No Complaints

The Chemo last Friday went well. The shortest duration yet. Only an hour and a half. And, aside from the B-12 shot, they only had to stick me once. My veins have held together really well through all of the Chemos this year ! I am fortunate that I don't need a port. Usually I come home with 3 stick sites in my right arm and one or two in my left. The Chemo can really take a toll on a person's veins. The staff at the hospital has been really good, though, so my veins are fine and they are able to get a good one right off the bat!
I talked to my Oncologist last Thursday and told him of the extreme irritability that I had been experiencing from the steroids. He allowed me to cut the doses in half. I was taking 2 tabs before Chemo Day and two after. And, they injected me with some the day of the Chemo. I usually began to feel angry at any little thing a day or two after the treatment. This time  I have not had that side effect. So, that is well. The steroid is to prevent a rash.
I have been feeling pretty normal and have more tiredness than fatigue. As I have mentioned previously, Alimta causes extreme fatigue. I am learning to pace myself and I obtained a book from the Library that lists the best practices for dealing with fatigue:

Limit your activities; do only those things that are most important to you.
Take several short naps or breaks during the day.
Try taking short walks or exercising lightly.
Maintain good nutrition; try to eat a well-balanced diet.
Ask for help when you need it.   
(Lung Cancer, A Guide to Diagnosis and Treatment. c. 2012 by Walter J. Scott, M.D., Addicus Books, Inc., Omaha NE)

Last week I was able to participate in the Heritage of Flight Festival. I was in the Parade on Saturday and, also, clowned around and twisted balloons afterward and on Sunday. A new clown that I am mentoring, Vanngo, joined with me in all of the activities. We also clowned around last Saturday (the 20th): We went to a shopping center and vended balloons, stopped by a restHome and visited with some good friends, then went to Church where we were informally dubbed Fools for the Lord. The sermon was about Noah and how he must have been ridiculed by his neighbors when God commanded him to build the Ark! I consider a large portion of my Clowning a Clown Ministry--as I visit hospital patients, nursing home patients and shut-ins. And, the smiles I elicit when I am out and about are my witness to the Love that the Lord shows to us each and every day! In fact, the Pastor at my Church has asked me to speak about my Cancer experience in Church this Sunday. There will be some other speakers also.

 

Vanngo has the potential to become a very viable Clown! She has been doing very well and when I offer Clown Classes (hopefully) after the first of next year, I am hoping she will be an Adjunct Professor! She hopes so too, as I don't think she could afford the classes and shouldn't have to take out a debilitating Student Loan in order to attend! We plan to go out Clowning around tomorrow (today, Wednesday) and are going to try to have a regular route on Saturdays of balloon sales, social visits and Church...

 

 

 

I have been feeling fairly normal since this last Chemo. I haven't had extreme fatigue, but I have been pacing myself. I have been feeling an overall tiredness, but I have been motivated. I have felt groggy and foggy, but I have cut down my coffee intake to one cup of coffee per day--and I mix whole beans with decaf coffee. And, halving the steroid intake reduces my wiredness.

 

I hope to feel well and confident enough to find a part-time job. I could use the money and the activity/self-esteem. I would also like to be able to afford and procure a Canine Companion by Christmas, our beloved dog, Matty, having passed away just last Fall.

 

There is still not enough hours in the day to accomplish all that I want to accomplish...but, I feel that I am doing a lot better and feeling a lot more normal. It is coming along in bursts and burps. Soon enough I may be able to have a more ordered Life again !

 

Life is Good...Life is an Adventure !!!

Proud as a Peacock (and Just as Pretty)

      (credit: Sunflower Clowne)
I was able to participate in the Fairborn Parade for the 4th of July this past week! And, I walked nearly the whole thing !
In Klown Kollege we were taught to cover our arms and if our neck was bare, we should apply make-up to the front and sides and back of the neck. However, it being so very, very hot on the 4th, I chose to wear my Red Skelton T-shirt with a pair of formal shirt cuffs w/jeweled cuff-links. I took my new, formal jacket replete with medals and colorful epaulets and made good use of it when I passed the viewing stand.
The Giggles and Grins Clown Alley had a sparse attendance, possibly due to the heat. Mickey, Boof, Sunflower, Good Grief and Wally were there. The crowd was surprisingly large and, as always, very appreciative of the Spectacle. I passed a few stickers out to the audience as well as a very few, select clown noses.
I walked the first portion of the Parade and as we neared the viewing stand I climbed into the GnG truck and put on my Jacket. But, I was able to walk four-fifths of the Parade! I don't know how I did it. Possibly because I had a B-12 shot a few days prior and was starting on a regimen of Folic Acid, I don't know. Maybe it was because I was so excited to be able to attend my first parade for this year. I started the year taking fairly long walks, but back in April or so I found that I could only walk a hundred yards or so before my energy gave out.

So, I was very proud to be able to walk in the Parade! And, I fully expected to pay dearly for it the next day. However, I wasn't sore or overly-tired! The weather has remained hot and even though I had some more events to do, I decided that I had better not push my luck and so I have pretty much stayed home for the days since the Parade.
I really want to being doing more and hopefully I will get the chance. Right now, though, I need to re-build my strength in order to start my new Chemo treatment on the 21st of July. The previous 6 Chemos took a lot out of me and I have no idea what this new drug will be doing with me. As soon as I start the treatment and can see how well I am doing on it, I may be able to start volunteering again at the library and looking for some other opportunities. I certainly hope so.
With regards to Cancer, I have been thinking about how fortunate I am to be doing so well, It is a real shock to one's lifestyle to realize that every change in your body makes you immediately think of the Cancer. I used to think that my aches and pains were related to aging or my bad back. When I got some sniffles I figured that I was getting allergies or a cold. But, not anymore. Any little change in my health immediately raises red flags and I wonder if the cancer is coming back to attack me again. Of course, some things I wonder if the Chemo is responsible, but it is always at the forefront of my thoughts that Cancer is going to try to do me in. No matter how much I try to ignore it or put it out of my mind, it is just something that won't get out of my thoughts. I would imagine that anyone that has been diagnosed with cancer feels this way. Even if you find that the cancer has been defeated or pushed into remission, you are always on the alert for signs that it is back knocking on your door! Bummer...I should just roll with the punches and joke about it...maybe someday I will.

                                                 Sunflower, Boof and Careful the Clown (credit: M.Thompson)

                                                  Sunflower, Careful the Clown and Mickey(credit: M.Thompson)

I am so happy to have been in the Parade! And, happy to hang out with my Clown Buddies! And, Proud to have been able to walk so far with the Parade!
Life is Good...Life is an Adventure !!!

Energy Outlook

"When you are in the valley, keep your goal firmly in view and you will get the renewed energy to continue the climb." -Denis Waitley (an American motivational speaker and writer, consultant and best-selling author).
I am finished with Chemo for now. And, as I mentioned previously, I was apprehensive about this week because I usually have a falling energy level as a Chemo session approaches. But, guess what? My energy level has remained normal. Of course, normal is relative. If I am clowning, I am energized. When I try to go for a walk my energy level drops rapidly. Yesterday I tried to clean some weeds from the driveway and I did pretty well without overdoing it. My wife brought me some water and I worked on the weeds for probably twenty minutes. Afterward I sat down and was very tired. Not dangerously tired, but worn-out to be sure. I was proud of myself and happy that I may be able to help a lot more around the house.
I had a PET scan last Tuesday and will get the results next Thursday (the 28th, June). I have done well with the Chemo and have received and accepted the Healing from the Lord.
My feet and legs pain me and the feet tingle quite a bit. The Chemo is the cause of that. I have had a few instances of a kind of apnea while awake and will ask my Doctor about it.

 I went to a Dance recital that one of our Clowns (Mickey) was in (along with his daughter, Scooter) on the 15th of June. He had requested the participation of as many clowns as our Alley could muster to greet the attendees and pass some stickers out to them. There was a good showing of Clowns. The group that I went with, Buttons and Mr. Buttons and Good Grief, stayed for the first 15 presentations and then we left at the first intermission. I became engrossed in the performances and twice I noticed that I had stopped breathing. It is an odd and curious feeling. The automatic breathing that we are born with just seemed to turn off! When this happens, there is nothing that you can do. I experienced it earlier this year and found that it is impossible to will yourself to breathe! You just have to wait and see if it starts back up...I know that it sounds terrifying, but it is not. I grew up with severe asthma and when you can't get enough air into your lungs and they are in spasms and you are also coughing--THAT is a panic! This apnea is just an awareness that you are not breathing and it seems as if your lungs are paralyzed along with your chest so nothing can be done about it. You just wait and hope that it restarts itself!
Anyway, I am glad that I haven't been experiencing the fatigue that I usually get in the 3rd week after Chemo. And, I pray that it holds so that I can gradually (gradually!) begin enjoying normal activities.
I have a new look. I am going to be wearing a white, former military dress coat and a small orange top hat. And, my good friend, Susan has made me two over-sized neck ties and a glittery, colorful bow-tie! I am making some medals for the coat and plan to sew them on this weekend. I have already made some epaulets for the coat and affixed them. Below is a picture of the beginning of the new look:

The 4th of July Parade and Block Party is approaching fast and I am looking forward to it! The Block Party has been moved to the community park this year because of downtown construction projects. So, I will find myself a nice shade tree and park myself and twist some balloons. I love to do Walk-a-round Clowning, but I will see how it goes. As far as the Parade, I will find someone's vehicle to ride atop and then walk every now and then--as needed!
Get your info about the Parade and Block Party----------HERE
If you are in the area, come on by and make sure to look me up ! I'll make an Alien Sword, Princess Wand or Hammerhead Shark for you ! (out of balloons, mind you).
Life is Good...Life is an Adventure !!!