Hi everyone!!
Firstly, Happy Mothers Day to all those lovely mums out there, being it Mothering Sunday here in the Southern Hemisphere!!
Welcome back... its been four months since my last update on our Dave... and the day, to be exact was Monday 16 January 2017!!! That was in fact one of the best days of our lives, when Dave got the all clear from his Radiation Oncologist, after experiencing throat cancer!!
On Thursday, 11 May 2017 Dave had his four monthly follow up with his Oncologist and got the ALL CLEAR again!!! Such fantastic news and such a relief to hear too!!! The Oncologist was extremely happy with Dave's progress. The endoscope down his throat was nice and clear, still showing a bit of swelling but over time this will go down. Gaining weight and generally looking really healthy now... wahooo!!!!!
Below is a more detailed capture of how Dave and I have been coping during his recovery... Hopefully this will motivate those still or starting to go through this dreaded disease of throat cancer or other head and neck cancers.
Over the last four months Dave has been getting stronger and stronger as the days go by. He is eating pretty much everything and anything now, even a steak, which is great to see and getting demanding or should I say requesting some of his favourite foods, i.e., date loaf :-)
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| date, banana & walnut loaf... homemade :-) |
Dave always has to carry a bottle of water with him to help with his dry mouth and to help some foods go down. Along with keeping him hydrated, like we all should be doing!! His saliva is returning a little bit each day but nothing to what it was prior to treatment.
Dave unfortunately still isn't able to drink/enjoy a glass of wine yet, as the alcohol just sucks all the moisture out of his mouth, but on a good note he has started to enjoy the taste of beer!! Mainly craft beers with strong flavour. Also enjoying a coffee each day too!
Dave has eased back into his work commitments. Initially working three days a week, taking Thursday and Friday's off. Then just taking Fridays off and now back five days a week. Dave's extremely lucky that with his job he is able to work from home several days a week. This really helps with his well being and tiredness.
Dave has also been easing his way back onto the golf course, initially getting a ride in a cart with one of his playing partners, but he is now strong enough to walk the course again with his push buggy.
Fatigue can sometimes be an issue if Dave does too much, it can then knock him off his feet for a couple of days. So he still has to be careful in planning his activities.
Prior to Dave's four monthly check-up Dave had several visits to the GP as he's been experiencing an infection in his right ear. After taking a course of antibiotics and ear drops, which has cleared an outer ear infection, he still feels quite deaf in his right ear. This hopefully will clear over time. Apparently this can be a late onset side affect from the radiation due to the scarring in his neck affecting the Eustachian tube.
Dave also had a full blood test done. All were good except his white blood cells were still a bit low, which will affect his ability to fight infections. This is understandable after what Dave's been through, but should get better over time!
Also during the last four months Dave has been having a bit of treatment on his teeth, in part because of what he's been through and also because his teeth were very worn due to acid reflux and from grinding them over the years. The lack of saliva can contribute to tooth decay too. So to stop / reduce this he had a full set of composite crowns created to protect his teeth. Our dentist, Andrew at
The Happy Tooth was awesome and did a wonderful job. So Dave now has an even more beautiful smile :-)
I think I mentioned in previous posts that Dave had started snoring and making strange breathing sounds in his sleep since going through all of his treatments!! As I became a light sleeper during Dave's treatment, as I was listening out for him during the nights, this has posed a real problem over the past months for me as I'm waking all hours of the night and having to jump into what I call 'my other bed' upstairs!!
With this happening and the lack of deep sleep or restful sleep, I've been feeling like a walking zombie and it has impacted on my emotional and mental ability to get through each day!! Sleep is so so important!!!! Every time I talked about Dave's experience I just became extremely emotional!! I just couldn't shut it out and close the door on that chapter of our lives!! I just wasn't feeling my usual bubbly self!! I've been really struggling since the beginning of the year. Trying to come to terms with everything, especially negative thoughts if Dave gets sick again!!! I know one should never think this but you do!! Its only natural.
I've been told what I am going through is very common after running on adrenalin for a year!! Dave is now back to work and getting on with his life and doesn't really want to dwell on what has happened, which I can totally understand. Me on the other hand have lots of time on my hands to think about things!! Once I am feeling 100% and able to give again I will seek out some part time work to keep me focussed.
So to help with my sleep patterns I have been prescribed a course of Melatonin 3mg caps. These are helping me to fall asleep straight away instead of my mind working over time and keeping me awake, and to assist in me sleeping throughout the night... I've been taking them for nearly a month now and so far so good! I do believe that its also helping me with my thought patterns too and overcoming the lowness feelings.
I have also sought help too to get me back on track... my doctor put me in touch with a clinical psychologist and so far she is helping me compartmentalise and put things in to perspective. All of my life I have been such a positive bubbly, glass half full girl but what I went through with Dave knocked me for six a bit!! Not that I realised this at the time! I feel I am getting back on track bit by bit now :-)
I have also taken up golf lessons each Friday morning too with the girls from our walking group. We have had four lessons to date and so far so good!! I'm surprised that I'm enjoying it and my back is feeling ok, a little twinge now and again but nothing major.
Richard Mercer who is teaching us is wonderfully patient and a great teacher - cheers Richard!
I am also getting back out walking again with the group, though I've been struggling with this as my feet, calves and ankles have been extremely tight and sore!!! To the degree it stopped me from walking for a while!! I've been seeing a podiatrist to help me out, getting orthotics made, new better fitting walking shoes, appropriate and correct stretching techniques and recently had my first session of deep dry needling on my calves, ankles and feet - 12 needles in total!!! A couple really hurt but most were quite comfortable. Two more sessions to go! Fingers crossed this helps a lot. My turn to fall apart!!!
Day spa treatments, and lots of massages are helping too. I'd like to say a huge thank you to Karen, an ex work colleague of Dave's, for sending us an amazing day spa voucher. Both Dave and I utilised it last Sunday. We both floated home!!
Now things are getting back on track and Dave has had the all clear for the second time we both feel we can get on and plan our lives again, in particular overseas holidays!! Let the research and planning begin!
Sorry if I waffled on a bit in this update, but I felt that I needed to get my story off my chest too. For those supporting loved ones out there, please look after yourself too and seek help as well if you need it.
Anxiety, depression and lowness feelings are so common these days so don't feel ashamed about it and don't bottle it up. Reach out to friends, family or even your Doctor. You're not alone.
Take care everyone.... don't forget to love yourself too. xxx
