Well, wish I had some fabulous news…but still struggling with some big side effects.

I met with my oncologist yesterday when I was at the infusion center. He prescribed an antidepressant and also a steroid to help give me energy and try to stimulate my appetite. The steroid works right away. The antidepressant in 2-4 weeks.

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I took 5ml of the oxycodone this morning and that’s it! I’ve been able to eat and drink all day. I’m not eating much, but it’s still progress. The Dr. said I would wake up one morning and it would be significantly better and I guess today was the day!

I spent a few hours in the local ER today getting some fluids. They made a big difference in how I am feeling overall. Today I was able to get out of bed and sit up on the sofa for a while, and even do a few things around the house. Not much, but at least I could get out of bed! I will get fluids again on Thursday.

Still no improvement in the pain in my esophagus. I drank 2 Ensures and ate tapioca pudding, a few roasted potatoes and some pork. I had to take a little more pain medicine to get that down though. But a little more food than than yesterday…♥️

Well, I definitely don’t recommend it, but the side effects from radiation are serving as a great weight loss program for me right now. 🤣😭😔

Seriously….if I don’t joke about it, I will cry.

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The burning in my esophagus is worse today. I ran a few errands, tried to go to the gym, but it just hurts too much. I spent most of the day in bed. I am allowed to take the liquid medicine the Dr, gave me 8 times a day. It takes the edge off for about a minute, but that’s it. Breathing is uncomfortable as well.:-(

Day one of the chemo pills – light headed and not feeling the greatest – most likely due to the fact that it hurts to eat or drink anything. Other than that, not much to report.

I posted this on Facebook this morning –

First chemo pill ✔️
Infinite amount left to go 😔

Quick update tonight…

Hooray! Radiation is over. It has definitely helped the pain in my sternum, as I can now lay down for a while and not be in severe pain. However, it looks like I have traded that pain for pain in my esophagus. It now is very painful to eat or during anything, even water. I spoke with the radiation oncologist and he prescribed a compound medicine which they mixed for me today that I can take before I eat to help numb my esophagus and make it so it is not quite as painful. Hopefully the pain will last less than a week.

Looking ahead to the week, I finish radiation on Tuesday and that same day will get my first hormone blocking shot. I have friends with me on both Monday and Tuesday and Tom meeting us there on Tuesday for the shot so I will not be alone. I’m pretty depressed, so I am thankful to have the company. Thursday I will start the chemo pills.

I am very tired, overwhelmed and not feeling very good tonight, but I found out info. about treatment next week so here is a quick update.

I had my 6th day of radiation today and it was a rough day. The side effects have started – fatigue and heartburn/strange feeling in my chest. I had a lot of pain in my chest last night and didn’t sleep well. I ended up taking more pain meds today than normal to get through the day.