NYC Journal

This weeks’s four radiation treatments are a little rough. Imagine having to hold a full bladder for 25-30 minutes and how uncomfortable that can be.

A full bladder keeps it kinda out of the way of the radiation beam I’m told.

After the procedure I pee about 4-5 times about every 5 minutes. Kinda disruptful.

So in between peeing after treatment I went to the bank, the Post Office, and a few stores and a lumberyard. I think I found these heavy hinges I need for my home built carriage doors. Each hinge can support 100 pounds and I think I’ll use 3 on each 4x8 door.

My guess is that each door could weigh 175 pounds. I like “engineering factor” and overbuilding. Perhaps I have some German in me. LOL. Each hinge is $29.00 and I need 12, so $248.00 for the hinges.

We have a Spotted Lantern Fly infestation. This upsets “Maggie” greatly. Dawn dishwashing liquid can kill them but you kinda have to stalk them from behind, or they jump. Dawn detergent is used to clean wildlife after oil spills BTW.

Tonight a birthday dinner for the father of our grandkids. He is only 20 years younger than me. The grandson insists that our Baby-Victorian is his house. He is almost 3 years old, mighty entitled already.

Cal
 
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A friend here e-mailed me, and wondered if I’m alright. I have not been posting in the very early mornings like I usually do. My absence was a concern.

I come from Long Island (Lawn-Guy-Land) where a researcher discovered that Long Islanders whine 5 times the national average. I can say this: Long Island was full of unhappy people, a bunch of whiners, and of course there is mucho entitlement that goes with that.

So I try not to whine to escape the culture I grew up with. I’m not the type who complains, just the opposite is I am happy-happy.

So I now recognize I have to be truthful about how I am really doing. Holding a full bladder is akin to torture for the radiation procedure. I have a 9:00 AM slot, and if I miss that slot due to not having a full bladder, another patient moves in and I end up getting punished by having to endure more discomfort that necessary.

Point is I never want to not have a full bladder at 9:00 AM. At 8:10 at home I drink/guzzle around 32 ounces of water. Previously before this I drank 16 ounces of water plus perhaps 12 ounces of milk in my steel cut oats. Pretty much I’m overhydrated to avoid punishment of having to wait for a later slot.

So after I get my treatment the first thing I do is empty my bladder, then about 5 minutes later I have to go again, and in another 5 minutes yet again. So I pee 4 times in 4 minutes.

Know that I get up and avoid coffee, so this is a different punishment.

I get up around 4 times a night to pee, but most of the time it is pressure from gas. I get sleep deprive from disrupted sleep.

Then I have my medication schedule. The inhibitor requires an empty stomach and for an hour after I can’t eat. Then I need to take a steroid that requires food. Also I need to have empty bowels before I do the guzzle, so I can maintain my full bladder.

So my mornings this past week with 4 radiation treatments kinda took over my life. I have 35 more treatments to go…

So I don’t know if it’s over hydration or bowel irritation that is causing me to micro-poop throughout the day. Either is due to radiation treatment.

Tonight when I got home after a nice birthday dinner (seafood) I experienced a bad wet fart.

So now know that I am a mess. Warm flashes disrupt my sleep also, and they make it very hard to fall back asleep. It is no lie that I am about half the man I use to be with about half my strength, and about half my energy. Pretty easy to see how this can lead to weight gain and development of other chronic diseases.

I am also prone to heat stroke, so the heat and humidity bother me in an exaggerated manner.

So the fact is I’m kinda suffering, and it is hard to do anything. I’m struggling…

Cal
 
A few suggestions. The Buddhist monk in me resists giving any sort of 'advice' to anybody. Even our cats.

Talk to one of your specialists or your GP about your symptoms. Communication is the key to everything.

Breakfast like a king, dine like the prime minister, and sup like a peasant.

No food after 6.30 or 7.00, depending on how late you go to bed. I'm usually up til midnight, so I allow myself to eat as late as 7.

Cut the carbs. Mine are rolled oats and brown rice. White flour stuff is out, full stop. (I suspect you already do/don't do this, but I decided to mention it anyway, for those who don't/do.)

Drink lots of water, ideally filtered or at the very least boiled and cooled. Check your hydration when you go to the bathroom and look at the color of your, well, you know. Mid to day yellow means more water.

No alcohol in the evenings after dinner. You don't drink, so it isn't an issue. I do, but let's not go there.

I'm almost 78 and these tips keep me going. Only suggesting, not preaching. YMMD...
 
DU,

I follow your practices. All my specialists are great. Monday I have a check-in with my radiation oncologist. Last time I saw him was last Monday.

It seems things have opened up over the past 5 days with the 4 treatments. My body is great-full that today is Saturday and I can rest and recover.

All the side effects were tolerable, but radiation is kinda mucho evil.

Today I think it is not being over hydrated that has my bowels upset. The proof is in the toilet with a solid poop.

Oh-well lucky me.

Cal
 
Calzone said:
A friend here e-mailed me, and wondered if I’m alright. I have not been posting in the very early mornings like I usually do. My absence was a concern.

I come from Long Island (Lawn-Guy-Land) where a researcher discovered that Long Islanders whine 5 times the national average. I can say this: Long Island was full of unhappy people, a bunch of whiners, and of course there is mucho entitlement that goes with that.

So I try not to whine to escape the culture I grew up with. I’m not the type who complains, just the opposite is I am happy-happy.

So I now recognize I have to be truthful about how I am really doing. Holding a full bladder is akin to torture for the radiation procedure. I have a 9:00 AM slot, and if I miss that slot due to not having a full bladder, another patient moves in and I end up getting punished by having to endure more discomfort that necessary.

Point is I never want to not have a full bladder at 9:00 AM. At 8:10 at home I drink/guzzle around 32 ounces of water. Previously before this I drank 16 ounces of water plus perhaps 12 ounces of milk in my steel cut oats. Pretty much I’m overhydrated to avoid punishment of having to wait for a later slot.

So after I get my treatment the first thing I do is empty my bladder, then about 5 minutes later I have to go again, and in another 5 minutes yet again. So I pee 4 times in 4 minutes.

Know that I get up and avoid coffee, so this is a different punishment.

I get up around 4 times a night to pee, but most of the time it is pressure from gas. I get sleep deprive from disrupted sleep.

Then I have my medication schedule. The inhibitor requires an empty stomach and for an hour after I can’t eat. Then I need to take a steroid that requires food. Also I need to have empty bowels before I do the guzzle, so I can maintain my full bladder.

So my mornings this past week with 4 radiation treatments kinda took over my life. I have 35 more treatments to go…

So I don’t know if it’s over hydration or bowel irritation that is causing me to micro-poop throughout the day. Either is due to radiation treatment.

Tonight when I got home after a nice birthday dinner (seafood) I experienced a bad wet fart.

So now know that I am a mess. Warm flashes disrupt my sleep also, and they make it very hard to fall back asleep. It is no lie that I am about half the man I use to be with about half my strength, and about half my energy. Pretty easy to see how this can lead to weight gain and development of other chronic diseases.

I am also prone to heat stroke, so the heat and humidity bother me in an exaggerated manner.

So the fact is I’m kinda suffering, and it is hard to do anything. I’m struggling…

Cal
Click to expand...
Cal,
All you describe regarding your radiation prep is familiar to me, having completed 30 prostate radiation treatments a few months ago. It is like torture. One thing I wonder about, though, is your bowel symptoms. Do you think they are related to the radiation? In addition to a full bladder I was required to have an empty bowel before each treatment, to protect against radiation spill-over there. Sloan-Kettering wants their patients to use a Fleets enema before treatment; my Yale cancer center advised a mild laxative if needed the night before. Sending you all good wishes, Robert
 
Robert,

I’m not sure what is happening. Usually I have a loose stool because I’m generally well hydrated, but for two days I have this golf ball like plug, and later in the day my normal.

My one doctor stresses being as active as I can, so today I brought out the Dewalt compound radial arm saw and cut down the planks to 8 feet or 96 inches. The carriage doors will have to be trimmed and fitted to around 95 inches.

Some of the planks are a full 15 inches wide, somehow two boards are actually 5/4 or an inch and a quarter thick. Kinda heavy duty. These doors might weigh 200 pounds each.

So I actually did work today and sweated a lot. It kinda was what I needed. I had a great day.

Monday I will have a consult with my radiation oncologist. I’ll inquire and get the expert answer.

Cal
 
Our friend Regina who is the Editor of the Peekskill Herald came by to drop off a dinner for us.

Very tasty and fresh.

How nice.

I’m fading in and out of conciseness from today’s work. I feel a glow of sorts from my efforts.

My friend who sent the e-mail mentioned pushing through, and that’s what I did today. Had an episode of hysterical woman today. Worried about when we can’t keep up with the house and downsizing.

Fact is the house is a modest 1500 square feet, dates back to 1912, and the property is only 40x200. Taxes are kinda low, especially for Westchester.

We lived in a 650 square foot “luxury” apartment in Madhattan for a decade. Really how small or how much smaller can we go?

Renting or living in an apartment is going backwards, so pretty much this is it. Later she realized her panic and apologized. This was in response to my radiation treatment she explained.

It isn’t easy for “Maggie” as advised by a friend here. She sees me weakened, and then thinks about when we are 80 and I might not be able to mow the lawn. Crazy stuff…

Cal
 
Cal,
It's probably a combination of gut transit slowing, especially during sleep, as well as dehydration. Medications often cause slowdown of peristalsis. Also, do you have any damage to the nerves in that area, or medication which affects nerves in that area, because slowdown in the descending colon may also be due to all the recent medical happenings literally right next door.

In other news, the bike is coming along. I'm not going to spill the beans on what it looks like yet, until I have that well sussed out and it's pretty much all built. I have to say I'm impressed by my work, if I may say so, but really impressed by the workmanship on this gorgeous SLX frame.
Phil
 
Phil,

The Inhibitor and steroid I have been on for several months. While there are some serious side effects like anemia, bloating and lower energy levels there has been no bowel trouble until I got radiation treatment.

Constipation is a side effect from radiation as well as Di-A-rear. Everyone is different, I’ll find out more Monday when I have the weekly consult with my radiation oncologist, and I guess I’ll see if it reoccurs again with another week of radiation treatment.

Yesterday, Saturday, I was back to normal… Hmmm.

A good thing is I tolerated the heat and humidity well yesterday. I sweated a lot and of course this worked my heart rate. My resting pulse seems to be around 55 repeatedly, but my blood pressure is at the threshold of hypertension.

With Cancer treatment everyone is different. The treatment I’m undergoing is called “Salvage” because the prostatectomy did not render me Cancer free. On a Gleason scale my Prostate Cancer is Stage 4A on a scale of 5. On another scale I am rated a 9 out of 10.

This Inhibitor is a pretty recent wonder drug that has a very high success history gives me a 65-70% chance of being Cancer free for 5 years, but I will be carefully monitored for the rest of my life. There is a 50% chance that I will be Cancer free a decade after treatment.

I will ask when these projections start. For me I still have 20 months more of doing the Inhibitor and ADT (hormone therapy). My guess is the 5 year clock will start when I stop the drugs (treatment).

Know and understand that I’m still on the max dose of Inhibitor, and somehow I’m managing the side effects well. I am told eventually my body will adjust and the side effects might diminish. The thing here is that everyone is different.

The radiation might be irritating my bowels… this is a known side effect.

I have an aggressive Cancer, and it is being treated aggressively. Generally the Inhibitor and ADT has a duration of a year or 18 months. I’m doing this for 2 years.

I have a 30% chance that my testosterone never returns, meaning my “Fem-Out” will be permanent. Also it takes up to a year to 18 months for the effects of the drugs to wear off.

When drug treatment stops my testosterone and PSA will be monitored frequently. My Cancer needs testosterone to grow. The two years of drug therapy effectively starves any Cancer that spread outside the “Prostate-Envelope” meaning pelvis which is getting irradiated.

35 more treatments, but the end coincides with the end of August.

Cal
 
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Phil,

An old-timer spoke of triple chrome plating. The extract step is a platinum of nickel before the chrome plating.

I’m thinking the paint was easy to remove, and what remains is a very flashy frame that might be free of any oxidation.

There is chrome plating, and then there is triple chrome plating…

Cal
 
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