There are still numerous side and after effects from the disease and the radiation and chemotherapy that I received last spring. Oh, I have been free of disease since August, so that’s a good thing!! But, let me list the goodies. . .
- I’ve lost some weight. I could still afford to lose some more, but it’s a start.
- I am very sensitive to cold. I’m not sure how much longer that will last, but I’m fortunate to live where I do.
- I get tired easily. I’ve been told both by my doctors and in my support groups that this will last a year or two after treatment ends. Since my treatment ended in May 2014, I still have a few more months to make the one year mark.
- I suffered some nerve damage and now have neuropathy, or occasional tingling in my hands and feet. This will probably be with me the rest of my life.
- My throat is still swollen and filled with mucous. As a result, my voice is somewhat ‘muddled’.
- Also, I still have the feeding tube in place though I haven't used it for a month and a half. I'm still limited as to what I can eat, and am restricted to pureed foods and thickened liquids.
- I have lymphedema in my neck. The cancer also affected some of my lymph nodes and others were fried by radiation. As I result, the lymphatic fluid in my neck pools instead of draining as it’s supposed to. So, I have to have my neck massaged daily and taped with kinesiology tape to keep the passages somewhat open and the fluids flowing. My wife Elaine has learned to do the massage and taping, so my frequent visits to an occupational therapist are a thing of the past. The lymphedema will be with me to some extent for the rest of my life. I may not have to tape up that long, but we shall see what we shall see.
- Finally, the chemo drug I received, cisplatin, has a known side effect of hearing loss in 10 – 30% of cases. I was one of the ones that scored on this one. The hearing in my left ear is significantly degraded and the hearing loss in my right ear is total. I now wear a system of bi-cross hearing aids that wirelessly routes sound from my right side to the hearing aid on my left ear.
So, that’s the way it is. Every day we wake up on the green side of the grass is a great day!!!
I read your words of wisdom in your previous post. You must be referring to disability of all kinds. My mother calls us "independently different ". I've had a lifetime to learn, accept and ultimately appreciate profound yet simple down to earth comments like that. You've only had a short time and already you're an amazing example. All of us, including caregivers, are not heroes ( we just muddle through) but we're hopers who pass it along. Keep on truckin'.Big congrats re work!!! I have come to treasure you and your positive outlook. Thank you for being you. Blessings to you and Elaine. Can't wait to see your funky tape!Your trademark like my crutches.
ReplyDeleteThank you so much for sharing!!! I feel the same way that we're not heroes, but just poor saps who managed to wind up with some vile disease or condition that we'd really rather not have. But, yes, we have hope!!!! And we hope to see you soon as I'm getting out more!!
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