My platelets needed to be at least 75 for me to be readmitted yesterday. They were 75. On the nose. Hmmm... do you find that to be ironic, like I do? To have not had any delays over the past 6 months is nothing short of a miracle. I spoke with my pal who is on the same chemo as I am, and he has had a 30-day (and counting) delay in getting from round 3 to round 4. Sheesh. I am SOOOOOOOO fortunate in this.
We have crossed Rituxan off the list and will cross Methotrexate (Lizard Spit) off the list tonight around 12:30am. Then, just one more to go. Best case scenario, we will make it out of here by the weekend and then start our journey into what I hope to be the last nadir. That last "please, please don't come near me" dip.
I was told by the docs that it will probably take 12 months to regain my strength. I hope to prove them wrong. Not sure how or why I think that way, but I just don't want to be exhausted for another year... or miss softball this summer!
The hospital food is spent. I can't even be near it anymore. Those brown plastic lids they use to cover the foods just don't sit well with me. Get that tray outta here, please! Fortunately, Candace went to the organic grocery down the street today and brought me some great spoils: an avocado, sprout and swiss sandwich, some fresh fruit, and some other tasty treats.
The weird thing about chemo that I did not anticipate is the change in appetite. Between losing taste buds and the high-dose steroid, I now crave foods that would've NEVER touched my lips. I am speaking of Twix bars, cheese pizza (Papa John's or Domino's deep dish), Ruffles potato chips, and even cravings of meat! (I haven't eaten meat since Feb 1996!) I'm just rolling with the urges (save the meat part... for now). I am O+ blood type, which I think needs to be a carnivore to get all proper nutrients. So, as my boss says, maybe this chemo will "cure me of my vegetarian thing".
I am hoping for Indian food for dinner tonight... I need to call that in.
Our Brand Is Crisis (2015)
9 years ago
11 comments:
just tell me when, Stu. I'll bring the steak.
I will share the first OK Cafe hamburger with you.
It's me, not you...I must be on your account - ha!
Candace
From one o+ to another, fire up the grill!!
Glad to be introduced to your blog, Stuart. It will take me some time to read through it, but I'll give your past few posts a look soon.
My doctor told me it would take 9-12 months to recover my strength and stamina, too. And I also worked hard to beat that time frame. My chemo ended in December of 2008 and I was extremely weak and puny. But (despite not being a runner previously) I hit the gym and was able to run a 5K earlier this month! Hope that is of some encouragement to you as you recover!
Looking forward to reading more....
Stuart,
Last Round -- Congratulations!
I was in today to start round 4 (IT Methotrexate, Vincristine, and the one that starts with an "A" that damages your heart -- I'm not even going to try to spell right now). My Neuts are still low, but we decided to press on anyway, everything else looks well and we're all getting tired of playing the waiting game.
I can relate to the cravings. As a rather healthy eater in the past, I now find myself becoming a gluten for many junk foods I would have turned my nose up to in the past. I told my body early in this that if it told me what it needed, I would give it to it to do its work -- I had no idea how many Sunchips, Cookies, and Cans of soda it would need (I hadn't drank more than about 3 cans of soda in three years before chemo, now I have one every other day or so...)
In the last two months I've now put on over 20 pounds -- which is good, because I needed it. Today I'm back on steroids, however, and am a bit afraid of what will happen when my insatiable steroid appetite returns. I'll have to walk and bike like there's no tomorrow.
They're giving me Dex in a solution form so that I won't have to take 10 pills twice a day. The stuff is 30 percent alcohol, and tastes like vodka, which is actually a vast improvement from many of the other drugs.
Allright, from one steroid user to another, I'll leave you with some verbal food porn:
Fish Tacos at the Cabana room:
Two small, narrow fillets of Fried tilapia breaded with a tasty seasoning I haven't quite figured out yet, served on light corn tortillas, covered with a small drizzle of chipoltle sour cream and a hefty amount of Pica de gallo salsa. Served with a side of your choice -- I usually go with the black beans and rice.
Usually I'm more of a grilled or blackened fish guy, but there's something special about these tacos -- they're about as addicting as heroine. I usually put down about four of them when I down a bowl of chips with salsa and the black beans and rice.
Any Friday you find yourself North of the Mason-Dixon line we'll have to meet up to down some...
Take care, Buddy,
Sam
Glad to know the junk food cravings wasn't just me! Keeping you lifted up!
I don't know Stu- I've always admired you as a vegetarian. I think it says a lot about your self-control. However, I agree with your friend- you may want to give your body a reward for whatever cravings you have after this round. I hope to enjoy a nice meal with you soon.
*You've also given me a new perspective for my softball tournament this weekend- I'm on a team with Jim Detamore, Keith Donley, Asif Aleem and Anthony Flynn. I thank God for the chance to play.
"cure of your vegetarian thing" Ha ha...I like it! well i told you i had a dream about making you a meat lasagne and I was freaking out cuz you hadn't had mean in years and i wanted it to be the best meat lasagne ever otherwise you might go back to being a vegetarian! Oh boy...talk about pressure :)
Weird.
I was just telling my family about my weird cravings. I also cannot stand the brown top meals. It makes me want to yack just thinking about it!!!
I'm on Round 7 of 9. I don't know for sure what's next, but allogeneic stem cell transplant seems to be in my future, though I'm praying furiously to avoid that. I have a feeling that I may spend my 33rd with this like you spent your 32nd.
May the Lord be with you, Stuart! From one Emory Burkitt's patient to another: I'm praying that Round 8 goes spectactularly well, you have no need to EVER worry about this mess again, and you get your strength back in considerably less time than the doctors are saying. Hope the folks on 8E (if you're up there now) are treating you right! ;)
Your friend in Christ,
Richard
blackw68(at)gmail(dot)com
I loved the movies of the baby doves...how precious that you named them! I didn't know they only stayed in the nest a couple of weeks. Hope you both are doing well; I think of you often.
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