Thursday, July 2, 2009

Nose Bleeds and Neck Pain

Hello everyone! Thought I would post an update since it has been awhile since I last wrote. I am glad Kimberly kept everyone informed about my hospital stay. Everything is going alright for me except for the neck and head pain, and a few nose bleeds. The nose bleeds are weird. The really come out of nowhere. I will be sitting there and all of a sudden it feels like my nose is getting severe post nasal drip. Then I look down and there is blood on the floor, shirt, desk, etc. The usually end pretty soon after they start so no major damage done, just strange to deal with. The shots are not that bad and I am doing better than expected and self-administering them. The needles are not that large and the hardest part is being confident with the piercing. You soon learn that being a wuss about piercing causes more anxiety that just going for it and stabbing yourself. Once the needle is in the hard part is over. On a positive note about the shots, at least I can continue to make use of my hazardous materials wastebasket now that I am not doing chemo. It was beginning to look lonely in the bathroom. Now it has a task.

Tomorrow we will be going to the benefit in Tuscaloosa for myself and Susan, who works in the school of social work. She has been battling melanoma for about the same amount of time that I have been battling my cancer. She is currently receiving some guidance in treatment from MD Anderson in Houston and we are wishing her the best in her treatment. There will be fun to be had tomorrow and we look forward to sharing the night with many friends who are showing support.

Have a happy 4th of July everyone!

Josh

Monday, June 29, 2009

Home again

Josh was discharged today. He'll have to stay on injectible blood thinners for about 6 months (the med is called Lovenox). The pain/swelling in his neck is much better but not completely gone, which I guess means the clot is shrinking but not completely gone. His head hurts too, but the doctor assured me that doesn't mean the clot is moving up; it's in a vein so if it went anywhere it would go to his lungs. (Not that that would be great either.) But he's okay for now and the surgery for next month should still go on as planned. We're both VERY glad to be home.