Progress is still fairly slow. I am still having problems with the passage of food through my bowel, with contractions that I can feel followed by ominous squelching. I still need to take regular painkillers as well as drugs to reduce the power of the contractions. My bowel actions are also unpredictable and my weight is not increasing.
I get very tired and can't yet drive or walk very far and I have lost a lot of muscle bulk. My diet is of small, low-residue meals.
Given that I still have a post-chemotherapy autonomic neuropathy. some residual cancer and an anastomosis to cope with, I shouldn't be despondent, but it is now a month from surgery and I could wish for quicker progress.
I learned today that the hospital at which I was treated is the Acute Hospital of the Year according to the Health Services Journal. That's reassuring.
Dear Terry,
ReplyDeleteTry springling Pro-cal on your food, add it to cups of tea, from time to time, and stir in soups.
I am confident your weight will increase.
Pro-cal- available on prescription.
WonderPowder.
Kind regrads
Lillian
Dear Terry,
ReplyDelete10 years ago when I was diagnosed with CLL my Hb was 8 it's now 14 (female WBC was 50 now 80 small nodes). I lost the fatigue within a few months by juicing leafy green vegetables for easy absorption of minerals and electrolytes etc and adding 2 crushed iron tablets occasionally. It had to be what restored my energy because it was the only change to my diet which was already okay except I rarely ate vegetables let alone 'raw!' and never so green.
Another plus was that it changed the flora in my large intestine. The raw green juice seems to colonize different bacteria which either consumes the gas other bacteria make or over-populates them. Whichever, I am most pleased to now have a calm comfortable bowel. Also the change in flora changed the odour, consequently I often tell people raw greens is like toothpaste in the intestines. Most surprising at that one.
Should you decide to try, I'd recommend small quantities for your delicate situation, drunk immediately (since it spoils quickly even in the fridge) and with lemon juice for tang and a "spoonful of sugar to make the medicine go down" (a juiced apple is better though ;-)
All the best
I wish you speedy recovery. As a cancer patient, I too understand how difficult it is too passively and patiently wait for recovery. Sometimes it seems as though it will never come but soon you will wake up and feel much better out of the blue. This is what always seems to happen to me, and my wish for you.
ReplyDeleteDear Dr Terry,
ReplyDeleteI am praying for you. Thank you for your most inspiring blog.
Dear Terry,
ReplyDeleteYou are always in our thoughts and prayers and I hope we'll hear very shortly that you are feeling better. Patience can be difficult, can't it? Learning of your hospital's stature is reassuring indeed!
All the best,
Deb C.
Dear Terry,
ReplyDeleteBack again. I'm sure you know, but just in case. Often its not only solids blocking the passage of food through the intestines but masses of tiny gas bubbles locked in with it. My theory is that this registers as a 'halt! too dry need more moisture' message to the cells linings of the intestinal walls which slows down the peristaltic muscle to avoid damage to a dry colon. So anything that reduces gas also keeps the bolus thinner.
I have experience in colonic hydrotherapy and sure enough when it doesn't work on cue there's always gas holding up the works and its pressure can trigger a most unpleasant pain signal.
Warmest regards
Skye
Dear Terry,
ReplyDeleteRest when your body tells you to rest. Get enough protein in your diet to maintain the muscle you have, and start out very slowly with some kind of movement exercises. "this too will pass" was my mantra for the months of FCR & the severe Salmonella that followed it. And it did, and I am great now. You will be, too! Be patient with the tiny steps of progress.
Kind regards,
Marcia in CA
When I went down to 41 kg. the nutritionist put me on Clinutren, two a day, which was 740 calories daily on top of my meals, it helped greatly, I got it on prescription first from the hospital later on from my GP. As I found the flavour very strong I diluted it with fruit juice and drank it throughout the day.
ReplyDeleteThinking of you and wishing for your speedy recovery.
Kind Regards
Chonette
Dear Dr. Terry,
ReplyDeleteplease take good care of yourself, for the sake of your immediate family, and your extended family too, all of us with CLL and whatever else who need you very much and count on you to be around in good health and good spirits for a long long time to come.
With greatest respect and admiration,
Arn
Dear Terry,
ReplyDeleteI am praying that you will feel better soon. You are an inspiration to me.
Carter
Dear Terry,
ReplyDeleteSorry to hear of your on going struggles.
High caloric liquid nutrition may make sense to build your strength
You are in my though and prayers
Brian