Note from Erin: I'm going back and posting from Dad's original emails, so you can catch up. The actual first date of this blog was in January 2015.
Guy Version
No Treatment on April 4th. White blood count (WBC) was too low and they want me to wait until next Friday. So I get a bonus week of feeling pretty decent. And more ice cream as the sensitivity to cold is not so bad.
The challenge this cycle was swollen and cracking hands (bright red) on Sunday and Monday after chemo. Also discovered that my anti-nausea medication had extreme sedating properties. So switching to another one.
I have been putting stuff on Ebay to sell. The big pleasant surprise was a 9 “ wooden level that would have brought a buck at a garage sale . I listed it for $30 and sold it for $222 since it had the name of a lightning rod company on it.
Joyce and I were talking. Chemo has not been fun, but it is not as bad as we feared.
Gal Version
We were surprised when we went down for a chemo treatment on Friday that I didn't end up getting one. They checked my WBC determined that I should wait. I am waiting until next Friday to keep it on a Friday schedule. (Could have gone in Tuesday, but then would have to have chemo on every other Tuesday, which would be a real hassle for our schedule.
I have learned that I can not predict what will happen immediately after chemo. the challenge this time was severe redness and swelling on both hands. I had mirror image patterns of redness and swelling on each hand. No specific treatment other than using lots of bag balm and wearing gloves. The knuckle areas got rough and have split open. I have found out that “Bag Balm” helps with cracks and roughness.
Mouth sores have been minimal this time as I know better how to treat it, and also I got a prescription of “Magic Mouthwash” that had to be compounded at the pharmacy. It has a numbing agent in it, so swish and then swallow. But haven't used it that much.
I tried to eat an ice cream cone earlier in the week, and that was extremely painful. But I slowly ate it anyway!
The Tuesday after chemo I had some nausea and took one of the pills. I was so sleepy that I fell asleep when some friends stopped by the office to say hello. Discovered that I am highly sensitive to that drug, and another drug I have been on for a long time may make it over five times more potent. So no more of that stuff.
Have really felt pretty good since last Wednesday or Thursday. I have been to the office every day.
Now I have a bonus of a nice week with few side effects. The main lasting issue is the fingers being sensitive to cold, but not as bad as right after treatment. Items in the refrigerator are still somewhat painful to the touch.
Freezer is very painful. So can touch things that are 50 degrees or warmer. Right after chemo anything below 80 degrees is painful to the touch. Fortunately the mouth is much less sensitive and I can tolerate cold drinks at this point.
Putting things on Ebay to sell has been fun and as my sister Becky says, “It's as addicting as gambling except you get money instead of losing money.” It has been a nice distraction from the chemo treatments.
It has been an amazing couple of months regarding Ebay.. I've sold about $500 each month. There have been some months that I have sold only a few dollars worth. Dad was in the Lightning Rod business. I've collected and picked up a few things through the years. I sold an old broken lightning rod point for $500. It was apparently homemade and no other collector had one. Photos of the $222 level are attached. People are crazy to pay that much!!
Thanks to so many of you for your thoughts, cards, prayers, and concerns.
John E. Swank
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