Back in the hospital again for my last week of inpatient radiation and chemo.
Last week at home was probably my most down point yet. My mouth and throat got progressively more sore over the week and my mouth was very dry, all of which combined to make eating a real chore. My energy is also very low, so I spent a lot of time sleeping.
My concentration has also been really fleeting – it’s rare that I can get through reading an entire page without losing the thread, if not dropping off to sleep.
Luckily, we were fortunate to have good friends around for most of the week. Jody was out from D.C., and Ed came in from Seattle – a huge shot out to both of them for all the help they gave us in addition to the invaluable friendship and emotional support. My cousin Wendy was in town from London to celebrate her mom’s 92nd birthday, so we got to see both of them, My old friend and klezmer-mate Brad breezed through on his way to a family bar-mitzvah, and Bryn came over and hung out for an evening. All that combined to make it feel not so bad, and sped the week along. By Sunday morning I started to feel a little better, and Michele and I got out for a nice walk along the lake before I had to check back in.
Now I just have to get through this week and then I can start the recovery process. I’m told that the first two weeks after treatment ends can be hard ones, but that people generally start to feel a little better three or four weeks out.
New music I brought to check out this week:
Robert Glasper Experiment, Black Radio
Esperanza Spalding, Radio Music Society
Jack DeJohnette, Sound Travels
Punch Brothers, Who’s Feeling Young Now
If you’re in the neighborhood, come on by and visit! I’m in Mitchell Hospital, room TS-661.
