My favorite thing about writing is that you can always turn the page, and start a new with a blank slate…
So here is what you guys have missed: so far I’m in the middle of my 5th week of radiation – that is 9 more sessions to go. Way over ½ way hump – can you tell I’m counting?
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| the destination M-F |
The first 3 1/2 wks minus the occasional headaches were a walk in the park, but these last few do have started to wear me off. Yes my hair is thinning, yes I get bit disoriented and tired but what I hate the most is the morning sickness (I get them morning, afternoon, and evenings). I honestly couldn’t understand what heck ear and head radiation had to do with the stomach – apparently this is an uncommon side effect – but the doctor explained that radiation in the ear nerves causes motion sickness which is causing the nauseas…Lucky for me I have pregnant friends that have been cool at advising what works with those. Prego props (giving to me by one of them) are such a life saver! They are these little citric candies/ lollipops designed for pregnant ladies, and I literally eat them like a kid eats sweets in Halloween. Is the only thing that seems to work for me They are way more efficient that the meds the doctors gave me and without the side effect of leaving all drowsy & clumpsy.
By now, I’m on first name basis with pretty much everyone in the Radio-oncology and ENT departments…Not shabby for being in a large hospital, but I guess that is the perk of being a frequent flyer like me. Charlie and Shirley are my technicians for radiation, and they are a riot, sweet caring and flexible when I have needed to switch my appointment. I joked with them that I always get a Snow-White feeling when they removed the screwed-in mask at the end of treatment, lower me for my claustrophobic chamber and I can breathe again...
My favorite fellow patient (the one in the bickering couple) finished his treatments two weeks ago, so the radiation lobby is a bit quieter and boring now. I miss their infusing optimistic spirit.
Other than that things are good. I have a new roommate (my mom) who came back to help thru radiation…although at this point I can’t stomach eating any of her yummy Nica foods…My tastes buds have gone awry, fruits & juices is all I crave. My face has not change color, so there went my plan of being a burned person for Halloween…And lately I’ve being having to do a lot math/algebra problems with my students (I hope that might help counteract all the frontal lobe radiation I’m getting). Oooh, oh and a good day when I wasn’t dizzy I even made it back to the dance studio …for a bit ambitious choreography class. That was fun...I need more of those.
Thank you so much for those that have stopped by with soup (Angela that was simply delish!!) chauffered me around when needed, or just showed support– honestly it helps a bunch….
Now I have to go back again to the big blue (that is what I called the big machine where I get the radiation treatment) so then it will be only 8 more sessions to go ;-)
