Several friends and family members have written to tell\u00a0me that as a care giver, I must remember to take care of myself. \u00a0Of course they are right, and I thought I was doing well at that. \u00a0I’ve been \u00a0eating properly, and I’ve been walking. I’ve been sleeping better.\u00a0Writing this blog is a release for me. But yesterday I developed\u00a0an awful sore throat, and my lips and tongue\u00a0\u00a0are covered with white, painful bumps. It looks like Nick’s thrush, and it very well may be. Why is it that I always seem to need my doctor on a Tuesday, his day off?<\/p>\n
I’m back from the doctor’s office. It’s thrush. Thrush is\u00a0\u00a0not \u00a0 contagious. It’s typical among people whose immune systems are compromised, which accounts for Nick. Other people who commonly come down with thrush \u00a0are smokers, denture wearers, \u00a0diabetics, those who are pregnant or those under stress. Only one of the above\u00a0applies to me. \u00a0I don’t smoke, wear dentures, or have diabetes. As for pregnancy, \u00a0as my daughter would say, \u201cThat ship has sailed.\u201d \u00a0I guess my body is telling me that it feels stressed. \u00a0\u00a0Each day is one \u00a0day closer to July 15, after which I will breathe a huge sigh of relief that this \u201cadventure\u201d to destroy \u00a0the cancer has been completed, and the recovery from\u00a0\u00a0the adventure\u00a0will begin.<\/p>\n
Those who choose the field\u00a0of oncology are obviously very special.\u00a0\u00a0The people\u00a0\u00a0Nick deals with, including\u00a0his doctors, nurses, technicians, and even the parking\u00a0attendants, \u00a0are warm, friendly, and cheerful, treating everyone with patience and kindness. \u00a0I hope they all have ways of coping with the many stresses their jobs bring. They are unsung heroes.<\/p>\n
Nick had a message for me to share with our doctor (we have the same internist, Dr. H.).\u00a0Because of his weight loss, his cancer team has started talking about giving Nick a feeding tube. Nick wanted our internist to weigh in on that, no pun intended. \u00a0Dr. H. had this suggestion: if Nick\u00a0maintains his current weight, then he wouldn’t get the feeding tube, but if he loses any more weight, he would, even for just a few weeks. He is adding more Boost to his diet and asked for a full cup of milkshake last night. Thanks for that suggestion, Judy!<\/p>\n
Nausea is complicating Nick’s desire to consume more calories. I just picked up a prescription for that. Also, Nick wanted\u00a0his pain\u00a0medication changed. Three trips to CVS today! The pharmacy techs \u00a0know me.<\/p>\n
All of you who have called, \u00a0sent cards, e-mailed, prayed, and have sent positive wishes and offers of help to both of us are care givers, as well. Your kindnesses and caring mean more to us than words can say.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Several friends and family members have written to tell\u00a0me that as a care giver, I must remember to take care of myself. \u00a0Of course they are right, and I thought I was doing well at that. \u00a0I’ve been \u00a0eating properly, and I’ve been walking. I’ve been sleeping better.\u00a0Writing this blog is a release for me. … Continue reading The Care Giver<\/span>