I figure I better write this quickly, while I’m in a good mood. I’m really on a roller-coaster these days. :-)
My recovery this time has been slower than 1) it was from the last surgery, and 2) I’d like! Still, as the doctor said, after having been beat up by an operation to remove half my colon, months of chemo, and then an operation to remove half my liver, it’s to be expected. The first couple of nights after coming home from the hospital I had nights full of nightmares and considerable disorientation. That eventually cleared, but it left me in a bit of a funk. I’ve just had very little energy, ambition, or appetite. I had a follow-up visit this Wednesday, and the doctor noted that my hemoglobin was low, so he’s put me on some iron pills. Hopefully that will help.
I’ve been very slowly getting back to work. Yes, I know, many people tell me to “take more time off”, but 1) I ENJOY my work, and 2) I gotta pay the bills!
Anyway, I am now looking forward to what God has in store me for 2014!
Thank-you so much for your thoughts and prayers.
Brad.
Friday, January 31, 2014
Tuesday, January 21, 2014
No visible cancer
Hi. As of this moment, there is no visible cancer in my system. That is not to say there is no cancer, nor that I’m cured, nor that it won’t return but the surgeon got all he could see, and is quite optimistic about the results. He and the oncologist now need to decide whether or not I will need more chemo treatments, in order to deal with any microscopic cancer and/or reduce the odds of recurrence.
The surgery itself, this time, was night and day from the last. The last one was excruciatingly painful when I woke up, and the pain didn’t subside for several days. This time I kept wondering when the pain would show up, and it never really has, at least nothing like last time. One big difference may have been the doctor-recommended epidural for pain management. Given what the pain was like even after the epidural was removed, that can’t have been the only difference.
There have been no signs of infection or of liver failure. The only minor glitch is that due to not eating for several days, my electrolytes are out of balance, and I’m now sitting in the hospital, eating bananas, and waiting for the potassium to rise. They’re now testing me approximately every four hours, and a soon as the level is high enough I’ll be leaving.
Brad.
The surgery itself, this time, was night and day from the last. The last one was excruciatingly painful when I woke up, and the pain didn’t subside for several days. This time I kept wondering when the pain would show up, and it never really has, at least nothing like last time. One big difference may have been the doctor-recommended epidural for pain management. Given what the pain was like even after the epidural was removed, that can’t have been the only difference.
There have been no signs of infection or of liver failure. The only minor glitch is that due to not eating for several days, my electrolytes are out of balance, and I’m now sitting in the hospital, eating bananas, and waiting for the potassium to rise. They’re now testing me approximately every four hours, and a soon as the level is high enough I’ll be leaving.
Brad.
Thursday, January 09, 2014
And so it begins again...
Yes, we had a wonderful, chemo-free Christmas here in Calgary (all of my family from Manitoba were here!), followed by an out-of-town hockey tournament. I wasn’t feeling as energetic as I’d hoped during that time (did a lot of sleeping, especially at the tournament), but I am certainly noticing some improvement this week. And just as I’m noticing the difference....
Yesterday I had my pre-admission for my surgery on Monday (the 13th). Everything appears to be a go. I’ve been told to expect to spend at least seven days in the hospital, and another six to eight weeks recovering. Presumably I’ll be facing more chemo after that, and/or maybe even another surgery, but none of that has been set yet. We’ll wait and see how the surgery turns out. At this point I have no idea when I’ll be working again, whether I’ll feel like doing some in the hospital, or whether I won’t be able to until well after leaving the hospital. It’s all in God’s capable hands! :-)
Brad.
Yesterday I had my pre-admission for my surgery on Monday (the 13th). Everything appears to be a go. I’ve been told to expect to spend at least seven days in the hospital, and another six to eight weeks recovering. Presumably I’ll be facing more chemo after that, and/or maybe even another surgery, but none of that has been set yet. We’ll wait and see how the surgery turns out. At this point I have no idea when I’ll be working again, whether I’ll feel like doing some in the hospital, or whether I won’t be able to until well after leaving the hospital. It’s all in God’s capable hands! :-)
Brad.
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