I thought I'd start a new thread for updates on my cancer treatments and whatever else is going on, since the bad news thread title is misleading now.
My last treatment went better than the previous two and my chest wound is still closed up, which is a good thing. My arm is getting slightly stronger and I hope to resume lifting dumbbells next week. I need to build up my strength again, because I am going back to Denmark in May and I am extremely pumped about that! I'd like to be able to schlepp my own checked bag and not have someone else lifting it for me.
It's going to be a fabulous trip, 6 weeks and a couple of days for me. My brother is going along as well as my friends Chipp and Rod. Chipp is staying close to 3 weeks and has not gone with me over there since 2006 so he is also very pumped to be going. It will be Rod's first trip and he will be there for 2 weeks. I will get to be a tour guide. Also, I am throwing a party in my favorite pub of all, the wonderful, ever-magnificent Irish House in Aalborg on May 7th. The owner and I are friends and he will give me a little discount. We'll have Irish stew and brews in the cellar and I hope to have around 25 family and friends there. I might bill it as the "Fu** Cancer Party." A few months back, I was not sure I'd ever be able to go over to Denmark again or if I'd even be alive, but the cancer hasn't gotten me yet. I'm doing a number on it, instead.
Some other cool things I plan to do when I am back in my ancestral lands include a wine tasting in a castle, touring another castle and the northernmost manor home in the country, and visiting Skagen, the top of Denmark, where you can stand on a little patch of beach and have one foot in one sea and one in another. They also have a brewpub up there I am wanting to check out. I will start and end my trip in Aalborg and spend 5 weeks in an apartment I rent that is very close to the beach. I can hardly wait for May 4th to roll around! [Reply]
I've hit a snag with my treatment. It was supposed to actually begin today, Tuesday, but yesterday, my blood test revealed an extremely high bilirubin count, which usually means a blockage in the liver or gall bladder. After I got home Monday, I took a pain pill and within 15 seconds, violently threw up several times. It was bad enough that I was gasping for breath and holding onto the sink to keep from going to the floor. The nurse called me a bit after that and said they had me scheduled for an ultrasound at 4:30 pm. That went strangely. The tech couldn't find my gall bladder so she really started pushing down hard on my abdomen, which hurt like hell and is a major reason why I am awake at 3 am writing this.
She eventually found it, hiding away and contracted. I asked if that was good or bad. She said it was good, looks fine, and is just trying to make room for my swollen lymph nodes and all. At least one of my organs isn't trying to kill me. So, with no blockage, the mystery remains, why do I have the bad numbers and why am I throwing up so much? My treatment has been suspended and I don't know for how long. I can't eat much anymore and my weight is rapidly dropping, which for cancer patients, is not a good thing. I am down to 193 lbs. and was at 220 lbs. near the end of November last year. [Reply]
Originally Posted by Lonewolf Ed:
I've hit a snag with my treatment. It was supposed to actually begin today, Tuesday, but yesterday, my blood test revealed an extremely high bilirubin count, which usually means a blockage in the liver or gall bladder. After I got home Monday, I took a pain pill and within 15 seconds, violently threw up several times. It was bad enough that I was gasping for breath and holding onto the sink to keep from going to the floor. The nurse called me a bit after that and said they had me scheduled for an ultrasound at 4:30 pm. That went strangely. The tech couldn't find my gall bladder so she really started pushing down hard on my abdomen, which hurt like hell and is a major reason why I am awake at 3 am writing this.
She eventually found it, hiding away and contracted. I asked if that was good or bad. She said it was good, looks fine, and is just trying to make room for my swollen lymph nodes and all. At least one of my organs isn't trying to kill me. So, with no blockage, the mystery remains, why do I have the bad numbers and why am I throwing up so much? My treatment has been suspended and I don't know for how long. I can't eat much anymore and my weight is rapidly dropping, which for cancer patients, is not a good thing. I am down to 193 lbs. and was at 220 lbs. near the end of November last year.
Originally Posted by rabblerouser:
Ed, my friend, I hate to read this.
Have you considered medicinal cannabis?
The appeal is growing. As for my throwing up, I have a feeling it's the morphine, so my body doesn't like anything ending with "codone" or morphine. It's just a tiny little pill, 2 mg of the stuff, but it sure can make me feel like I could turn my guts inside out. [Reply]
Originally Posted by Lonewolf Ed:
The appeal is growing. As for my throwing up, I have a feeling it's the morphine, so my body doesn't like anything ending with "codone" or morphine. It's just a tiny little pill, 2 mg of the stuff, but it sure can make me feel like I could turn my guts inside out.
Yeah, man it's time to seek other methods for pain. You're way too sensitive to narcotics. See my earlier post about alternatives. There has to be something.
Weed might do the trick. Plenty of guys on here might be able to help you out there. [Reply]
Originally Posted by Lonewolf Ed:
I've hit a snag with my treatment. It was supposed to actually begin today, Tuesday, but yesterday, my blood test revealed an extremely high bilirubin count, which usually means a blockage in the liver or gall bladder. After I got home Monday, I took a pain pill and within 15 seconds, violently threw up several times. It was bad enough that I was gasping for breath and holding onto the sink to keep from going to the floor. The nurse called me a bit after that and said they had me scheduled for an ultrasound at 4:30 pm. That went strangely. The tech couldn't find my gall bladder so she really started pushing down hard on my abdomen, which hurt like hell and is a major reason why I am awake at 3 am writing this.
She eventually found it, hiding away and contracted. I asked if that was good or bad. She said it was good, looks fine, and is just trying to make room for my swollen lymph nodes and all. At least one of my organs isn't trying to kill me. So, with no blockage, the mystery remains, why do I have the bad numbers and why am I throwing up so much? My treatment has been suspended and I don't know for how long. I can't eat much anymore and my weight is rapidly dropping, which for cancer patients, is not a good thing. I am down to 193 lbs. and was at 220 lbs. near the end of November last year.
There are numerous anti-emetics you can try. Give your specialist a call. [Reply]
I am disheartened to hear your latest information. I would definitely suggest the medical cannabis for nausea. You need relief. My prayers will intensify for you today. [Reply]
Originally Posted by Gonzo:
Yeah, man it's time to seek other methods for pain. You're way too sensitive to narcotics. See my earlier post about alternatives. There has to be something.
Weed might do the trick. Plenty of guys on here might be able to help you out there.
Ed, as always, you continue to amaze and inspire me with your fortitude and faith.
As it pertains to Gonzo's post above, my old man takes trips to Colorado just about every other month. He purchases a vast variety of cannabis edibles as he can no longer smoke due to mild emphysema.
If you would like, I can ask him if he would be willing to meet up with you and make arrangements to bring some products back for you on his next trip.
My brother lives in Colorado, so should I need some alternative meds, he can help me out there. Thanks, though!
In other news, I took a strong anti-nausea med last night and half an hour later, timidly ate an apple. It stayed down. That was at 9 pm. At 3 am, I was in need of another pain pill and I had a small bowl of Cheerios with it, and that stayed down. For breakfast today, I had two boiled eggs, yogurt, orange juice, and a Boost. It's still with me. I am sleepy, but feel almost good. My brother said I look much better today and not like I was about to fall over at any moment like I looked the past two days. [Reply]