Monday Evening

There have been many changes in my taste bubs and sense of smell. Basically everything makes me gag. I have started using my feeding tube for water and nourishment. The nausea seems to be pretty constant with breaks like now where I am able to do something for a short period. The meds for the nausea knock me out, but that way I am able to rest and time passes.
Everyone's comments have kept me in better spirits and keep me updating the blog

Made it Andy & Lisa's Wedding

Weasle & I had a great time Saturday night at our nephew Andy & Lisa's wedding. From the radiation and chemo my tastbuds are changing. Water and sodas make me gag! So Captain Mo was out. The old standby beer worked, even though a Coors lite tasted like a dark beer. I suffered through 2. The crabcake was delicious but my favorite, steak, tasted funky to me. Everyone else said it was wonderful. With these changes I might even like eggplant now.

Home at Last

It is Saturday morning and I am at HOME. It felt so good to get away from the hospital and all the smells that have surrounded me all week. It is such a beautiful autumn day! I now only have slight nausea, but this too shall pass (hopefully). It sure does feel good to be home. One of the toughest weeks is in the bank. Next week, the twice a day radiation, should be a piece of cake compared to the chemo.

I love all the comments :) Please keep them and the prayers coming.

Thursday Night 10/27/05

This is me with my new friend "Therabite". I do exercises with this 7 times a day. As I lose my ability to swallow, my mouth and jaw muscles will weaken. This is one of many exercises that Weasle has to nag me to do. My biggest motivator to spend time with "Therabite" is thinking about the Big Mac that I'll wrap my lips around in the end.

Thanks for all of the prayers and comments. They mean so much to me.

-Randy

Thursday morning

Last nite I slept well. They gave me a good anti-nausea drug and it knocked me out. I know that people want to visit me in the hospital but I don't think that's a good idea. I try to sleep as much as possible. It seens that once I fall asleep someone wakes me to check something: breathing, heart rate, temp, blood pressure, blood flow and I could go on and on. So sleep is what I really need here. I will be leaving the hospital Saturday morning. Saturday eveninig I plan on attending my nephew, Andy's and Lisa's wedding. I hope that most of the chemotherphy will be out of my bloodstream by then. I will be at the wedding with Weasle, NOT the skinny wench I've been hanging with all week.

Thanks for all the wonderful support, prayers and comments!!!! :)

Love and prayers to ALL

Tonsil Boy

Weds night

Back to nausea-ville hope tonight goes better. I will check in tomorrow morning. love you all

Weds Morning

Last night went much better. This morning I have been able to eat a bagel and half a bowl of cereal. I love all the coments and WILL be dumping my skinny girlfriend Saturday morning when I can get out here.

Thanks for everyones support, love and prayers!!

Day 2 of Chemotheropy

Today, Weasle, Michael, Ellen, and Laura came and visited. Michael made the trip all the way from College Park. He hooked me up to the internet, but it's AOL, so it's slow. Not really in any pain, but I'm feeling nauseous. This is a picture of me and Michael with my new girlfriend who follows me around wherever I go.

October 25th Update

Randy is still having trouble getting access to his blog in the hospital. He will hopefully get online tomorrow and update everyone himself.

He had a bad time last night with nausea and vomiting which didn't allow him to get much sleep. He was feeling a little better today but he still had to make some trips to the bathroom. He just wants to get some sleep.

Keep those prayers and comments coming.

Phil

First Radiation Treatment

This morning I had my first radiation treatment. In the picture, Wyn is placing a plastic “mask” over my head which is than attached to the table top. This is to hold my head in the same position for each radiation treatment. The marks on the side are used to position the lasers on the radiation machine.

The chemotherapy began this morning, 10-24-05, after my admission to the hospital. This will continue 24/7 till Saturday morning when released for the weekend. So far I feel good.

The biggest problem is that I can’t get on the internet to update this blog. I am in room 3436 with a phone # 443-849-8554

Saturday nite 10-22-05

Hi All,
Weasle, Laura and I just got back from shopping. For what you ask? The latest in hospital wear. I needed some PJ's and comfortable clothes to stroll around the hospital in. The treatment I will be receiving is called "the Brizel Proticol" It was started by David Brizel at Duke University. I start my radiation treatments on Monday morning 10-24-05 at 9:00 am. Sometime that morning I will be admitted to GBMC for 5 days of 24/7 chemotherapy and twice a day radiation treatments. The Drs don't work on weekends so I won't any treatments on weekends. After this first week as an inpatient, I will return to GBMC as an out patient for 2 1/2 weeks of twice a day 10 to 15 minute radiation treatments. I will then have the next week #4 1/2 off to get some strength back for the next round of treatments. This week # 5 1/2 will start and end with the twice a day radiation treatments. The following week # 6 1/2 , I am admitted into the hospital for 5 days again for my next round of 24/7 chemo and twice a days of radiation. All of the above are subject to change depending on my tumors reactions to everything. The only good thing about the chemotherpy is that I will not lose my hair.. Weasle says I would not look good with a bald head.

Starting my journey

Here I am with my PEG and PORT that were installed 10-14-05. The PEG is a feeding tube that I will probably start using in 2 to 3 weeks. I will need this because the radiation will cause large sores in my mouth so it will be too painful to swallow. I will need nurishment and water so this is how I will get it. The PORT is a ball placed under the skin attached to the vein for injections of chemo and other meds.