Chemo #10 and Taste Buds

Chemo #10 with much reduced Chemo went well.  I was still tired the first few days but no nausea or no sleeping all day like the stronger Chemo causes.  My stomach has become blown up again with fluid, most likely due to the lack of nutrition during the 2 week diarrhea stint.  I'm back to 9 month stomach.  I'm going to get some of the fluid taken out on Monday to make me more comfortable.  However, this hasn't affected my appetite too bad.  Yay!!  I'm eating much better now.

When people had told me before that they don't like Tofu because it doesn't taste like anything, I didn't understand.  If it doesn't taste like anything than can't you just eat it, I thought.

Now I know.  When food doesn't taste like anything, it doesn't taste good.  It really doesn't.  

My taste buds has been affected by Chemo.  Pepper is super spicy to me and I'm having a harder time tasting salt.  I can't do any spicy either (like Indian  😞 or Kimchi ).  I'm grateful I'm still able to taste sweet and sour.  AND I don't have any mouth sores!!  Those things are horrible!! 

This week I've been experimenting with difference foods and seeing what I like.  It's been fun!

Fruits:

• Naval Oranges
• Pre-cut Grapefruit
• Apples
• Melons  (In the beginning I really liked watermelon but now they taste weird 😞)

Condiments:

• Ketchup
• Cocktail sauce
• Vinegar
• Sugar
• Peanut Butter
• Humus

Food:

• Fish with lemon cream sauce   I thought lemon (sour) would taste good but it wasn't my favorite
• Things that go with ketchup : 
• Oven baked "fried" fish 
• Japanese Cabbage Roll
• Japanese Croquet
• Baked Sweet Potato
• Soups
• Sushi Rice
• Shrimp Cocktail
• Thai's Prad Prew Wan (sweet and sour)
• Yamaimo - type of potato 

If anyone knows any foods that are sweet & sour, let me know! 

Blood Test #10 - CEA still decreasing!

 Even though, I had to skip the last round of chemo 2 weeks ago, my CEA still decreased!  It's down too 1121 from my original 26,000 in January!  My nurse practitioner told me that she wouldn't be surprised if the CEA went up, since I skipped the last chemo but it still went down!!  Wohoo!

Thank you so much for all your prayers, thoughts and kindness!  I appreciate everyone loving us through out this journey!

Dialing back on Chemo this round

I had a doctor's appointment today and they would like for me to recover a bit more before starting the stronger chemo again.  So, the plan is to skip out the stronger one this round (the stronger one is known to cause diarrhea) and then go back to the stronger one the next 3 rounds when I regain my strength.  They don't want me to have to go back into the hospital.

I'm doing much better after getting back from the hospital.  I am able to digest my food and take in the nutrients.  I really felt like when the diarrhea was the worst, the food would just go through me.  Now, I can eat more and have much more energy!

I'm having a bit of a dry mouth and my taste buds have changed, so I'm trying different foods to see what taste good to me.  I found out that I like food that are sweet or sour.  I'm finding out that I like ketchup,  oranges and soups right now.  I can't taste salt very well, so breads are really bland and dry.  To me, it's really amazing how much taste affects what I eat.  Even though, breads don't taste bad but because it's bland, it's really hard to eat for me.  I can't wait till my taste buds come back!!

A little set back with 4 more rounds to go but I see the end of the tunnel for Chemo!  Please pray that I will regain my strength, so that I can finish out my Chemo.  Thank you!!

I'm Out!

Update:

Thank you for all your prayers. I'm feeling much better now.  I'm eating more and have much more energy.  Amazing how much diarrhea took out of me.  I'm resting and trying to gain some more weight before my 10th Chemo on Sunday.  Counting down .. 3 more Chemo's to go!

I really appreciate everyone!

Prayer Request - Uncontrolled Diarrhea

Kaori has gone to the Acute Care Clinic twice this week for uncontrolled diarrhea. She has been having 8-10 loose stools every day. Even with 6-8 tablets of immodium per day, the diarrhea has remained uncontrolled.  Today, they are giving her lomotil to see if this can help stop it. 

Unfortunately, due to the diarrhea, her next chemo treatment must be postponed for at least one week. Please pray that the diarrhea can get under control with the lomotil, but not cause constipation. Additionally, please pray that Kaori will be able to eat more to help offset the lack of nutrients being absorbed. These past 3 weeks have been especially hard on her and for all of us.

We appreciate your prayers and thank you again for supporting us.  

-Mike  

Update 4:48PM, Kaori is going to be admitted overnight at Clements Hospital. The doctors want to make sure that her electrolytes remain in a safe range as they work on getting the diarrhea under control.