Things are looking up.

When you measure the quality of life by the number of times you’ve retched or thrown up during the day, you have no where to go but up.

Things are looking up.

The stomach is acting up less, I have more energy, my brain is less fuzzy, and I am feeling better overall.

I am off the anti-nausea medication that made my brain so fuzzy, which is a huge relief.  I am taking probiotics, which are capsules full of live microorganisms (itty bitty bugs) that help with digestion.  I am also taking digestive enzymes.

We are continuing our quest to eliminate my need for TPN feeding.  We had already reduced my TPN calorie intake from 2000 calories to 1500.  This week we are reducing it to 1000.  The next steps are to reduce it to 500 then to none.

Hooray!

In preparation for this I have been eating as much as I can hold, which has been a challenge.  But I’ve gained about ten pounds so I have a head start on the TPN reduction.

Of course, getting off TPN means I can also have the useless feeding tube removed.  This will be a huge relief as well as significantly reducing the hassle in our life.

It’s been three weeks since I completed chemo.  They say it takes about two months to heal from the therapy, though it may take up to a year before I feel vibrant.  Actually, I wasn’t too vibrant before so I’m looking forward to what that might feel like.

In another four weeks my hair should start growing back.  I never completely lost my hair with this round of chemo, though my scalp is visible from about any angle.  I’m looking forward to being hairy again.

So that’s the latest.  I’m feeling better, but there’s still a ways to go.

Thanks to all of you for hanging in there with us and offering your support.  You have no idea how important that has been to us.  It is what has gotten us through this.

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5 Responses to Things are looking up.

  1. Linda H says:

    Good! Good! Good! All your new equipment just needs breaking in, right? We are so glad to hear that things are getting better, than foreign attachments may soon be removed, and that you’ve gained weight. All good news. Thanks for posting. It helps your distant friends know how things are going, and now they seem to be going better!

  2. Louise Rancourt says:

    Gary I just can’t tell you how pleased we are to continue to hear GREAT news!!! I am also so in awe of what tools (or stomachs!) are available with modern medicine! It really seems like your doctors have been top-notch.

    Now when you go to the mall it should be nicer weather and you have my permission to dispense with the scarf! I want a photo!!!

    You have been through so much and we hope to get out your way when hubby retires in early 2012.

    Here’s to removal of the feeding tube and nothing but good things from now on!!!

    L & D

  3. Judy says:

    Wonderful news!

  4. Hugo H. says:

    That’s great news, Gary!

  5. Gary says:

    Everyone seems to be more excited by my recovery than I am. I have a hard time keeping my perspective because the recovery is so slow. I have to look at the week before and realize things are a tiny bit better. They are better, for sure, but I’m sure eager for life to return to normal.
    .
    Thanks to everyone for reminding me things are on an upward trend.

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