9 September 2023
I started out this blog as “Everything Fred” but realized as I wrote it was mostly about my cancer effects and treatment. You’re probably tired of reading about it but it is what it is..
It’s been a rough couple of days with the diarrhea. I’ve had six episodes of diarrhea in those two days and the volume of discharge is pretty stunning. The only good news is that it seems to have decided to allow me to sleep at night and get active during the day. Of course, that means I don’t get too far away from the toilet so I didn’t walk these past two days – nor do yoga – nor swim my laps. Even more distressing is that I seem to be gaining weight (without eating a lot) and my belly seems to be distending. I guess I’ll find out more on Tuesday with the next chemo.
Yesterday I was basically a vegetable. Today I was able to rake leaves, clean the pool filter, pool deck and patio and spray for weeds. Just as I was finishing up spraying it started raining, so the spraying was probably to no avail. I’m sure the weeds appreciated the shower.
As usual, Saturday is wash day and clean house day. The washing takes the longest time but that has to do with the cycle on the machine – each load takes 58 minutes. Of course, that’s a long cry from helping Grandma Searcy boil clothes in her old wash pot. I’m sure helping her was more romantic than reality, standing over a hot fire in summer.
I cleaned at the house. I just didn’t have the energy. I changed bedding, emptied trash, dusted, vacuumed, and mopped. The bathroom needed a hefty dose of Scrubbing Bubbles. That took me until noon and then I headed to bed for a much needed nap.
I was talking to my cousin Jo yesterday and we discussed who in our family had cancer. We couldn’t think of but a single person on the Agnew side of the family and the only person I could think of on the Searcy side was my Dad. He started with prostatic cancer and that spread to his lungs and his brain. As I was cleaning house, I remembered that Uncle Ray had some form of cancer, so it looks like it is more on the Searcy side of the family.
Most people ask me what the source of my cancer was. There’s absolutely no way to tell. As an undergraduate, we dissected a lot with specimens preserved in formaldehyde. Not only that, but back in the dark ages, we used acetone a good deal in experiments. Both Mother, Dad, and Archie were smokers and I got a good dose of second hand smoke. As a graduate student, I was exposed to vastly more quantities of formalin and formaldehyde and acetone. That continued as long as I taught. It doesn’t really matter since my cancer is gone and the chemo is designed to prevent its return.
The one thing I’m glad of is never having smoked. I think I’ve probably smoked three cigarettes and three cigars in my life but never took to it. When you live with smokers your entire early life, it tends to turn you off to that.
The handouts they give you at the cancer center caution against drinking. I do like a cocktail but with the chemo, alcohol doesn’t have a pleasant taste to me. I tried a glass of sparkling wine last night and ended up emptying the glass and then the bottle.
I continue having minor nose bleeds, my fingernails and toenails, which used to need trimming weekly, now only need trimming every two weeks. The edges of the skin near my fingernails seem to be splitting and getting sore. I have a sore throat every morning when I wake but it at least goes away during the day.
One benefit is I don’t have to shave nearly as frequently as before. It’s so strange to lose coarse hair all over your body. It’s a weird feeling.
Yesterday, I put in an order for a new keyboard from Apple. My old “magic” keyboard was sticking on the letter “m.” Yesterday, the “a” key started sticking. It’s kind of hard typing a sentence and not using an “a” or “m.” I paid the extra $9 for same day delivery from the Apple store at the Galleria. Of course, the delivery took place while I was getting my injection. I called the delivery person and persuaded him to leave the package at the door (Apple wants someone there to receive the package) and he agreed.
The new keyboard also has a number pad to the right side. I used to have this on the PC at the college and I learned how to use it without having to watch my fingers. It made entering grades much easier. It’ll take a little while to get used to the new keyboard but so far, I like it.
Sunday will be grocery day. Hopefully, the diarrhea will abate and life will get back to a little more normal. Stay tuned!