Recovery week 2

Recovery Update

Had a good week with things slowly creeping forward. Taking fluids, shakes, some juice nectar, water, milk, by mouth but very limited chewing…virtually none. It’s quite interesting to try and understand the all of it. People will say to Sandra, “What stops him from eating? Is it painful, mechanical, etc.” Answer is all of the above and probably more. I haven’t chewed in 7 weeks at least so it is very awkward to do so…especially without the salvia we are all used to.

I hadn’t realized how highly involved the tongue is in the eating process and mine was radiated at the base and has a very limited range due to atrophy and scar tissue. I started a few exercises, simple things, like open your mouth as wide as you can…about half what it used to be…try and touch your tongue on the outside of you teeth from back to front both sides…hurts, eyes water…like any rehab dealing with scar tissue.

I also realized I just need to do some chewing and swallowing…get at it. It is actually quite easy to simply turn on the machine and sit back and be fed. I am on it as I write this blog. I have sped up the machine so it takes less time now…about 75 minutes compared to almost 2 hours. It’s pain free and I don’t have to think about whether I can eat something or not. It is very hard to come up with any comprehensive list of foods that are smooth, in sauce, gravy, etc that I like and don’t have the spices that will irritate a tender throat. Porridges, for example, would work but I really dislike them. Yoghurt works, some soups, etc.

Sandra and I went to the cottage for the day yesterday to plant out pots on the deck and the dock. Amazingly beautiful day and it was spectacular to be there. Had another good learning as I did too much…that pusher in me…and exhausted myself…got away with it after a 2 hour ‘nap’ but can’t go there again. So many people told me 6 to 8 weeks but being an optimist I figure…not me. Well if I don’t rein myself in at times and also intentionally start an eating program…I might be mid September…2011!

However… truth is things are going very well. The above is my attempt to give you some insight into the internal ‘dimension’ of what’s happening to and with me. Continue to get weekly vitamin infusions and to do a session with Olga my ‘energy doctor’. She is a very interesting person. Being a former Russian doctor she has a very big picture of where I am at on all fronts.

It was extremely hot all week so, of course, we had the roof on our house replaced. What better time to send two 70+ year old men up ladders carrying bundles of shingles, in the sweltering sun all day... man were they impressive. I really though, given the weather, we might lose someone…but it’s done, on time, dumpster is gone. Good tradesmen are worth their weight in gold. Unlike your scribe who has had the bathroom taps (On my side, not Sandra’s) apart with no apparent solution in sight for over 2 weeks.

We now have “we love you Da-“ on the picture front. The D was Brandon, one of the twins, holding up a giant red D. The ‘A’ my daughter in law Louisa with a horse at paddock A on their family farm in Morden, Manitoba…boy they have gone to great lengths to get these great photos. Just my daughter Carlye and little Timmy left…I’m saying she’s a D and he an ‘exclamation’ point…we’ll see.

Have a great week. I’ll hopefully be back in a week with stories of Big Macs eaten.

Warm Wishes to all,

Peter