40 New course

25 November 2016

I missed you all yesterday because I was so overwhelmed with the new treatment demands I ran out of time.
.
My test results on Wednesday when we met with the oncologist were not good. My lungs were still in bad shape and the course of 3 different antibiotics suggested that the pneumonia was caused by continued aspiration. For some time I knew that I had difficulty with swallowing, even on a thick liquid diet. I had been quite optimistic before the meeting because there had been a marked improvement in my swallowing for the previous 2 days. But, by that time the damage to the lungs had been done.

The immediate solution was a feeding tube to make sure everything went down the correct tube. The procedure was mildly unpleasant and when the tube exiting my nose is viewed from the side, I am easily mistaken for an elephant! I cut my hair recently so my ears stick out quite a lot which enhances the effect. I have all the equipment so I am quite mobile around the house and the drip feed for water and liquid food is running for about eight hours per day.

I have been finding it difficult to be positive about these new and major restrictions on my mobility and time but I realize that this will break the pattern of reinfection and allow the lungs to recover. Next Thursday I will be seeing the speech specialist  for further tests of my swallowing ability.
So, the "elephant period" may be short lived!