Starting Recovery
It's now been nearly a week since I had my last radiation treatment. Recovery is starting, with a what I hope are some baby steps towards getting back to normal. Hopefully the improvements are the sign of an upward trend, and not just daily variability. The next few weeks are about rest and recovery, as I don't have a follow up with my radiation oncologist until after Labor Day and a scan sometime after that. This week, my brother is visiting and helping out, so that's been good for me and Aiday.
The challenges remain the same - pain and dryness in my mouth. I've figured out a medicine schedule / routine that makes things manageable, but there are times when it becomes really uncomfortable. For example, it feels like there is always something stuck in my throat and unexpected coughing. I am sleeping better than a few days ago.
The other concern right now is that I've developed some hearing issues in my left ear, which had been my "good ear." At a hearing test last week, the audiologist noted some improvement in my right ear (hopefully a good sign that the tumor is shrinking and fluid is draining). However, she also confirmed that I have some negative pressure in my left ear. It feels like there is something sloshing around in there. There is also some ringing now. Hopefully, the doctor can figure out what this is when I go in for a follow up next week.
On the bright side, I think my energy is improving, and I can talk for longer periods of time. After being inside for much of the summer, I've been trying to get out of the condo a little more. I had been afraid of being away from a sink or medicine for more than a few hours at a time, but that's getting better. I went to see Blindspotting (very good movie) on Friday night and then to a friend's going-away party on Saturday night. Both excursions went by without much of a hitch. On Monday, we went to get a burrito and then see a concert in Millennium Park partly since the weather was so good. That was around 6 hours outside. Granted, I did relax my eyes during the concert, but it's good to know that I don't have to be confined to my place.
Concert at Pritzker Pavilion in Millennium Park
In terms of food, my diet remains maddeningly repetitive. I'm still on the Ensure Plus mixed with Benecalorie liquid meals (the Boost VHC alternative irritates my throat more than Ensure Plus at this time) plus two 1L hydration bags a day. The hydration bags take about 90 minute each, so that's time I can't leave my place. However, that doesn't mean I have to just sit on my couch, watch TV, use my computer, or take a nap. I have been able to cook while getting hydration. I think Aiday and Seng enjoyed the sourdough bread, fresh yogurt, the cumin beef and peppers stir fry, and the seared scallops (Aiday cooked these) and asparagus with miso beurre blanc (me). Aiday has also started to cook again, including traditional Central Asian favorites such as manti and pelmeni (homemade dumplings from scratch). I can't wait until I can actually eat and share meals again.
Finally, a comment about my appearance. My weight has stabilized a little bit. I'm down about 22 lbs from my starting point. This now actually puts me at a weight below Seng, which is probably the first time that has happened in decades. I've been described as "super lean" or "so thin." If I can add back 10-15 lbs of muscle, that would be ideal. Right now, I'm dressed like a kid whose parents have bought him/her clothes that s/he can "grow into" - it's now too loose vs. fitted properly.
Also, the facial hair has been relieved. Had I realized that I could have just trimmed all the miscellaneous, long-ish hairs with a facial hair scissors (which I already had), I would have done that weeks ago. It only took a few minutes to get all of hairs. The electric razor then finished off the job. That being said, I shaved a week ago and there is hardly anything to shave this week. I'll continue to show off my smooth skin for a while.
Facial hair came off easily
One last item. The day I finished treatment, I saw a New York Times Lens story about someone going through a similar (but different) cancer treatment. "Photographing His Own Cancer Treatment: 'A Hell I Wasn't Prepared For' " - https://nyti.ms/2mnr4uz. His pictures look a lot more ominous than my experience and it sounded like he experienced more pain.