Ups and Downs and Ups and Downs

Friends, here’s what’s happening.

I was at work all last week.  It felt good and I believed I was improving every day.  My breathing improved and my energy slowly improved, but I still needed help with my wheel chair.  I thank you all for that.

My brother was in town on Saturday and we had a wonderful afternoon. We went to a movie, played in the local arcade (Arcadia), and we ate lunch and dinner.  It was one of the best days I’ve had in several weeks. Nothing good happens without some cost.  We ate lunch at Foghorns in Fayetteville, which was yummy.  I slipped and fell while there and recovered quickly or so I thought.  I landed on stump and did not hit my chest or head or anything else.  This was at lunch and the rest of the day was great.

I awoke with my chest very congested on Sunday, but I was OK.  Monday morning I could barely breathe at all.  I woke up April and we drove straight to the doctor.  It was that or the emergency room.

Monday I was X-rayed and CT scanned.  They determined that I was in dire straits.  The tumor has consumed my lower trachea which it is about 90% closed.  To add complication there is a growth which is forming a flap near the narrowest opening.  If I cough wrong or lay wrong then this flap closes my airway, which causes a major coughing episode until it clears.  You can imagine how uncomfortable this is.

What happened between Saturday and Monday?  I believe the fall jarred my check cavity and caused some bleeding or inflammation in or near my trachea.  This slowly closed or nearly closed the already small opening, which gradually choked me.

I spent virtually all Monday and Tuesday and Wednesday in doctor offices.  I spoke with Doctor Smith (Oncology Radiation guy), Doctor Counce (thoracic surgeon) and Doctor Travis (Oncologist).  The bad news is this is not operable in its current state and any type of chemo is too slow.  Which leaves radiation so the doctors at Highland put me in the last lane for radiation treatment.

The radiation treatment is a focused attack on the tumor which will hopefully clear my airway first.  Breathing is very important.  Then expand and attach the rest of the tumor which is essentially my entire right chest cavity.  The radiation treatments are Monday, Wednesday and Friday.  My first treatment was yesterday.  Lying in the machine is very comfortable, which is great, but I can actually feel the treatment as it moves across my body.  It’s not painful, but I can feel it.

Today I certainly feel much better.  I am using the oxygen and I am still tired, but it is better.  My breathing has improved each day with a definite improvement this morning.  I cannot say it if it because of a gradual improvement from the weekend event, or if it’s from the radiation treatment.  Whatever it is I will take it.

Moving forward.  The side effects from the radiation are numerous but mostly minor.  They won’t kick in for a few days and I can’t wait to see what happens.  My hope is for continued improvement and then return to the office Monday.
The lesson learned and take nothing for granted.  I have to relearn this lesson each time I feel an improvement.  Add to this that my hair is coming out again.

I appreciate everyone’s support and the messages.