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01/04/2008: "Cold and Flu Season"
As mentioned, the family headed down to San Diego for a week following Christmas. The day we arrived, I became so sick that I spent the night in an easy chair trying to help out my lungs. I have been struggling to breath lately but this was quite a turn for the worst. I began to cough up material that I will spare you from hearing about. Just amazed at what can reside in your lungs. The following day I checked into UCSD Med Center’s emergency room where they ran a blood test, strep throat test, chest x-ray and a chest CT scan. I checked in at 10am and didn’t get out until 8pm that day. The conclusion was that I must have some kind of respiratory infection and just needed some antibiotics. So began our vacation on the beach. We had a beautiful beach house on the Strand and it turned out to be as good a place as any to bundle up in a blanket and watch the waves and people go by.
I have been proud of the fact that I have not gotten sick over these past three years. Considering my condition and the number of times that I have been on chemotherapy, I have been doing pretty well. Chemo is notorious for lowering your white blood counts and for destroying your bone marrow that produces your red blood cells. It is truly an immune system depressant. I credit my supplements for keeping me healthy. Unfortunately, when I do get sick like this, I always wonder whether it is a progression of the disease or something I will eventually recover from and improve. I try to hold faith that I will improve and regain what quality of life I had but you never know. The alternative is a frightening proposition.
Yesterday I went in for a round of chemo and they decided to give me another week off. One of my drugs, Avastin, can cause bleeding in the lungs for lung cancer patients. Though my lung tumors are colon cancer, I have been bringing up blood so it is a concern. Still, I think I am on the road to recovery and am going out this evening to hear some live music. I hope all of you made it through the holiday season in good health.
