The photographic image comes from the pond just to the left of our back porch. The ducks are ceramic and float from March until November, when they find haven with other yard kitsch away from Winter's winds; the ducks are now seven years old. To the right, you can see the reflection of our large copper ball. This is the waterfall that we rearranged last weekend so it would make more noise... The plants are water lettuce.
The metaphoric image conjures up neat rows of aberrant cells: ripe for redirection, manageable, massageable, malleable... ...easy pickings...
We, unfortunately, don't know much more today than we did prior to yesterday's meeting with Dr. C:
He is not at all concerned that I've gained 10 lbs. in the last month; I sure as hell am! *weighty sighs*
He _is_ concerned that my blood pressure is now running consistently in the 150/100 range, the concern being the diastolic (lower) number. Dr. A had expressed concerns about my blood pressure being high earlier this summer, during chemo. We've been thinking it's situational, i.e., hospital trips are stressful, radiotherapy sessions are stressful, the medication regime is stressful, hell, what _isn't_ stressful? *sighs* We've been thinking that I would be able to learn how to better self-regulate it through exercise, diet, relaxation techniques, etc.
We got a good Blood Pressure cuff and have been taking my pressure daily for some time now. So far, our good dietary and exercise intentions don't seem to be working. *heavy sighs*
We've decided that having my BP up in the 160/100 range every morning only to be able to bring it down to 140/90 at best at rest is probably not the best for my system. We've decided to use a prescription of hydrochlorothiazide until the radiotherapy is completed.
When will that be, we asked? Depends on whether we do "Booster Treatments." Since that's a radiotherapy thang, and not a chemotherapy thang, we won't have the details about that until next Monday, which is our next day with Dr. B.
The last scheduled day of the 25 treatments is Wednesday, 9/19. Were there to be Booster Treatments, they would consist of 5-10 treatments with re-calibrated rays -- narrower, with more intense focus.
My skin seems to be showing no ill effects of the radiotherapy *crosses fingers* The Radiotherapy Shooters still allow me to swallow, but I'm noticing their effects wearing off sooner and sooner each day...
In any case, we meet again with Dr. C next Wednesday to monitor the BP, and we'll get copies of the hematology records at that time. Cell counts didn't come up at the last meeting, which means they're remaining in the normal range.
It seems like as long as we continue to show no serious ill effects from the radiotherapy, the Booster Treatments are a consideration. Based on that, another CT has been scheduled for late October, which will be a month after the last treatment -- the period of time they say the radiotheraputic effect remains in place. We won't know until the results of that CT just how many cells remain.
So here we remain, like sitting ducks...
*quack*
2 comments:
Here's my somewhat narrow perspective on the blood pressure issue. It all relates to water, which makes the sitting ducks an even better metaphor. Hydrochlorothyazide is a diuretic, so it lowers your blood pressure by lowering the volume of liquid in your bloodstream. Retained water could explain the 10 pounds as well as the higher blood pressure. And you talked a few posts back about the radiotherapy realigning water molecules(?). I don't know anything about how that works, but it makes me wonder if it isn't all related.
While we are on the subject of water, I am excited to report that I just saw my latest ceramic creation-a large pot that when placed in a yet to be created bowl will be a fountain. The glaze is more beautiful than either Kris or I expected-it already looks like flowing water. I will take my camera to the studio next week and post a picture on Nancyturtle's Notes.
Makes sense to me that it's about hydration. We were talking last night about it, but now I think I recall I took hydroclorothyazide for a little while while my MD was working on my blood pressure.
I'm a tough customer so I had to end up on two kinds (which actually, I guess most of us do). I bet you get right sized after radiation is over.
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