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06/26/2007: "Tied to the Umbilical Cord"
It’s interesting that the big fear I had for this surgery was the recovery time. After talking to a couple of surgeons, I envisioned myself lying in bed for weeks on heavy painkillers and unable to move. Now two weeks after surgery, Nick and I were in the backyard putting together one of those portable garages. I still have some pain that shoots across my shoulders when I move wrong, but I am on very little pain medication and can’t complain with the progress.
Carrying an oxygen tube around with me is a whole other story. Talk about a cramp in style. I have a generator in the house that extracts oxygen from the air and feeds it to 50 foot of tubing. This lets me get around the upstairs and down to the laundry. I went to an aquarium store to buy a valve and tubing so I could split it and run a separate line out the window and down to the bedroom for sleep. For travel, I have several bottles that I can take with me, each giving me about 4 hours of freedom. Everything has a setting from 0 to 8 for the amount our oxygen that blows through the tube. Mine is set at about 4.
I can go without it for a few minutes if I am sitting around. If I try to walk or hit the stairs, I am gasping for air and quickly looking for my life support. I have a hard time thinking of myself as needing this to live. One doctor did think my numbers were such that I should be able to get off of it eventually. I cling to that thought and hope that future treatments will reduce the lung tumors and clear things up for me.
Thursday I meet with the doctor to go over my next stage of chemotherapy. I will be going on a pill form of 5-FU (the standard for colon cancer) called Xeloda. As soon as I have healed enaough, they also want to add the drug Avastin that is put out by the Bay Area biotech firm, Genentech. Last quarter sales of this drug was over $500 million dollars.
Replies: 9 Comments
on Wednesday, June 27th, Peter Vogel said
Doug, without all the masterful Web sites you've done for the Port Chicago history, it would be forgotten. You're the best, a model, Superman, for us all in your strength, courage and perserverance. All my love goes to you, Alex, Nick, and Jeanette.
on Wednesday, June 27th, sando said
I am SO happy to hear you are building something w/Nick in the backyard - wow! You know if you are still using the little plastic thing in your nose for the oxygen that you had in the hospital - you could paint it black and I think it could pass as a killer moustache. Keep us updated on the chemo and all – I too was worried when we did not hear from you for a few days and I was glad to see yesterday’s posting…
xoxoxoxoxoxo
on Wednesday, June 27th, Woody and Ingrid said
Good on yer, Mate!
It's truly amazing what progress has been made in the fight against cancer in the past decade. Your fight has covered all the bases, it seems! We think of you daily.
Love from us both,
Ingrid and Woody
on Tuesday, June 26th, Michelle Powell said
Hi Rock,
Steve told me about his conversation with you today. The oxygen sounds like a hassle, but you are so clever, I'm sure you'll have it "MacGyvered" so you can go all over the house soon! I'm so glad the doctors have been able to offer a chemo treatment plan for the tumors. Steve mentioned that we might see you this weekend and I was thrilled! I would love to see you and hope you are able to make it. You are in my thoughts and prayers daily. I so admire your courage, intelligence and grace in dealing with the hand you've been dealt. You and Jeanette are truly an inspiration and have affected so many of us in such a positive way. Keep fighting the "Good Fight!"
Love, Michelle
on Tuesday, June 26th, Mia said
I was so happy to see your post today! I get worried when you don't post. I love that you went to the aquarium store for tubing! Keep hanging in there.
Much love.
on Tuesday, June 26th, Hellian said
Umbilical cord or not, as soon as you're up for it you're due for a lunch with the girls! Glad to hear you're up and around, keep getting stronger! Love you!
on Tuesday, June 26th, Jean Wells said
Hi Doug,
I was very relieved to see your blog today and to hear how well you are doing! As many have mentioned before, you truly are amazing!!! I don't know if you saw the Sunday (June 24) Times - Business & Technology section - Front page story, "Genetech battles odds" ... they talk about the success of their drug Avastin. I had read the article over the weekend and revisited it after I read your blog. Please know that you are in our prayers every day (and, my husband always includes you in his prayer at the dinner table)...keep healin' and getting stronger every day so you can make a break from that umbilical cord and go to lunch with the girls! Take care, Jean
on Tuesday, June 26th, Kelly Owens said
Glad you're out and about! Phew, they're not kidding when they say you can't keep a good man down! Hey, here's another accomplishment to add to your resume. My Giant Schnauzer, my constant companion and running partner, now 8, was diagnoised with autoimmune hemolytic anemia on 1/2/07. The meds we put her on practically did her in. She lost most of her hair and 20 pouds. She had to be carried to go outside and up and down stairs. There have been six cases of this disease in the last year that my vet has treated. My dog is the only survivor of the six and I attribute it to your blog, especially the 4/11/06 entry listing supplements for strengthening the immune system. She's been on most of those supplements, plus some of your other hints (garlic, flax seed oil, lots of filtered water, etc.) for the past six months. Oddly, she's always been a vegeterian, fresh fruits and veggies, salmon, anchovies, etc. Anyway, she's again running 2 miles with me almost daily (not so fast-paced as in the past). She is a true joy in my life. I love to run in the woods and it's nice having a big black dog by my side making me feel safe. I just wanted to thank you for all your research. You've touched so many of our lives in so many ways, from health to parenting to marriage to living a full life ... it's endless. Thanks for the great gifts! We continue our prayers and positive thoughts.
on Tuesday, June 26th, Cindy said
Hi Doug, So glad to hear you're up moving and going. Leave it to you to figure out one step beyond to split the tubing for more flexibility! Still can't keep a good man down. Take it easy on yourself and don't push too hard. There's healing in rest, too!
