hi friends. i’ve meant to write more but i just didn’t get to it this weekend. i just got home a bit ago from treatment #21/30 and my weekly doctor’s appointment. i had a lot of side effects to report and ask about this time. i’m really feeling the cumulative effect starting to take shape.

headaches haven’t been too bad but do require the occasional ibuprofen. nausea has been constant and the zofran is only helping about half the time. fun new side effects include that i seem to have developed reflux or some sort of gassy stomach situation, as i’m burping 24/7 and it’s really unpleasant. doc doesn’t think it’s radiation related but maybe a reaction to the zofran and ibuprofen or combo – ibuprofen can of course mess with your stomach lining and i don’t usually take it very often. so i guess it could be that. he wants me to start taking pepsid. i also noticed yesterday and especially last night when driving in the dark that my eye’s aren’t working great together – meaning double vision – and the right eye is super droopy. he’s given me a script for some low-grade steroids to help with the brain swelling which could be responsible for the eye stuff. i hate taking steroids but i’m willing to try it to see if it will help. it was kinda scary driving in the dark last night like that but i just had to revert to my one-eyed driving techniques that i got good at after surgery when this bothered me before. (it’s not as bad in the daytime as it is at night.)

he also recommended boswellia extract (aka frankincense) which apparently has been proven in studies to help with the swelling. i love that he recommends natural/alternative medicines.

i also told him my skin seems to be a little more fragile/sensitive on my face and ears, as i’ve noticed a few sores here and there that are unusual. he didn’t think the radiation should be causing that but said it’s possible. i told him i’m using aquaphor on them and that seems to be working and he said great. not much else i can do about that.

i have to run out to pick up stuff at the pharmacy and then go do 2 cat sits before attending the new orleans film fest screening of the scrim documentary at the broadside tonight, which starts at 7. busy night, and i’m moving slow, so trying to give myself ample time.

i’ll try to write more soon. thank you to all who’ve been bringing me food, giving me grocery and delivery gift cards and just checking on me. i really appreciate it. it helps me feel not so alone in all this and is definitely helping me eat better than i normally would!