Up, down, up, down, up...yes that's it you got the rhythm from last week (8th-14th), which was up and down and loads of different fronts.
Down to hospital, up from hospital, biorhythms up, biorhythms down, trouble getting food down, trouble with food coming back up, red blood count down, red blood count back up, weight down, food in the tube up, cannae be botheredness up, time to go down.
Started the week brightly enough I think, but some spurts of sickness and possibly the Chemo put paid to that Tuesday/Wednesday. Was threatened with another blood transfusion, but remarkably my blood count seemed to climb at the thought and that was put on hold. Chirpy again by Friday though.
Only two weeks of this phase to go then recovery stuff before its time for the lovely sounding "neck-section". Hope I get a nice cut.
Sunday, 14 February 2010
Wednesday, 10 February 2010
A mucii, a mucose, a mucositis
With the change of radiotherapy regime, came... a carrier bag full of drugs to help stave off mucositis. Yep, lovely, eh, just gargle after me one more time, mucositis.
Mucositis is an extension of my gooey glut really, its where the mucii takes over and makes you mouth and throat so mucousy (yes, I'm making some of them up) that you can't eat and drink. Not good.
So, prevention is the order of the day with mucaine (...a running around my vein) the much vaunted favourite at the Western. I suppose its only part of the package though, since it coats the throat to ease swallowing - sort of like a mucozade drink to aid recovery. On top of that are these soluble co-codamol tabs that seem big enough for a pack of Dugs, never mind a wee one like me. And, there's no getting away from it, Movitall, because the colossal co-codamol can cause constipation. Which is sh...
Mucositis is an extension of my gooey glut really, its where the mucii takes over and makes you mouth and throat so mucousy (yes, I'm making some of them up) that you can't eat and drink. Not good.
So, prevention is the order of the day with mucaine (...a running around my vein) the much vaunted favourite at the Western. I suppose its only part of the package though, since it coats the throat to ease swallowing - sort of like a mucozade drink to aid recovery. On top of that are these soluble co-codamol tabs that seem big enough for a pack of Dugs, never mind a wee one like me. And, there's no getting away from it, Movitall, because the colossal co-codamol can cause constipation. Which is sh...
Thursday, 4 February 2010
Double blast news at last
Well, well, well - it turns out that Phase II isn't exactly more of the same. I mean I'm sure it will feel the same and look the same, with the same mask drill, same meshy face and background music, but this other Zappatron seems to fire electrons rather than photons.
As Captain Kirk and Mr Sulu would tell you, this is because photon torpedoes are very effective at destroying unwanted Clingons. But, as Doc Junor drew for me on Thursday this means my first 20 zaps had a wider target area than I thought and its a bit spine tingling to find out that my chord has been part of the area, so now they want to tone that down. So it'll be photons to front, electrons to the rear (.....here I am stuck like a tumour in you...
stuck like a tumour in you,
and I'm wondering why I ever first grew,
its so hard to keep growing this pace,
when I'm getting zapped all over the place,
photons to the front, electrons to the rear,
here I am stuck like a tumour in you...eh sorry, went off on one there)
The idea is that ol' lumpy still gets blasted with photons as they have deep throat penetration, but the glands and the rest of my neck will be downgraded to electron zapping from Monday. Can't wait!
As Captain Kirk and Mr Sulu would tell you, this is because photon torpedoes are very effective at destroying unwanted Clingons. But, as Doc Junor drew for me on Thursday this means my first 20 zaps had a wider target area than I thought and its a bit spine tingling to find out that my chord has been part of the area, so now they want to tone that down. So it'll be photons to front, electrons to the rear (.....here I am stuck like a tumour in you...
stuck like a tumour in you,
and I'm wondering why I ever first grew,
its so hard to keep growing this pace,
when I'm getting zapped all over the place,
photons to the front, electrons to the rear,
here I am stuck like a tumour in you...eh sorry, went off on one there)
The idea is that ol' lumpy still gets blasted with photons as they have deep throat penetration, but the glands and the rest of my neck will be downgraded to electron zapping from Monday. Can't wait!
Wednesday, 3 February 2010
Swallowing lessons
Well not exactly lessons, but a detailed discussion with a dietitian today on the causes of tickly coughs during throat cancer cures.
Glut woman was on form again today and had a colleague who was keen to test my swallow action, especially when I said that sometimes get a spluttering cough when I'm drinking. Which can be messy. You see, its possibly all to do with the swallow reflex not working properly and meaning that the epiglottis doesn't properly close over the larynx to prevent food or drink entering the windpipe. But why?
They don't know, but had me try out gulps and sips while they had a hands-on observation of my swallow action. Thankfully I didn't choke at the time but have promised to keep them posted on what triggers my occasional splutters - like this morning's coffee that I was enjoying until it was forcefully ejected during the pharyngeal phase and halted the esophageal stage abruptly!
Glut woman was on form again today and had a colleague who was keen to test my swallow action, especially when I said that sometimes get a spluttering cough when I'm drinking. Which can be messy. You see, its possibly all to do with the swallow reflex not working properly and meaning that the epiglottis doesn't properly close over the larynx to prevent food or drink entering the windpipe. But why?
They don't know, but had me try out gulps and sips while they had a hands-on observation of my swallow action. Thankfully I didn't choke at the time but have promised to keep them posted on what triggers my occasional splutters - like this morning's coffee that I was enjoying until it was forcefully ejected during the pharyngeal phase and halted the esophageal stage abruptly!
Monday, 1 February 2010
Struck a chord
I finally created chip in the professional veneer or the LA3 massive today when they changed the music for me so that I could play my air guitar whilst im-meshed in the zapping routine.
Bit of Lynyrd Sknyrd to strum to while the Zappatron went about its business. OK, pop fans, it is soft rock for the mass market - in fact Neil Young's piss-take of Sweet Home Alabama beats it - but at least its recognition that girlie warblers can be known to prolong the experience rather than help it pass.
Perhaps, there will be Jam tomorrow.
Bit of Lynyrd Sknyrd to strum to while the Zappatron went about its business. OK, pop fans, it is soft rock for the mass market - in fact Neil Young's piss-take of Sweet Home Alabama beats it - but at least its recognition that girlie warblers can be known to prolong the experience rather than help it pass.
Perhaps, there will be Jam tomorrow.
Zappedy Doo-dah
Zappedy doo-dah, zappedy-aay, my oh my I get zapped every day.
And, apparently, there's a phase II! Last week passed without any alarms and only really my self-inflicted side-effect to bother me. 5 zaps, blood sample, weighed twice, quickie chemo, chat with dietitian, balloon updated and consultation with Doc J & the posse.
Interesting twist was when the nurses pinned me to the bed on Friday and said they'd be a wee big longer today, "as you know, for your 2nd phase, you need more markings on your mask". Eh, well, no, I didn't know about phase II actually. "Ock, just a different angle of attack that they'll do at LA6 from the end of next week".
Didn't ask if LA6 had a pet name, but will wait to get 1st hand reaction from that team. Not sure what it really means yet, but think that my daily left, right & center zaps (yes its really 3 a day) will increase by 2 or 3 so that at the final curtain of this plot, Withnail & I can go our separate ways.
And, apparently, there's a phase II! Last week passed without any alarms and only really my self-inflicted side-effect to bother me. 5 zaps, blood sample, weighed twice, quickie chemo, chat with dietitian, balloon updated and consultation with Doc J & the posse.
Interesting twist was when the nurses pinned me to the bed on Friday and said they'd be a wee big longer today, "as you know, for your 2nd phase, you need more markings on your mask". Eh, well, no, I didn't know about phase II actually. "Ock, just a different angle of attack that they'll do at LA6 from the end of next week".
Didn't ask if LA6 had a pet name, but will wait to get 1st hand reaction from that team. Not sure what it really means yet, but think that my daily left, right & center zaps (yes its really 3 a day) will increase by 2 or 3 so that at the final curtain of this plot, Withnail & I can go our separate ways.
Funny Ballon Animal
One thing I forget to tell about the tube, is how its kept in place now that the early scaffolding has gone. It's a balloon trick!
You see, there's a wee balloon on the inside that gets inflated, if you can inflate something with water, so that it acts like an anchor on the inside. Sort of like a harpoon, Dad? asked Keir - well yes, but with smoother edges. On the outside I have a 'bumper' that I need to keep close to the surface -except for the daily twist and clean routine - and that way I've a tube retaining mechanism.
It seems though that the water inside gradually evaporates, gets out or generally reduces in volume - they didn't seem clear on how - so I get to use another valve to extract last week's remains and top up with a new 5ml syringe. Sciencetastic.
You see, there's a wee balloon on the inside that gets inflated, if you can inflate something with water, so that it acts like an anchor on the inside. Sort of like a harpoon, Dad? asked Keir - well yes, but with smoother edges. On the outside I have a 'bumper' that I need to keep close to the surface -except for the daily twist and clean routine - and that way I've a tube retaining mechanism.
It seems though that the water inside gradually evaporates, gets out or generally reduces in volume - they didn't seem clear on how - so I get to use another valve to extract last week's remains and top up with a new 5ml syringe. Sciencetastic.
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