28 January 2010

 

Searching for the plunger at 1 a.m.

I had another CT scan today, to see whether my current chemotherapy is doing any good to slow or reverse or do something to the ever-expanding tumours in my chest. I'll find out the results, and what that means for my chemo regimen, next week.

In the meantime, following my most recent chemo treatment last weekend, the side effects continue. A relatively new one is that if I haven't eaten for an hour or two, the first thing I pop in my mouth causes the salivary glands on either side of the back of my tongue to ache as they kick in. I can almost feel them pumping. It's not really painful, just bizarre.

And there is the endless fun with my digestive system. Last night I was in the bathroom for nearly an hour, then, when I thought I was done and was brushing my teeth to prepare for bed, suddenly my GI tract decided things needed to clear out from the other end as well, and I puked into the sink.

Next, to top it off, the sink clogged. I stared at it in disbelief for a moment, then searched our closets for the plunger at 1:00 a.m.—and I'm sure glad it worked once I found it. Very pleasant, I must say, especially in my chemo-nauseated state.

I didn't sign up for this. But at least I'm alive to complain about it, and I have a wonderful sleepy wife and puppy to keep me warm once I do get into bed tonight. They should help me sleep very, very well.

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Comments:

Fucking hell, Derek. I honesty wish there was something I could do to carry some of this burden for you. I've been sick, but never that sick.

I don't know how else to say this: what you are going through makes me recognize the value in each day.
 
What Alistair said.

Thanks for the update, even though I am sure it wasn't even very fun to write it down for us. I check in regularly to see how you are doing - you are in many of our thoughts on a daily basis.

Ed Arabas
(can't remember my google password!)
 
I will be praying for you on the results of the scan. At least if you are going through this hell, let the stuff work!!!