Thursday, July 10, 2008

Things are going pretty well around here. The withdrawal from the pain medicine lasted about 3 days, so it wasn't really too bad. He is now complaining of tingling and numbness on the bottom of his feet around his toes. He experienced that on the tips of his fingers during treatment, but says it is very mild now. It's his feet that are now really bothering him. This is a side effect of the Cisplatin (chemo). We need to find out if it will go away!
His energy level is amazing. He did yard work over the weekend. He also cooks on the grill most evenings that he is home. He has been working on the computer, so his concentration is also very good. He put up a ceiling fan and did a few projects around the house. He says he isn't 100% and still gets tired, but I'm very impressed.
The food part is still frustrating. He says his throat is fine, but his mouth gets irritated by certain foods. He also has to rinse his mouth often because things get stuck since he isn't producing saliva yet. We're anxious to see if the Ethyol worked to save his salivary glands. We need to give it a few more months. He also gets up throughout the night to sip water. He says it feels so dry he could choke. Things don't taste right yet either. He says it's weird because the first bite or so might be good, but then it's gone.
But, overall things are good and we are happy he is alive!

2 comments:

Anonymous said...

Just wanted to thank both of you and your blog for "being there" for my brother Bob. This is such scary, uncharted territory for all of us, and your blog has been both educational, inspirational, and like a lifeline of support for him as he counted down the days to the start of treatment. If you ever wondered as you sat up writing late at night if "anyone was out there" reading your story.....it really meant a lot to at least one reader. The best part is Al's success and return to work (and food!). So maybe that light at the end of the tunnel is not an oncoming train after all...Thanks for being there guys!!

Bob's Little Sister

Anonymous said...

i want to thank you for your blog also, I start radiation in 8 days i just did 6 weeks of chemo for tonsil and lymphnode cancer. I am doing erbitux carboplatin and taxol
and any info insight an experience i can get means the world to me.
Thank you Victor53 vb53@cox.net