My mouth is a traitor and has turned on me. Treasonist bastard. I'll be paying it back with copious amounts of spicy food once I'm on the mend and out of here. Despite my efforts of frequent mouth rinsing and oral hygiene it appears the doctors and nurses were correct when they warned me it was a matter of when. Looks like its an ensure diet for the next week or two and hopefully things don't get too exciting. I guess depending on pain etc morphine is the standard relief around here. I've never encountered it before but could make for some interesting blog posts in the future if I end up on that path. Nothing like some opaites to get the creative juices flowing. Oh well too bad it was smooth sailing up to this point at day +6. Will get through this but I might have to stop watching the food network for a while...
-Still riding the bike and working out.
-Not as easy to play it cool when an attractive nurse has you connected checking vitals.
'Why is your pulse rate so high?'
'uh I was just riding the bike'
'oh ok lets give it a min.'
'good idea'
-Blue Jays finally took a series from the Yankees ... yes I'm still watching like a sucker. They were the pre-season favourites to win the World Series? What a joke!
-Ti-Cats finally look like they can play defence ... uh oh take the over tomorrow night now ;)
-Enjoy the last long weekend of the summer everyone hopefully the weather holds out.
Thursday, 29 August 2013
Tuesday, 27 August 2013
Superstition
I'm probably overdue for an update. Not that I've ever considered myself superstitious but it seems a rather fragile place I'm in right now and for the next week or two so I didn't want to jinx anything. My blood counts have been low as to be expected, relatively no white blood cells the last few days and until my new cells engraft I wont be having any ... maybe another week ... maybe two. As you can imagine until I can make my own white blood cells an infection could be a big problem for me. Not only that if there was some damage to my body I wouldn't be able to repair it. Thats where the mouth problems come in. Most people have problems with their mouth during this process ... big problems and have to live with this until their body is able to heal itself weeks down the road. While painful and limiting how much you eat if any and drink it can be a cause for infection. That is one of my biggest concerns right now is having my mouth turn on me. The docotors and nurses seemed to indicate it was a matter of when not if this would happen after the 'intense' conditioning regimen I went through prior to transplant. Well so far so good at day +4. The way I understand its a 5 part formula with 1 part hygiene and 4 parts luck so keep those positive vibes coming and I'll take care of the hygiene ;) I've also been watching what I eat so I don't score it and how much I talk which for me can be a challenge. Anyway thats the biggest thing thats been on my mind and the center of my OCD.
-Things going well up to now found my lock down routine and sticking with it.
-Still riding the bike and working out 2-3x a day which has some people pleasantly surprised.
-Spending time reading in the late morning/afternoon.
-Frequent mouth rinsing with the sodium bicarb solution at least every couple hours. After meals and sugary drinks for sure and force myself up a few times through the night which I think makes a big difference.
-Honey on cereal every morning and in tea ... I've convinced myself it helps my mouth and may be my secret weapon ... probably dumb luck more than anything but hey I'm going with it.
-frequent hand washing before and after meals for sure.
-Still have all my hair ... I was going to shave it since there is a high probability I'll loose it anyway but I'm curious and taking the wait and see approach now ... although that is the least of my concerns.
-All in all pretty uneventful and hoping it continues this way :)
-Things going well up to now found my lock down routine and sticking with it.
-Still riding the bike and working out 2-3x a day which has some people pleasantly surprised.
-Spending time reading in the late morning/afternoon.
-Frequent mouth rinsing with the sodium bicarb solution at least every couple hours. After meals and sugary drinks for sure and force myself up a few times through the night which I think makes a big difference.
-Honey on cereal every morning and in tea ... I've convinced myself it helps my mouth and may be my secret weapon ... probably dumb luck more than anything but hey I'm going with it.
-frequent hand washing before and after meals for sure.
-Still have all my hair ... I was going to shave it since there is a high probability I'll loose it anyway but I'm curious and taking the wait and see approach now ... although that is the least of my concerns.
-All in all pretty uneventful and hoping it continues this way :)
Friday, 23 August 2013
Happy Birthday to Me!
Well my new 'friends' showed up today! Transplant started at 14:35 and lasted about an hour. I introduced myself and they seem to be taking a liking to their new home ... we had a little private one on one and so far so good. I've heard some transplant patients refer to it as their 'Birthday' ... no cake today but hey I'll go with that ... pool party next year, my place! Having a birthday in November I always wanted to have a pool party for my birthday. Now its all about combining forces and getting better.
A few pictures of me from my computer I like
Golfing.
Golfing ... again :)
I'll get a dog one day I miss my fishing partner.
Golfing ... Muskoka Bay [striped down the middle no doubt!]
.JPG){kind=link}
Mojito at sunset!
A few pictures from my phone I like
Called in to work a while back when I got a call in the morning my Grandpa passed away ... got a cofee and went to the waterfront and found this :)
Nice relaxing sunset with a glass of wine on the beach.
Birdie on Sawmill #13.
Nice relaxing sunrise with a coffee in the park.
One of my first restaurant meals after getting out of the hospital in January with my best friend ... braised beef ribs, garlic mashed and frizzled onions ... yes please!
Thursday, 22 August 2013
Random Events/Musings
-One more round of radiation this afternoon ... transplant tomorrow then just gotta get on with the healing!
-They keep sending porters [Transporters] up to take me to radiation. They show up with wheelchairs but I walk so they leave them outside my room. Then when its done they say are you OK ... yup so I walk back myself. Got back the other afternoon and there were three wheelchairs outside my room ...
-Nothing to the radiation ... I asked but they don't have SPF 5000.
-They do play some good tunes for me. Stones, Blue Rodeo about 30-45min worth.
-Been busy so far going out for lunch and supper enjoying freedom before lock down tomorrow. Keg supper again last night and a beer with my brother and friend on a nice patio. Didn't realise I was going to have this freedom beforehand.
-Came back last night late and the nurses had done shift change ... one never seen me before and was startled to see someone come in so late.
'Uh can I help you?'
'Yeah just going to check in for the night.'
'Oh are you a patient?'
show wristband 'Yeah I think so' :)
-Doctor told me today my donor is B+ blood also so that won't change .... donate blood if you can it helps ... esp if you're B+ ;)
-I asked the nurse if it would help if I gave my new donor cells a little pep talk before to play nice with mine and we'll all get along. I can be pretty fun ... I promise we'll have some good times ... so good they'll never get published on here!
-Never been a big Blue Rodeo fan but started to listen to them a little ... got a kick listening to this song yesterday afternoon on the tanning bed ... thought I'd post the lyrics.
Sometimes you lose your head
Think of all the stupid things you've said
Pouring out of your mouth
Like rain through a broken windowpane
Nobody made you do it
There's a hoop and you jump through it
You made this mess all by yourself
What did you say?
I thought I said everything there was for me to say
How could you know?
I looked into her eyes, I thought they were telling me so
Now I don't want to be your cause for sympathy
I took my chances, eyes wide open
Stayed too long and the spell was broken
Nobody wants to see
The mess you become so easily
Crawling around and singing your sad songs
Late into the night
Must be the words you're choosing
The unconvincing smile you're using
Try and try again, you can't get it right
What did you do?
I poured my heart out til my words filled the room
How did it go?
She smiled and took my hand, said it's all just a little too soon.
Now I don't want to be your cause for sympathy
Save your tears, I never earned them
Lessons are there, but I never learn them at all
Every night the same old game
Fumbling around for some stranger's name
Or going out of your mind
Waiting for the phone to finally ring
I know life can be so messy
But you can't spend all your time confessing
Try saving something for yourself
What did you say?
I thought I said everything there was for me to say
How could you know?
I looked into her crying eyes, they were telling me so
Now I don't want to be your cause for sympathy
Save your breath, I never listen
You think I don't know something's missing
But now I'll wait and see
How it all turns out for me
It's not as painful as they tell you
Some success in every failure
Now I know I can handle the pain
I'll stand here waiting, hope it all happens again
Nothing too exciting, just making the most of it. As fun as its been looking forward to all the best life has to offer once this is a memory. Thanks for emails, texts and comments its good to hear from everyone.
-They keep sending porters [Transporters] up to take me to radiation. They show up with wheelchairs but I walk so they leave them outside my room. Then when its done they say are you OK ... yup so I walk back myself. Got back the other afternoon and there were three wheelchairs outside my room ...
-Nothing to the radiation ... I asked but they don't have SPF 5000.
-They do play some good tunes for me. Stones, Blue Rodeo about 30-45min worth.
-Been busy so far going out for lunch and supper enjoying freedom before lock down tomorrow. Keg supper again last night and a beer with my brother and friend on a nice patio. Didn't realise I was going to have this freedom beforehand.
-Came back last night late and the nurses had done shift change ... one never seen me before and was startled to see someone come in so late.
'Uh can I help you?'
'Yeah just going to check in for the night.'
'Oh are you a patient?'
show wristband 'Yeah I think so' :)
-Doctor told me today my donor is B+ blood also so that won't change .... donate blood if you can it helps ... esp if you're B+ ;)
-I asked the nurse if it would help if I gave my new donor cells a little pep talk before to play nice with mine and we'll all get along. I can be pretty fun ... I promise we'll have some good times ... so good they'll never get published on here!
-Never been a big Blue Rodeo fan but started to listen to them a little ... got a kick listening to this song yesterday afternoon on the tanning bed ... thought I'd post the lyrics.
Sometimes you lose your head
Think of all the stupid things you've said
Pouring out of your mouth
Like rain through a broken windowpane
Nobody made you do it
There's a hoop and you jump through it
You made this mess all by yourself
What did you say?
I thought I said everything there was for me to say
How could you know?
I looked into her eyes, I thought they were telling me so
Now I don't want to be your cause for sympathy
I took my chances, eyes wide open
Stayed too long and the spell was broken
Nobody wants to see
The mess you become so easily
Crawling around and singing your sad songs
Late into the night
Must be the words you're choosing
The unconvincing smile you're using
Try and try again, you can't get it right
What did you do?
I poured my heart out til my words filled the room
How did it go?
She smiled and took my hand, said it's all just a little too soon.
Now I don't want to be your cause for sympathy
Save your tears, I never earned them
Lessons are there, but I never learn them at all
Every night the same old game
Fumbling around for some stranger's name
Or going out of your mind
Waiting for the phone to finally ring
I know life can be so messy
But you can't spend all your time confessing
Try saving something for yourself
What did you say?
I thought I said everything there was for me to say
How could you know?
I looked into her crying eyes, they were telling me so
Now I don't want to be your cause for sympathy
Save your breath, I never listen
You think I don't know something's missing
But now I'll wait and see
How it all turns out for me
It's not as painful as they tell you
Some success in every failure
Now I know I can handle the pain
I'll stand here waiting, hope it all happens again
Nothing too exciting, just making the most of it. As fun as its been looking forward to all the best life has to offer once this is a memory. Thanks for emails, texts and comments its good to hear from everyone.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)