Many of you have written me because I have not written a blog in quite some time. It is because I have been very sick.
I have not eaten any foods or liquids in 8 weeks. I have constant pain in my chest 24 hours per day and I am living on pain medication right now. I have been throwing up approx. 8-12 times per day. I now weight 155 lbs. I am tube feeding myself every night from 7 pm - 7 am with a pump. I get 1500 calories per night. This is keeping me going right now.
Even though this sounds bad, I feel inside like maybe I am about to "turn the corner"! I think it just had taken much much longer to heal up the ulcers in my esophagus and stomach from the radiation. I cannot wait to be able to eat food again and pick up my strength. We scheduled to see the Gastro doctor couple weeks ago, a little difficult to get into to see. I have appt. for Thursday this week. I am not even considering further cancer treatment until we get this ulcer problem under control.
We did get some good news today! We finally received a check from Toyota for $2500 matching the Don Joseph Car Dealership "Team Beckett" Program. This money will really help out since we are no longer receiving any pay checks from the City of Kent. I was officially off the books with City of Kent August 5. A huge "Thank You" to Kathy Beatty and Brock Murphy for their follow up to get these funds. They really had to jump through a lot of hoops, but got it done!
We are also expecting an offer on house today! Don't know if it will be a good acceptable offer or not but at least we are seeing some action. Please pray that this will work out and allow us to lower our money expenses!!!
Ryan finished the Kent State University Police Academy last week. He resumed classes at Kent State University for his senior year yesterday! He is currently looking for a local police job full or part time!
Please continue to pray for Heidi as she provides me with daily support and keeps my spirits up! She is amazing, don't know what I would do without her!
Tuesday, August 30, 2011
Sunday, August 14, 2011
Sunday August 14
Most of you probably guessed since I had not written on the blog for a week that I probably was not feeling too good. I can definitely say that I have felt worse the last 2 weeks than I have have before. Fortunately, the tube feeding is keeping me going and keeping me out of the hospital.
First of all, my pain is constant 24 hours per day. I actually increased my dose myself of the Oxycontin extended release. I am also taking Percocet every 4 hours around the clock. This keeps my pain to a tolerable level. It has been very difficult swallowing the pills with water as sometimes they do not want to go down. However, I have been getting by with small sipes of water.
I still am not able to eat any food or drink. It has to be at least 7 weeks now since I have eaten food. I do attempt something each day just to try to get that started again. I am tube feeding from 7 pm - 7 am everynight and getting 1500 calories this way. I need to supplement with some food soon. My current weight is 158 lbs. When I started cancer treatment on Jan 7 I weighed 196 lbs (38 lbs lost).
My energy level is the worse it has been. I have pretty much been in bed napping most of the day away. I do not like this at all, but some of that is the narcotics. Simple walks now wear me out. This will improve after I resume eating and exercising more.
Mentally, I have been a bit depressed. I just keep thinking that any day, I will be able to eat again and then get my strength back and clear up ulcers and then be able to reduce pain meds and return to a more normal lifestyle. Each day it does not happen. Fortunately, I have Heidi who cheers me up and keeps me company. I know she is probably tired of being at home all the time, but I have not felt up to going anywhere. I also have dry heaves about 6-8 times per day. This is easier at home. We also have the added stress of not having income at this point. I am no longer on the books at the City of Kent Fire Department and it will be about 60 days until i get a pension check. When we do receive the pension check it will not be enough to cover the bills, so this drains the savings accounts. Hopefully, we will be able to sell the house in timely manner and stop draining the savings. We had serious lookers at the house this week (2nd showing) but they must have purchased another house they were considering. We did not get any more feedback.
Please pray for Heidi to keep her strength, positive attitude and her health! Please pray specifically for me to be able to eat food, eliminate ulcers and reduce pain levels. Yesterday, in the mail I received a prayer cloth from a church in Florida. A group there have been praying for me and sent a prayer cloth! What a priviledge to be one of God's children!
First of all, my pain is constant 24 hours per day. I actually increased my dose myself of the Oxycontin extended release. I am also taking Percocet every 4 hours around the clock. This keeps my pain to a tolerable level. It has been very difficult swallowing the pills with water as sometimes they do not want to go down. However, I have been getting by with small sipes of water.
I still am not able to eat any food or drink. It has to be at least 7 weeks now since I have eaten food. I do attempt something each day just to try to get that started again. I am tube feeding from 7 pm - 7 am everynight and getting 1500 calories this way. I need to supplement with some food soon. My current weight is 158 lbs. When I started cancer treatment on Jan 7 I weighed 196 lbs (38 lbs lost).
My energy level is the worse it has been. I have pretty much been in bed napping most of the day away. I do not like this at all, but some of that is the narcotics. Simple walks now wear me out. This will improve after I resume eating and exercising more.
Mentally, I have been a bit depressed. I just keep thinking that any day, I will be able to eat again and then get my strength back and clear up ulcers and then be able to reduce pain meds and return to a more normal lifestyle. Each day it does not happen. Fortunately, I have Heidi who cheers me up and keeps me company. I know she is probably tired of being at home all the time, but I have not felt up to going anywhere. I also have dry heaves about 6-8 times per day. This is easier at home. We also have the added stress of not having income at this point. I am no longer on the books at the City of Kent Fire Department and it will be about 60 days until i get a pension check. When we do receive the pension check it will not be enough to cover the bills, so this drains the savings accounts. Hopefully, we will be able to sell the house in timely manner and stop draining the savings. We had serious lookers at the house this week (2nd showing) but they must have purchased another house they were considering. We did not get any more feedback.
Please pray for Heidi to keep her strength, positive attitude and her health! Please pray specifically for me to be able to eat food, eliminate ulcers and reduce pain levels. Yesterday, in the mail I received a prayer cloth from a church in Florida. A group there have been praying for me and sent a prayer cloth! What a priviledge to be one of God's children!
Sunday, August 7, 2011
Sunday August 7
I have been home from the hospital one week today after surgery for my feeding tube. I can't say I made much progress this week. I am feeding through the tube every night from 7 p - 7a. I get 1500 calories a night with 1250 liters of fluid. I call it my baby formula. I still have a very sensitive esophagus and vomit about 6 times per day usually when I first wake up or when I am swallowing pills with water. I am still not able to eat any food or drink any liquids. I was told it would take 2-3 weeks before this would take place. Most of the pain in my abdomen is gone from the surgery, however the pain in my chest from esophagus is actually worse. I am using Oxycontin every 12 hours and taking Percocet for break through pain and most days I am using about 5-6 of the Percocet. I was hoping to be off of these by now. I have not gained any weight but I did stop losing weight. I now weigh 161 lbs. I have began any chemotherapy treatments yet. I am would like to be able to take some food by mouth first. I did get the staples out of my abdomen on Thursday and site looks pretty good.
We have had a few people look at our house. One couple may be coming back for second look this week. We are keeping our fingers crossed.
This past Friday was my official last day with the Kent Fire Department. Very sad day for me. I loved that job and all those people!
We have had a few people look at our house. One couple may be coming back for second look this week. We are keeping our fingers crossed.
This past Friday was my official last day with the Kent Fire Department. Very sad day for me. I loved that job and all those people!
Monday, August 1, 2011
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