A day off from radiation...
Hello friends...

At about 8:30 this morning, I received a call from the radiologist's office. They asked me to NOT come in today...I had a day off! Yesterday they did a type of imaging on me called respiratory gating. A strange, milky-transparent looking plastic box was taped to my stomach and I was put into a CT scanner. For about half an hour, a special laser guided camera recorded my breathing by watching the box on my stomach rise and fall with my breath. All the while, the CT was taking shots of my chest. The idea is, by using this special box, they can better time the radiation treatments to coincide with my breathing. Since overexposure to radiation can fry your lungs, they want to use this technique to only shoot the radiation when I exhale. So today, they were figuring out the results of yesterday's test so that tomorrow I'll begin the new treatment. Of course, I'll have to make up the missed treatment (just like a damned test at school!), making my final day of treatment November the 16th.

I had a pretty good weekend...it seems that my body starts to refresh itself the minute the treatments stop. Monday's radiation kicked me pretty hard though. Within 5 minutes of the treatment, my gut was on fire and it felt like Andre the Giant was squeezing my insides. The Dr. warned me that the effects of the radiation are cumulative. I had shed a few more pounds...down to 174, exactly 40 pounds less than the day of my first surgery. I have to increase the rate of my feeding pump to get some more calories, and when I DO feel like eating, I need to. He said I still may drop a few more, but we need to keep the weight as steady as possible. I've completed 9 treatments...16 to go. Can't wait to get there...

Last night I was so weak that I couldn't even open the cap on my daughter's Fresh Fairy Sparkle Gel (that's the actual name of her toothpaste...go figure). I've also been having some pretty severe coughing/gagging sessions. I think I caught a bit of the cold that cycled through my family. I'm usually the last one in the chain, acquiring their germs about a week after the first sign of it.

I don't think I chimed in my 'review' of the Corpse Bride. Excellent! I'd give it a 4 out of 5...a little slow on the front end, but the music is perfect and the whole movie is just beautiful. The kids loved it. It's nice that I feel better on the weekends...I wouldn't be able to sit through a movie after a treatment. No way.

Because my illness happened within the first 12 months of my employment with ETC, the company that handles my long term disability benefits (I hate the term 'long term'...I plan on being back to work in January!) is launching a 'mandatory investigation' into my case. I had to fill out a questionnaire that would make anyone feel like their trying to con someone out of something. The questions are literally degrading and almost downright accusatory. But, I have to fill it out...it's required after 90 days leave. What really sucks is that my salary drops to 70% (still better than nothing...don't get me wrong), right as medical bills are swarming and christmas looms. We'll get through it though...just another speed bump. The whole "prove you're sick" paperwork is pretty crappy though...pretty crappy.

OK my friends...much love and respect to you all.

Hans