I have survived an amazing month!
Lots of tummy tools and more
This journal entry is really for both of us. I have experienced a new round of unforeseen challenges and pain levels. Thus, lots of information is here and another email message will probably come later today. Yep! A 2-for-1 email day!
Also new folks have asked to receive these emails and they may be sort of clueless about the website and these messages — so please look around BlairLewis.com and you all will figure it out over time.
Thank you very much.
1. A few weeks ago, the new chemo started.
3 days later gravity caught me off guard
An ambulance came to my door.
20+ hours in the emergency room and 5 days in the hospital
Fears and a fracture
Spinal fractures at sites where cancer is also residing really frightened me.
That’s where family and the amazing hospital staff really responded big time with love and medications.
Homeopathic remedies for fractures (Calc-phos, Symphytum, and Arnica), modern pain medicines, fantastic nurses, physical therapists, and occupational therapists were incredibly helpful. However, my loving wife and supportive (and unanswered) family messages topped them all! Amazing hospital staff!!!
Absolutely wonderful folks, thank you all!!!
Make sure your family knows that pain prevents you from replying to messages and answering phone calls.
2. Old humor that did not offend 50 years ago…
Dad, why does mom take so long to get dressed?
She has to slow down at the curves.
New version: Why do we bedridden folks need to stand up for 3-5 minutes after eating or drinking?
Because foods and beverages slow down at the curves.
To belch and pee and poop, it truly helps us digest our food if we stand up after consumption to inspire our nutrition to move from the front door (mouth) to the back door (just guess…) in order to stay nourished.
Chemo restarts next week after my fracture pause … oh boy!
3. Urgent Advice
Learn to wash your tush with fresh water as soon as possible!!
Luckily our time living in India and as yoga students, inspired us to eliminate toilet paper 30+ years ago from the bathroom.
We learned to pour water from behind, down the behind, following the tush’s continental divide. Then a tiny parade of clean cotton towels for dry and polish would follow. Toilet paper be gone!!!
A super valuable skill when life brings port-a-potties to your hospital and home, especially when standing and bending, etc., are not an option. Our dearest friends later gifted us the best gift ever… Brondell Bidet CL950 Luxury Bidet Toilet Seat with Remote Control 6 years or more later and the Tush Wash is still going strong. [Now more than ever!]
Thank you, thank you, thank you, …I no longer blush when I flush!!!
The water bucket brigade and hoses still live in the larger bathroom with the cotton towels at ‘parade rest.’
4. Stay ahead of the clay!
I take MiraLAX (a tasteless powder) every morning and Senna 8.6mg (a tablet) in the afternoon to manage and prevent any constipation issues during chemotherapy and when using lots of pain medication.
MiraLAX moistens the stool (turning it into mush)
Senna helps expel the stool (providing the royal push)
These two are famously known as Mush and Push.
This combination works very well.
Never delay using any form of bowel management that you or your medical providers suggest. Once the constipation is there with clay-like hard stools, life is really uncomfortable.
Stay ahead of the clay.
Let mush and push lead the way!
*** Here is the Ayurvedic version for those loving strong tastes with super brave tongues: Consult your teacher about Triphala, Hajmola tablets (my favorite), and Clear Being capsules – only for the brave and well-trained students. I use all of them at various times and combinations with adult supervision.
4. Orally disintegrating…how many folk songs begin with this?
My favorite anti-nausea medicine (Zofran) is labelled “orally disintegrating”
I love that phrase.
However, trying to use it in a song or poem seems to lose its charm.
5. Home based physical therapy and occupational therapy has started.
Healing is much more exhausting and time consuming than I could ever imagine.
Thank you for your cards, calls and messages.
Because some of you are also patients with various challenges, I try to include tips and insights that may seem a little crude but useful for those who need them.
I will probably tell you more later today.
I do try to post entries every 5-10 days but the last 4 weeks have been a roller coaster ride. I read every reply but rarely answer them personally.
Love,
Terri and Blair
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Fear is selfish.
Courage is selfless.