimples on my face like when I was 15. I can deal with that; it's just a nuisiance.


Last time I saw the oncologist, I told him that it seemed that I felt great while taking the Sutent and then in the off week stuff started showing up. He just kinda smiled. I can only imagine that if side effects are going to show up in week 3 and I was still taking the chemo, it might be more than a nuisiance. He's a smart man, I'll follow his instructions. "Chemo brain" is real. My processor doesn't work as quickly nor does it multitask at the same pace as before.


Probably the most maddening thing is fatigue. I'm used to doing whatever I want to, whenever I want to. I used to work all day long outside and keep on going even after I was tired. I've noticed lately that sometimes what I want to do is stop what I'm doing and sit down for awhile.

I think I'll try golf soon. First of all I need to take advantage of the cool weather of fall, and second, maybe having a tight right abdomin will straighten out my swing and eliminate that slice. Nine holes in a cart shouldn't be too bad.


The incision reminds me often that I'm not over that yet. I've been spinning with my buddy Joe two days a week. It's really kinda mosey spinning....we do peddle for 30 minutes but mainly we're catching up with each other...we don't believe in exercising so hard that we can't talk.

Then we go to the club restaurant and I get a big ol' cheeseburger.


We're discovering the pleasure of eating at home. I think it's great, the cook may not agree. Debbie is actually a good cook and is being a good sport. Lordy,I hope we don't go back to our vegetarian phase again. Actually this diet isn't as restrictive as first imagined. Salad is back. I'm tolerating the Coumadin (blood thinner) well enough that Dr. Baltz said I can add back the salad and he can adjust if needed. Maybe I was just bellyaching about not having many choices and he just had heard enough !!!!


I may have lost my unibrow. Either that or it's getting white like the rest of the eyebrows. I'll send a pic.... you may say dang! he's looking old. It's only on the outside...

We're hangin' in.
And now a word from Carrot:
When Bryan says he gets tired easily, he still sets a pretty high bar for himself. When I say I'm tired, that means I'm heading for the couch with the remote, an adult beverage, and lots of magazines. This weekend included doing a quick house cleanup after our year-long remodeling project because Barett and friends were coming to Debbie's Bed and Get-Your-Own-Breakfast. We got the three guest bedrooms made up and presentable (no boxes of undetermined junk lurking). Then Saturday he recycled 6-wks worth of paper, plastic, and glass; accompanied me on a shopping trip; put together and installed three new headboards; endured the highs and lows of a referee-influenced loss to Florida; entertained guests; went to church; walked around the yard to plan the landscaping remedy to rainwater encroachment into the garage; and answered some work emails. Who wouldn't be tired. Plus, he's managing it uncaffinated and unsalted. Give the man a round of applause. Better yet, give the man a reply! Since posting comments is daunting because the whole Byrd Village sees it, email is private. Try this one: greatspeckledbyrd@gmail.com. He'll love it.


5 comments:

erin oliver said...

I'm first commenter. Prize please. Um..... First, I'd like to encourage you to SIT DOWN!! Take a rest. Really. Ain't no prizes for being real tired. I too think that some external side effects are indicative of internal effects, so I like that you have zits and white eyebrows. Looking forward to your next scans and NED status (that's No Evidence of Disease). I may change your name when that happens. Remember... nothing is better than a couch nap.
always, your erv

Jenny said...

Hey Uncle Bryan and Aunt Debbie! I think about you guys all the time. Thanks for keeping us updated!

Rachel Silvestri said...

Yeah, for reals take a nap and sleep in. Be like me in college and wake up after noon everyday. It's great!

Maybe you'll lose all your eyebrows and we can start calling you Whoopi.

Lerve,
R

BrendaE said...

Since he's cut out most anything resembling a vegetable out of your diet, I think it's safe to say you never have to be a vegetarian again!
Enjoy those naps and don't feel guilty one little bit; at our age, we've earned the right to nap whenever we feel like it, sick or not!
Hope you guys have a great week.
The Elmos

Joannah said...

Wow! I'm perfectly healthy and I couldn't do all that. Bryan, you're amazing. :-)