Session 35-0 January 24, 2019

That’s the bell. I don’t know if this is a standard thing in cancer clinics, but I know they have one at mine. I rang that one today. Not soon enough as far as I’m concerned. I have not written in some time I know. I have not felt well at all. I did not go to work last week or this week. I have been in too much pain. All I have wanted to do is sleep. This past weekend I could hardly sleep. Pain. I saw the Doctor Tuesday, they where off Monday, and asked for pain meds. Yes, I’m that bad. It’s hard to dry swallow. Real hard without the meds. I expect a few more days of the pain getting worse and then I will start a recovery process. Right now I take 2 pills every 4 hours. The perscription is one to two pills every 4 hours. Saturday I’ll try 1 pill every 4 hours and see how I feel. Depending on my pain level, I would like to go back to work Monday. Going back to work means I’ll have to be off the pain meds. I will not work or drive if I’m on pain meds.

I’d like to tell you about the crew on the radiation treatment machine. The ones who treated me these 35 sessions. Jennefer, Caran, Keith and Zach. From day one they had my back. On the first day, when the session was over and I was still on the table, Caran walked up to me and said “Look at me.” I rolled my head over and looked her in the eyes. Caran then said, “I’m five feet two inches tall. Thats how far up in the air you are. Never get off the table until we tell you it is OK.” She wanted to make sure I understood the table moved up and down. Even after 35 times, it was still a trick to tell what positon the table was in. Her message was heard by me and I always asked if it was ok to dismount before I did. They always had my back. When I was not feeling well, they could tell, and inquired about my pain level. They always made sure I knew the Doctor was available. They checked my skin to ensure I was applying lotion as needed and just overall showed their compassion towards me. Every mornng they asked me my birthday, ensuring it really was me entering the treatment room. Why? Because they wanted to ensure they had the correct file on the system for the patient they where treating. I never felt rushed in and out. Even on those days they where behind. They always had time for me even for the little things. Like taking my pictures while I was on the table so I could share them with you. I always was asked if I wanted a warm blanket. Even when I said I would always want one. They still gave me a choice. I was even asked it I wanted to keep my mask. It was my choice. No, I did not want it. When the mask was pushng against my nose and making it hard to breath from my right nostrial, they trimmed it. They where careful to not snag my hair in the clamping devices. They helped me on and off and up and down from the table. Every step of the way. My crew took a life threating, painful, unpleastent situation, and made it bearable. I actually looked forward to seeing them in the morning. I hope I never get cancer again. If I do, I hope I can have this same crew treating me. Thank you!

I saw my speach thearpiast today. She was happy with my level of swallowing. She ensured me I would start the recovery in a few days. I still have a few days of possible increasing pain and then I should start recovery. I was told the next six weeks would show a massive amount of recovery. I should continue my exercises until my six week follow up. So all is gong as expected.

So, for now, I’ll continue my exercises, take my meds, sleep as much as I can, and dream of eating a steak and Mexican food.

Until next time.