Week of Firsts
The fourth week of recovery has been filled with a bunch of firsts, both in terms of activity and eating. It's been a continuation of the momentum from previous weeks. I'm trying to take advantage of this, as the second phase of chemo is likely to start shortly (today, if you are reading this on 14 August). My energy and diet have improved a lot, and I'm able to get out more.
Removing the hydration needle for the port was a key step to being more active. The home nurse came on Tuesday morning, and it was quite freeing to not have to worry about it. I rode my bike for the first time this summer, and also got a massage for the first time in a while. I got my first haircut since treatment started. I suppose I really didn't need to wait this long, as it was 11 weeks since my last one! It feels good to look more like my regular self. It's a little unclear when I'll need another one, as the chemo may again slow or even take out my hair.
My energy level is nearly back to normal. The afternoon naps are becoming less frequent (though still quite nice when they do happen). As I'll have visitors for 9 consecutive nights, it's good to feel active. A high school friend came on Saturday, and we were able to see four shows at the Bentwood Comedy Festival (from 7-11pm at the IO Theater) before going out for a late night snack. I didn't even fall asleep during the shows! Various family members will be visiting until 20 August. My mom arrived on Sunday and even made it to the guitar class performance at the Old Town School. The class played 6 songs for about 30 minutes. There are a lot of great singers in class, so I was able to let my (already very limited) vocal contributions take a session off.
I'm fourth from the left (with the white shoes). Fun setlist, including Changes (David Bowie) and Just Like Heaven (The Cure), amongst others.
Another positive sign of recovery is that this past weekend was the first time I didn't take any medication. At the worst, I was taking 7 different medicines (of which 6 were prescribed), multiple times a day. I've been slowly coming off each one as the symptoms alleviated. I had been taking only Tylenol but the pain has gotten less and less, to the point where I am able to function and sleep normally without it. Even the dry mouth has reached a level where I just need to keep it rinsed and moist (with sparkling water), without needing Biotene, sprays or lozenges.
My eating progress has been really encouraging. I've been pushing the boundaries of what I can eat, and the boundaries keep expanding. My appetite still outweighs my capabilities, so while I'm not as restricted, I'm able to eat enough solid foods that I've had my first few days without needing to "eat" Ensure Plus, Boost VHC or Benecalorie and get enough calories and protein. At this point, I'm just maintaining weight with some daily fluctuations, rather than starting to gain or losing any more.
For many foods and tastes, I'm able to eat small amounts, though full portions are not possible at this time. Fortunately, I haven't had to spit out or throw out too much food. For acid, I'm able to taste and eat a little bit of acidic foods, e.g. balsamic vinegar with cheese, sunsugar tomatoes, and a few others. Spice is harder for me to eat than acid, as even small amounts of spice irritate my mouth (Aiday doesn't notice any heat while I'm coughing). I can barely taste sweet at this time, so certain fruits taste bland. Starchy foods are possible only in very small quantities. Breads still stick in my teeth and gums, so that takes some time to eat and requires rinsing after. I've ventured into fries twice but only a few at a time (certainly would not be able to Supersize Me, let alone finish an order). Dipping in ketchup was too much, though. Crunchy foods may come back into my diet sooner, as the crispy fries did not cause any significant irritation or pain. Also, with respect to temperature, I can eat warm and cool foods, though hot and ice cold foods are still tough.
I had a brief foray into accidental vegetarianism / pescetarianism. As I was transitioning from the liquid diet, my main sources of protein and calories were vegetables, fish, and eggs. A dinner of chilled corn soup, steamed asparagus w/miso butter and fried egg (again), and sautéed zucchini and onions would not be a menu I'd normally make for myself before this. It was quite tasty, too. A recent favorite recipe of Vietnamese caramel salmon showed the limits of what I can eat. I couldn't finish the filet, as the sauce (fish sauce, soy sauce, ginger, lime, sugar) and scallions irritated me as I ate more of it. One dish that I've also really enjoyed this week is pasta with an alfredo sauce. My dietician recommended that, and I found a good recipe (NYT - Elaine's Fettucine Alfredo). It's a rich, calorie packed dish that is just what I need - pasta, heavy cream, butter, Parmesan and garlic. The only modification I made was to cook the garlic until it's almost burnt. That adds a little depth of flavor that I quite enjoy.
I'll continue to eat mostly vegetables, fruits, and pastas, as meats are still a challenge. I am able to eat some minced or ground meat. For example, the fillings in dim sum dumplings went down alright. However, when I tried to eat a soy chicken or roast duck, I could only swallow them with some sips of water. A grilled steak seems a ways off but meatballs should be fine.
I did satisfy one of my cravings last week. As mentioned before, we went out for a late night snack and chose a burger place. I was able to eat a bite or two with the bun, and then had more of the patty and condiments, leaving the bun behind. It took a while but I also finished the milkshake. Initially, I declined the whip cream on top, but it's not like I'm trying to limit calories at this point, so I reconsidered my decision.
With fewer restrictions on my diet, I am more confident that I can go out and find something I can eat at a restaurant. We went out to lunch at Somerset today (Monday), where I was able to finish a delicious gnocchetti with mushroom bolognese, while also sampling fries and grilled cheese. The smoked beet tartare remains a favorite.
I've gone out to eat out to a few places this weekend, as I want to take advantage of this potential relative "peak" period while I can. I'll find out more about the chemo side effects shortly and how that may impact my recovery and ability to eat. I'm hoping not to have to return an Ensure/Boost diet, as this is a much tastier and fun way to eat and eventually put on weight.