Well, tomorrow is the big day. Hurdle #2, my next chemo doc appointment. I feel it will go well. All systems seem to be going well. Biggest challenge is wanting to eat, which just doesn't happen. I do have my taste buds back and food tastes like it did but it just doesn't "summon" me like it used to. I find myself eating only because I know I have to. Just like putting gas in a car. No fuel, no go. And, when I do, my FPU "asks" me why I put it in there. Double Whammy. Even with all that I'm feeling well enough to work and play. Even as I write I'm in Las Vegas after just having finished an inventory here, yesterday. But, let me tell you, I've got some rest while I was here --- easy job. Still keep my buddies Tommy T and Jimmy D in your prayers. More to follow after tomorrow's appointment.

Well, tomorrow is the big day. Hurdle #2, my next chemo doc appointment. I feel it will go well. All systems seem to be going well. Biggest challenge is wanting to eat, which just doesn't happen. I do have my taste buds back and food tastes like it did but it just doesn't "summon" me like it used to. I find myself eating only because I know I have to. Just like putting gas in a car. No fuel, no go. And, when I do, my FPU "asks" me why I put it in there. Double Whammy. Even with all that I'm feeling well enough to work and play. Even as I write I'm in Las Vegas after just having finished an inventory here, yesterday. But, let me tell you, I've got some rest while I was here --- easy job. Still keep my buddies Tommy T and Jimmy D in your prayers. More to follow after tomorrow's appointment.

Today I go for a Cat Scan and have a chemo Doc appointment on the 30th. For the last five days I've felt like a regular person. Good energy and waking up at 5 every morning planning my day. Just like the old days! Please, keep my two buddies, Tommy T and Jimmy D in your prayers.

Every time I look at my "skinny" picture it makes me grateful how far I've come. Now weigh 10 pounds more that I did then.
Well, I'm four months and two weeks into having a Food Processing Unit instead of a stomach. I'm still eating 4 meals a day (should be 5) and food tastes "sorta" good. Doesn't taste bad but don't ask where I want to go out to eat because it doesn't make any difference. I'm going to eat a half a potion, because I know that I must. Kind of a drag but l'm adjusting!
Had a funny thing happen a coupla weeks ago. Somehow I lost my valve that connects my feeding tube to the sack that has my "instant meal" in it. Searched the house to no avail. Started checking phamacies and medical supply houses. Finally found a week later. Hey, I survived a week without my "nightly feedings." Me weight did not seem to flucuate but I did find I started each day with less energy and finished less. But, I got everything done each day that I wanted to do. You just do what you have to do. Still have some fluid in the upper part of my right lung. Docs keep saying, "It should just clear itself out with time." Hmmm, I sure would like a method I could do it myself or a "projected date." Get to go back for another check in a coupla weeks, to see if I've developed any "hot spots" since my "clear" reading. Please keep me in your prayers and my two buddies Tommy T and Jimmy D who I'm sharing this journey down Cancer Road with.
Love you all.

Just celebrated my "four month anniversary" of the surgery (and the accompanying chemo and rads) and it feels great. Still learning (and relearning) things as I go. Know that I must eat at least four times a day (really, five) in order to keep up my strength but I get "busy" and don't do it. Consequently, I run out of steam and don't get done what I should do, or not get it done to the level that I really want. If I use my feeding tube at night it gives me a head start the next AM, if I don't then I have no choice but to eat correctly. So here's what I've got to start right now. Use my tube every night (for now) and then begin to create my correct habit of eating and then start backing off the tube. Sounds easy so I'll do it. The challenge of eating still is that I can only eat about 3/4 of a regular serving and then food gets to not tasting good and I feel full. Forcing myself to eat more at a setting just upsets my food processing area and then I really don't want to eat. Now, I'm not complaining, mind you, just stating the facts --- and mainly for those coming behind me with this same challenge to know that this sort of thing happens! Rest assured, I can do what I want to do, it's just how I feel afterwards that I can control --- if I eat right. Worked the polls last Tuesday from 7 to 4:30 (I did sit some when there was a lull in the action) but let me tell you, I went home and went to sleep early and missed my guy's victory party.
Can't begin to tell you all how much I appreciate your prayers. Could not have made it without you.
Lynda continues to be right by my side every step of the way and encourages me beyond belief. I can't imagine what it would be like to not have family and friends. Without them one would have no life, but that's sure not my case.
Love you all!