It's been awhile (six weeks!!) since I've sent an update, and a few things have changed, so thought we were due for one.
I completely forgot to send an update (though I thought I had, really!) after we got the results of his latest CT scan. Sorry about that. The tests show no change, in fact it doesn't even report a tumor, merely a 'fullness' in the neck region. Dr. Beck sees this as a very positive improvement, and Al confessed to me this week he believes the cancer is gone. Now we just need to get rid of the side effects from all that radiation.
Happily, I spoke with one of the PTs in our office, and Al's been seeing her for about a month. In two visits a week, the circumference of his neck has decreased 4 centimeters as a result of her treatment, and it seems to help. They've shown me how to perform the massage of his lymph nodes, so hopefully we can keep some of that fluid reduced with treatment at home.
In our meeting with Dr. Berquist, he confirmed the vocal cord paralysis is a new development, that he expects it to be permanent, and indeed recommended a sleep study. Al did the sleep study on March 31 (and brought home a nasty cold), and we went for follow-up this week. He believes the edema in Al's throat would be decreased with a CPAP machine to relieve his sleep apnea, and we now have a new bed partner. It's surprisingly quiet, and actually pretty easy. Al looks a LOT like an alien -- or maybe a bug! -- in his face mask contraption. Well, it's really more of a huge nose cover with an elastic 'headgear' strap. The downside is that Dr. Berquist expects him to gain maybe 10% in oxygen saturation while he's sleeping (according to the test, he gets about 85% in his sleep), which should help relieve the edema, and provide more oxygen to his muscles, etc. so he feels better during the day.
I'VE adjusted to the CPAP just fine. LOL Al is convinced on a logical level, but is really questioning it on a physical level. He says he feels like it's even harder to breathe in the morning after the machine's been on all night. I remind him it's only been a couple of nights, and both Dr. Berquist and the respiratory therapist said to give it a fair trial, he needs to use it for 2-3 MONTHS to get used to it.
As Nathan can tell you, Al's voice is nearly non-existent at times. This cold has made it worse, and he generally reserves his voice for when he goes to work and HAS to use it. He's increased to about 30 hours a week, and trying to get back up to his regular 40 hours. He's been keeping quite busy at home, throwing himself into the work here at home and in the yard and garden, as well as the garage. He's very dedicated just now to ridding the yard of the fescue that pops in among the bermuda we cultivate.
I'm just plugging away per usual. It's taking more work this spring to get the garden in shape due to the neglect of last season, but we'll get there. You all know I can go on and on and on about the garden, but let's give the glory just now to the 'Miss Kim' WHITE lilac that's blooming like mad just outside the window next to my computer.
Hope all is going well with all of you. Thanks for keeping us in your heart.
xoxoxo
Sharon
Posts
