The second change is from the radiation. Eating or wanting to eat is an issue. I can no longer taste anything like sweet or salt. Everything tastes like cardboard. Coffee, bacon, water, sandwiches, salads, vegan hamburger with mushrooms and swiss cheese... CARDBOARD. The only thing I can taste is spice, as in heat. Unfortunately, spice burns my already burnt throat. Since I no longer produce normal saliva, my mouth and throat is dry all the time.
Next week, I will begin having the new chemo infusion once a week for 4 weeks. Anyone have any Stridex Pads? Plus 21 more radiation treatments. The doctor has my last day of treatment scheduled for January 17, 2018. Happy Birthday!
Every day, I try to focus on something good in my life so I don't get overwhelmed. Ziggy is always happy.
And fantastic sunset sitting with good friends on the bluff. I got a good shot of the kite flying into the sun.
Great pictures. A positive note is that you are here slaying the beast. I know how hard this is but you will be a survivor. I truly believe that being open and sharing your experience with others is part of healing and surviving. Some people can't do that. I strongly believe that talking about it helps release the toxins in your body. I wish I had done a blog. Wait did they have that 23 years ago 😄 cayenne oil makes saliva and is great for dry mouth. I know spicy is hard on you but you don't have to use a lot. Here is my recipe. I slice up cucumbers, lime without the skin, 15 drops of cayenne oil, fresh basil, crushed ice and put it in my ninja like the nutra bullet. That should feel good on your throat. In the winter I have just been adding lime and cayenne oil to bottled water. It truly helps dry mouth. Maybe start out with 10 drops to see how your throat handles it. You have to do this every night or day. I'd patent it if I could. I have used lemons before as well. The oil isn't as hot as the actual red pepper. The oil is smoother. We love you here in Nevada. Keep sharing.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Julia! I will try your special cayenne oil and adjust to my tolerance. I truly appreciate your caring comments and suggestions. Do you use the oil for dry mouth?
DeleteYes I do. It really helps breathing through the nose too. It's very beneficial to the digestive system. For some reason I got severe dry mouth and nothing worked including biotene. So I researched and found cayenne oil. Then I came up with my own drink. Hope it works. Love you
DeleteMerry Christmas little Stew to you and your family. I assumed when I didn't see your blog that treatment must be getting rough. You keep battling the beast and we are all here for you. When times are stuff our love will be your strength.
DeleteOkay Stewart don't stop blogging now. If things are stuff we want to know so we can be there for you. The treatment can't be pleasant but know there are many rooting for you. You were right when you said you were battling the beast. Read the Footprint poem. Find your strength. I found mine in my daughter. If there is anything I can do please do not hesitate to call. Love you. How did the cayenne oil do. You have to drink it every day.
ReplyDeleteLet's talk about good times. You rest and just read. Do you remember the first time we met Julia. You brought her up to the cabin at thanksgiving. For those who don't know we had a family tradition for a good 25 years at least. Auntie Marianne and uncle Stew had a cabin at Shasta lake. Our families who ever could make it would go up for thanksgiving and the day after thanksgiving we would get permits and go Christmas tree hunting. When I say hunting that's exactly what I mean. It would kill the men but for the woman it was just like a man's hunting trip except ours were trees. We were there for hours come rain,snow or shine. It was a great family memory. Little Stew brought Julia for the first time and the poor girl had to meet all of us for the first time. I immediately took to her because her name was Julia and our birthdays were just days apart. So how could I not like her. Then she became part of the family. We had so much fun at your wedding on the beach. Hermosa beach. We all had rooms on the board walk. The best part was walking around shopping at the different shops. They had a beach volleyball match going on that weekend. Sure miss the family thanksgiving tradition. My daughter Andria, her husband Tim, cousin Terri and I went to St George Utah years ago to cut down a Christmas tree since Nevada only has cactus. There was a little snow on the ground. Enough to leave a paw print on the ground. Either a bear or mountain lion. Didn't know which one and didn't want to find out. So we get out to search, carrying sticks. We split into pairs. Looking for a tree with one eye and the other watching for a huge hungry animal. After awhile we kept hearing a weird noise. Me and Terri are running with the tree and I'm yelling for Tim and Andria get to the vehicle. So we all get to the car. Poor Tim and Terri are trying as fast as they can to get the trees on top of the vehicle enough to let us get out of there because I'm yelling hurry we need to get out of here. So not very far from where we park we saw what the noise was. A mooing cow wearing a cow bell. We laughed. And of course I was given a hard time. We haven't been back since. However when my grandsons heard about cutting down Christmas trees I told them we can plan a trip for next year. Went up to Marty's recently and we cut down Xmas tree's that took 5 minutes. Me and mom looked at each other and laughed because it took us hours to find that perfect tree. And the adults got creative as years went by up at Shasta that they learned how to plug the empty spaces in a tree. Wonderful family memories.
DeleteI know this is your blog Stew but I thought I would give you a break and just let you read. Keep strong as this is the only way to battle the beast. I know food may not be your friend right now but if you eat just in small increments it may help. Whether you like it or not. Smoothies with ice chips. I don't have your phone so I can't text you but I do have other ideas for you to help. Stay strong and slay that beast. Julia (Julie)