Halfway

Tomorrow will mark the halfway point in my radiation therapy adventure. So far it’s been little adventure and a lot of stress and exertion.

For one thing, going to the clinic every day is the closest I’ve come to having a “job” since I had to retire. When I was actually working, I had a gazillion things to do every day and I generally got a bazillion of them done. Never everything, but a lot, just the same. Now, just getting out of the house and all is a “job.”

As my sister reminded me, though, it’s a temp job. Whew!

Nowadays taking a shower is a big deal and while I like feeling squeaky clean with shiny hair, I don’t care for the feeling of exhaustion that follows. So, I don’t take one every day; I use my mom’s “birdy bath” idea and so far I haven’t noticed any of the techs turning up their noses at me. Yet. Skimping on showers is a major way I can think of to make sure I have enough energy from one day to the next to keep on keepin’ on.

And I sure will be glad when I can use deodorant again and feel less offensive.

Other than the effort to keep from stinkin’ and to keep going to the clinic every day, the only major effect I’ve noticed is a certain reddening of the skin and maybe some increased sensitivity. The sensitivity is so slight that I can’t even be sure of it. The redness is definite, though.

Thank goodness for SO’s willingness to come over from his job almost next door just to get my wheelchair out of the truck and then to get it back in again. I could probably get it out but I can’t be sure I’d get it back in. I’m fairly strong, or I used to be, but it’s pretty heavy and the truck door doesn’t open as far as the door of the van did. It’s a squeeze. And I need lots of room.

I remember they said something about expecting fatigue but I don’t know if that’s a function of the radiation or just the daily grind. At least I have the weekend to rest, though.

Now if only I didn’t have the laundry to do on the weekend…

Read Full Post »