Wow ten weeks already since Dave finished his last session of radiotherapy!!!!
As some of you know Dave has been recovering from a gastro virus the last couple of weeks!! I can now thankfully say that he is starting to come right :-) It pretty much knocked him off his feet!! Feelings of nausea, stomach cramps, fatigue, and diarrhea.
I got our chiropractor to do a home visit for Dave on Monday night as I thought this would help him too as he was suffering also with neck and lower back pain. The chiro said that he could see a lot of swelling around Dave's neck. After another visit on Wednesday night Dave is feeling the benefits of his adjustments. Thanks Martin for your support.
We visited the Radio Oncologist, Speech Therapist and Dietitian on Thursday for the last time this year! Dave had a good report card back from all three :-)
The Oncologist, with the Speech Therapist present put a camera down Dave's nose and throat - all looked good, though there is a lot of swelling still inside but they say this is 'normal' and will go down over time!! How much time they couldn't say! There is a sign of thrush inside Dave's mouth and throat so Dave's now taking a medication for this.... Fluconazole Suspension 50mg/5ml, once a day.
Dave's voice has been quite raspy of late and this is due to the swelling near his vocal cords, they said once the swelling goes down his voice will come right. The vocal cords and swallow are good. While the camera was down Dave's throat they got him to swallow a blue dye so they could check that what Dave swallowed went down the right channels and it was. Such a relief!
Over the last six weeks Dave has lost about 3kgs which isn't good but not too bad. In total Dave has lost approximately 9kgs from the start of his radiotherapy treatment. The specialists all said that Dave needs to start training his brain again to start wanting food and that it was really unfortunate that he picked up the recent bug as he was doing so well. They also talked about removing the PEG soon too but not until Dave's eating normally and his weight is on the rise.
The dietitian said that its ok to just start with a couple of teaspoons full of food first off then each time to increase to one more and so on. To also eat first before administering a TwoCal. And to start drinking more via the mouth.
Dave's taste thankfully is improving too. He's just finding it hard to swallow too much with the swelling in his throat at present.
Dave's immune system is still below normal levels so has to be very careful still that he doesn't pick up any more bugs etc!!
Dave's next appointment is on Monday 9 January to get the results from his PET scan which will be done the week prior. Were still waiting on this appointment date/time though! Must chase it up this coming week. So keeping all our fingers and toes crossed for more positive results and that Dave gets the all clear!!!
It would be so so great to start 2017 with POSITIVE results.
As a friend mentioned in a comment "The Only Way is Up", sung by Jazz.
We've both had a lovely quiet week. I've been doing little bits of that and this. Dave managed to get out on Friday and gave a friend of ours, Les, a few coaching tips on the golf course. I went out with them also to gain a few tips! Even Dave enjoyed a few chips and putts too. Afterwards, I asked him how it felt, he said "the club felt like a lead weight!!" I think it might be a good idea for Dave and I to visit our local gym to build up our muscles together!! Yvie we might need your help!!
Saturday we had a lovely surprise visit from Ellen, who I used to work with at the PDs in Sydney and Chris her hubby who were in the neighbourhood. Thanks again for the yummy chocolates... I promise to save them for when Dave's able to enjoy them! Look forward to you both coming to stay for a weekend next time!! xx
From Love Is All You Need...
The best and most beautiful things
in the world cannot be
seen or even touched.
They must be felt with the heart.
by Helen Keller
and from You Are My "Once in a Lifetime" I will always love you by Marci
I Want to Share Every Part of My Life with you
I want to share my life with you...
every joy,
every sorrow,
every triumph,
every challenge,
every hope,
every dream,
every good thing
and every hard thing.
I know that our love will endure
the test of time and give to each
of us - separately and together -
the strength to overcome any obstacle
that comes our way. I will love you
forever and through all time.
Oh my gosh that verse above is so apt for us!!!
Seven more sleeps before Jax and Muzza arrive for Christmas.... were so so excited to see them both!!!
I've made the Christmas mincemeat... this is in the fridge maturing, and needs stirring each day for a week and each day I get to lick the spoon!!! Ahhh smell the brandy!!! Christmas Pudding made today too, well first lot of six hours cooking done, now to mature in the fridge and a further few hours to cook and enjoy on Christmas Day... our home smells like Christmas!!! Just need to buy some wrapping paper and a couple of presents then were done!! Thank god for Amazon and internet shopping this year!!
Hope your all organised or getting somewhat organised for Christmas. Take care till next week xxx
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