Tick-tock ...

Time seems to be dragging by too slowly.   I spend my hours and minutes trying to rest but having to get up to pee every hour or so -- the IV saline keeps my body hydrated, but the downfall is that I have to get up frequently to void.  My throat has become more painful and sores are developing in my mouth.  This was an expected side effect of the chemo, radiation, and immune-suppressing drugs I'm taking.  It's called mucositis and it is no walk in the park.

I also stopped eating a couple of days ago -- no appetite and the mucositis makes chewing and swallowing impossible.  Thus, I'm on IV nutrition as well.   The yellow liquid is the actual "food", and the white milky liquid is fat -- it's a 80/20 ratio.

I continue to be very weak and fatigued and concentrating/focusing is difficult -- I'm getting help to compose this blog entry.  I was started a pain alleviator, Fentanyl, a few days ago.   They have it set up where I push a button to get a "hit" when I need it.   It lasts me a good hour and takes the edge off and helps me rest comfortably.  Fentanyl is a narcotic and is 80 times stronger than morphine.  It is so powerful (and potentially deadly) that it is actually LOCKED, and only the nurses can access it with a key -- you can see the lock below and the syringe within contains the good stuff.   I guess they don't want me going berserk and overdosing.

Despite this difficult time,   I know I will be recovering eventually and I remain optimistic.  I thank you all for your support and the kind comments you have left me.

I will leave you with some lovely Spring pictures of the Stanford Hospital grounds/gardens my girlfriend took.  Till next time.