7/20/21

Today is Tuesday. Busy day. Sleep was elusive last night and I’m really tired this afternoon. In fact, it’s gonna be nap time as soon as I finish this post. David took me to MD Anderson at 9:00 am. I saw the radiology oncologist and had blood work done. I flunked that test again. Rats. I got tattooed today for radiation. I thought it was gonna be fake tattoos, but I was wrong. They’re real and permanent. After tattoos, I got marked with a red Sharpie. They gave me my very own Sharpie to use if I see my lines fading. The simulation for radiation was very involved.  They had to take the biopsy bandage off before they could begin. They had to use some sort of solvent because the tape was stuck so well. Ok, that hurt a lot.  They made a mask for my face from a piece of plastic. It was very stiff until they put it in an oven and got it so hot it became very pliant. Then they placed it over my face and it cooled there. It was hot. Hoo-Boy.  Did I mention it was hot?!? They kept that on my face for the next hour.  Oh, yeah, I forgot to mention that it was strapped with bungee cord thingies to the ct scan table. I couldn’t move my mouth, let alone my head. It was great fun. You should try it. David would have to be sedated to do something like that to him. I thought of him the whole time. Lasers were on me the whole time.  My arms were above my head hooked in 2 bars and I wasn’t allowed to move a muscle for a full hour.  During radiation, I will put that mask on and remain in the machine for only 1/2 hour. At least the mask is already made, so no more melting plastic on my face.  I will have normal doses for 5 weeks and then a super-duper dose for a week after those.

I don’t have the results of my Covid test yet, nor biopsy results. So, I still don’t know much about that.  My shoulder will tighten up and I have exercises to do every day. If I don’t, I won’t be able to raise my left arm above my head. The ribs on the left side of my body will become brittle, and they will remain that way for the rest of my life. So, I have to be careful not to fall or get injured on that side.  They’re going to be very mindful of my heart when they do the radiation. I do have some very good news to share, though. She said she does not think that I will lose any teeth. I was very, very grateful to hear that. She said I will be very, very tired for the next six weeks, and several weeks after I’ve completed my radiation.

I met with a physical therapist at 1 o’clock this afternoon and she is going to help me get my torso pressure suit that the last idiot screwed up.  She measured me from top to bottom and I have another appointment with her at 8:30 AM tomorrow morning. I have Thursday off, so far, but I doubt if that empty schedule lasts very long. I have a doctor appointment on Friday, but just one, so we may be able to go home early afternoon on Friday.

The last appointment on my calendar is on September 13. So, maybe I’ll get to go home on the 14th. I have no idea yet. We just paid this RV resort for the next two months. It’s a nice park, and I’m glad I have my little house to spend these next two months.

I learned that the ability to speak several languages is an asset, but the ability to keep your mouth shut in any language is priceless.



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