Update 2-26-11

Hi Everyone,

Lots of good news this week! On Tuesday, I was able to drink some water without choking. Boy did that taste and feel good. Now that I can consume some of my own water , the doctor has me coming back every other day for IV fluids. I added a few things to my food intake. The soft boiled eggs were getting boring so they are now called omelets. Pureed mushrooms and shredded cheddar are added to the soft boiled eggs and viola, you have a Randy omelet. Pureed  Mac and cheese is enjoyable again..

As you can see from the above, the swelling in my throat is slowly improving. I can see and feel that the redness in my throat in going down. The spitting is not as often so sleeping is easier and for longer periods. Wow Captain and diet seem to be in the near future. Oh that was just  one of those sleep periods --- just a dream!

The bottom line is that I'm on the upswing and loving it!

I would like to thank Ellen Deugs for putting in a new Med Lock last Saturday. The one from the hospital went bad. She was a good as Patty and hit the vein on the first try. This again saved me from going to the emergency room.

Thanks for all the love, support, prayers and emails

Randy

Update 2-19-11

Hello All

It seems that spring is near and these changes are affecting me also. It's nice to bring you all some positive news. I am still eating 6 soft eggs a day but  I have found something I can drink. No, it's not Captain Mo. I was able to eat small  amounts of vanilla pudding so I decided to dilute the pudding with water . Worked like a charm!  One cup of water to 1/4 cup of pudding and now I can drink water. Not too quickly but I am able to do 3 of these a day. Yesterday I was able to drink pureed peas and water. Think of it as pea soup. Still searching for smooth, soft things that don't burn. So far they are eggs, peas and pudding.

I have been back to the hospital each day this week for IV fluids because those few cups of water in my pudding are not enough to keep me hydrated. A special shout out goes to Patty, Weasle's sister, for going above and beyond last Saturday. My Med Lock malfunctioned and wouldn't work so I would not be able to get any fluids. Patty got some new supplies, removed the old one, and was able to stick my vein on the first try. This was a huge accomplishment, in that the phlebotomists at U of MD hospital take 2 to 3 tries to hit my dehydrated veins. Hon, she's a real pro!

This whole process of healing after the radiation has been difficult for me.  It is a full time job trying to minimize the pain in my throat using narcotic lollypops, numbing gargles and just to trying to get food and liquids down.  By the time I get through this, I'm exhausted, sleep, and wake up just to start the whole process again!  The good news is that I know this will get better in time. As a matter of fact , I feel I have less pain in my throat today than yesterday.

So please keep up the positive vibes, prayers and comments.

Love and Hugs.

Randy

Radiation

Randy is being set up for radiation. His head is bolted to the table with a mask so it is in the same position each time.

Randy update 2-12-11

Hi Everybody,

 

As you know, I finished my treatments on Tuesday.  Logically, you assume that I will slowly start to get better.  Unfortunately, that has not been the case.  Beginning on Super Bowl Sunday, I lost my ability to swallow anything!  That has been the case for most of this week.  Weasle has been taking me down to University of Maryland Hospital each morning to get an IV infusion of fluids to keep me hydrated.  The doctor has been monitoring me hoping that the inflammation will subside enough to allow me to avoid getting a tube down my nose to feed me.  I have been trying to swallow anything. On Thursday I was able to drink a pureed soft boiled egg and Thursday evening I did 2 eggs. Wow I thought the doctor was right, that by Friday the swelling would start receding. Things went downhill fast.On Friday I was only able to do 1/2 cup of cream of mushroom soup and in the evening 1/2 cup pureed mashed potatoes with cheese. I wasn't happy with the progress. I was going the wrong way. This morning surprised me. I mixed a carnation instant shake with ice cream. The whole shake was finished with a little work. I wanted to keep going so I boiled up 2 soft eggs and as usual, pureed them. I also was able to work them down. This has made me very happy! What to eat next?

 

Love and hugs to all

 

Randy

Update 2-8-11

Hi All

I just got back from graduating from radiation!!!!! Yeah, no more chemo or radiation. A quick update on what is happening. My esophagus has swollen to the point that I am unable to swallow anything. Since Sunday I have not had any food or liquids. On Monday the doctor gave me through an IV of 2 bags of fluids. Today was only one bag. The doctor does not want to put in a feeding tube at this point. He feels that since the radiation ends today, the swelling should start subsiding by Friday. At that point, I should be able to begin taking in some nutrition by mouth. In the meantime I will be back each day for a bag or two of fluids.

Love to all

Randy

Graduation Day

Princess Jill and King Jack at my pre-IV party

Randy update 2-5-11

Lets start with some good news.  Two days of radiation treatments left!!  That's 4 sessions or 24 times the radiation beam will come on. NO more chemo. I have lost about 15 pounds. This is not an easy way to do it. My swallowing is very limited due to swelling of the esophagus, sores and pain. I take teaspoon size bits of very smooth food. I hope the following isn't too much information but people are asking for details. My breakfast meals for the last week and a half have been 3 soft boiled eggs, a milkshake containing 2 scoops vanilla ice cream, 1 cup of milk and a packet of Carnation instant breakfast. Lunch is creamy yogurt and dinner is a repeat of breakfast.Water is too thin for me to drink. Water goes down the wrong pipe and I aspirate it. I am trying to drink pear and peach nectar, as these have a thicker consistency, but they burn. A catch 22, drink and be in pain or don't drink and dehydrate. I am choosing a little of each. Fatigue is constant, so all I want to do is sleep. Can't sleep longer than an hour because of mucous that builds up that I can't swallow. I wake up choking, spit and try to get back to sleep. On a positive note: This go round with chemo and radiation is much easier than 5 1/2 years ago.

 

On Friday Weasle and I met with Dr Zimrin, chemo, and she said I was scheduled for 1 more chemo session. WHAT, I know how to count to 5 and I had my 5. Weasle was going to get her wish, extra chemo, because I was handling everything so well. Dr Zimrin thought I had 3 days left next week but I only have 2 days left. The 2 days were because I started on a Tuesday and MLK Day pushed a day out. The doctor saw the light and gave me a reprieve. WOW that was a close call.

Lots of love and hugs

 

Randy

Christmas Photo

Randy and his supporters after loosing a beer pong bet on Christmas 2010. 

Scott, Randy, Michael and Kenny