3rd Week Radiation Treatment

Yahoo, it's Friday... and so ends my 3rd week of radiation treatment.  It felt a little longer this week, probably because I had some early day appointments mixed with some later day appointments.  It is nice to get up and get it over with early enough to come back to the room to have a nap in the warm sunshine of the afternoon.  Our room has large windows overlooking one of the parking lots of the hospital, so not quite the scenic view.  At night, we see the lights from ambulances coming into emergency, and we hear the air ambulance come in landing on the air pad above our section of the hospital.  This reminded me that my Dad arrived by air ambulance when he was admitted, and consequently had to get his bypass heart operation.  From his room, we could see the air landing pad and Daffodil Lodge.

 

So after my nap, it becomes time to figure out what to make for supper in the community kitchen.  I have tried to come up with some creative meals with using the Daffodil Lodge's limited electric pots, frying pans, and microwave.  On my creative nights, Michael and I get a wealth of on-lookers coming over to see what and how we are making.  Nothing out of the ordinary, but it seems to fascinate those having a microwave dinner.  Talk of the kitchen it would seem, but I'm glad to share my creativity with others.  The Iroc Heritage pot has been my favourite find so far.  We have made one pot stew, and spaghetti the other night.  It also did a great job on the chunky soup for two nights when I was having upset stomach issues, one of the side effects of radiation.  Nothing like chicken noodle soup to make an upset stomach feel better.  All in all, I have weathered the treatments well.  Being on the other side of half way through, I pray that I have the good fortune to keep up with the minimal symptoms.  I am armed with pamphlets on how to deal with minor and severe symptoms from the radiation and chemo treatments.  I have read them all, and rely on Imodium, Restoralax, homemade mouth rinse of salt and baking soda, and water combination, and prescribed medication for nausea if symptoms should get worse.  I track my temperature to watch for fever, and first signs of infection.  I drink more water than I have ever in my life, so I am constantly flushing my system.  Unfortunately, I like to sleep in the day, then the night eludes me.  Hospital beds are not comfortable, even with the button to raise the head, raise the feet, and then raise both ends of the body.  I remind myself this is not a hotel, and this is definitely not a vacation.  

This week we cheated a bit, and I caved into my cravings... A&W and McDonalds, and Cousins Restaurant's chicken ceasar wrap when we got home.  Now the comfort of my own bed, and the kitty cuddles from our Sassy.  Life seems quite nice despite the challenges yet to come.