Thursday, October 9, 2008

Chemo Round 1, Day 3

So after my chemo treatment yesterday I opted to go home for the opportunity to enjoy a evening at home and to sleep in my own bed. So I went home and enjoyed a salami and cheese sandwich on a mini bagel...I ate two of them!

After eating dinner I watched the movie Martian Child. It is a very unique and interesting movie.

Before I headed up the stairs to go to bed I grab a large mixing bowl because my stomach was feeling uneasy. I set it by my bed and went to sleep. Also as a result of sleeping in my own bed and not being at the hospital is I am not hooked up to an IV pumping me full of liquid so I don't wake up as much to use the restroom during the night.

So this morning at 7 o'clock when I woke up I didn't feel very good at all my body hurt and my stomach very uneasy. So I started to drink A LOT of water so by the time we drove don to children's hospital I would pass the urine test with flying colors. During the whole drive down to the hospital I drank about 1 liter of water and 1 bottle of Gatorade. Having to hold it the whole time we were driving. So we finally get to the Hospital and they take my vitals and I ask the nurse if she needs to test my pee before I can start chemo. She goes checks an returns and tells me that I will not need a UT (urine test)...So I then walk quite briskly to the restroom and relieve myself of the pressure of drinking so much liquid. As I return to the Procedure Room (Where they do the Out-Patient Chemo) another nurse approaches me and asks me, "We have got to check your pee before we can start your chemo do you got any for us." I tell her what just happened and she told me that nurse didn't know. But since I had drank so much liquid before getting there it only took a few minutes to find some more pee.

So I went and took care of my business and when I came back and put my urine on the tray the nurse was amazed about how clear it was. It looked as if I had just filled the container with water.

So enough about pee. One of the head Nurses had reserved me a bed next to another patient who kinda has the same story that I do. He like me was re diagnosed during what would have marked our 5 years in remission. And he is 20 years old. His name is Sean and he is back to battling cancer just like I am. So Sean his mom Susan, my mom, and I chatted while our chemos as being pumped into us. He is an awesome kid with a good outlook on the whole thing. The whole time we were all joking and laughing about the stuff that we as cancer patients have to go through. Laughing at those moments that looking back all you can do is life.

Sean is a strong young man. He helped me realize that enough though thinks seem like they are going bad it could always be worse. Sean had a stretch were he went to the hospital for 55 days straight. I am only at day 4 so I have nothing to complain about. I am glad I met Sean and Susan they were great to talk to and it made the time go by much quicker I will look forward to talking to them whenever we run into each other at the hospital.

Ok I have a few more fan mail questions:

These are from Ashley

she asked if I was still going to have my jaw surgery?

My oncologist has put my jaw surgery on hold and it will not happen anytime in the near future.

She also asked had what skills will I be working on while I am going through treatment? such as mastering video games, dominating fantasy sports, unicycling, or literary items.

Well Ashley first off I am sure now again I will be playing some guitar hero to pass the time and I am looking forward for Rock Band 2 to come out and then I can start working on those skills. Now Fantasy Sports: I got second place in a league of 10 this year for baseball and I am currently in first place with a 5-0 record in my fantasy football so i would have to say I got that skill in the bag. Unicycling will be an option once my chest fully recovers from last Mondays surgery and I probably wont be doing much reading or writing other than the writing I will do here in my blog.

Well thanks again for everyone for you thoughts, prayers, comments, emails, wall posts, I love reading them and hearing about how everyone else is doing.

You are all awesome.

Pill Total: 8

9 comments:

Greg said...

Dave, you rock!

Susie said...

Dave, you're awesome. Keep up the good, positive attitude! I will make sure to put you on the prayer roll this Saturday!

ginger said...

i'm sure you don't remember me at all. i'm a friend of marci and sarah's and i met you one time. i stumbled upon your blog from theirs and i just want to let you know you impress the heck out of me and you're in my prayers.
-ginger budd

Aimee said...

Dave, I don't even know what to say! You amaze me. Our hearts and prayers are with you every step of the way.

Lockeblog said...

I have a question if you want to answer it, what does feel like to have a fan-base? You now have quite a number of people who worry about you, care about you, want to find out how you're doing and what you're thinking and are praying pretty fervently for you and you may never meet them. My ward loves you, Chalk! And we're all praying for you. I bet even Punk is.

Anonymous said...

Dave, FHE will not be the same without you! This made me laugh, maybe you'd like it too :) http://www.gocomics.com/features/32/
feature_items/386036
It sounds like you are doing so good - you have such a great attitude! I think you're very brave

MVP said...

I love that you wrote all about pee! ... because well...it's just fun to hear the details hahaha!~

MVP said...

I also wanted to ask... is sean LDS? ... and ... does he have lung cancer as well? .. and... well, I'm in the library right now, just plugging away at my International Political Economy reading... and although I have to say I love learning, I must admit it's quite fortunate of you to not have to be doing THIS reading (on international trade and finance, and countries debts.) well lets just say it's dry. But heck - you're doing amazing and you're already through day 4! holla brudda!

The Larsen's said...

Dave, I don't know if you remember me. I used to be Natalie Tyler. I was friends with your sister Natalie, and I saw you once on the train while you were on your mission in SLC. Anyway, I just want to let you know that you're in my thoughts and prayers. Your attitude about all this is amazing. My mission president once said, "Your attitude determines your altitude." It's so true. Keep it up!