Back in Shanghai, started chemo
I made it back to Shanghai late Thursday night where my lovely Carmen was waiting for me at the airport. We spent the weekend lounging, grocery shopping, and watching the 2nd season of The O.C. Sunday dinner at Carmen's grandma's house has just come to a close--fantastic as usual. Followed that up with a much needed hair cut cause work starts tomorrow morning.
Just popped my anti-nausea pill in preparation for chemo which starts in a few minutes. I'll be taking chemo pills for the next five days, in 28 day cycles for the next year or more. Not to sure if I'll lose my hair; the list of side effects that come with the medication just talk about nausea and fatigue mostly. At some point in the next few weeks my blood counts will drop, which will make me tired, vulnerable to infection, and low on the stuff that stops bleeding; gonna have to more careful with the kitchen knives I guess.
I'm definitely glad to be back. This place really is bursting with energy. I'm already brewing up plans to watch a women's feather weight boxing match, check out a cool electronic music show, start ordering organic food from a store that I just found with has the most amazing bread ever (a big deal for China), cooking dinner for a friend on Tuesday, catching up with another on Wednesday, meeting up with Carmen's co-workers on Thursday, and getting down to nearby Hangzhou this weekend hopefully. Also James Brown is gonna be in town next week, but tickets are something outrageous ($100 or something!) so I crossed that one of the list.
Also, we spent the weekend fixing up the apartment, which feels great. Now we're loaded with candles, I new spot to chill on the floor in our bedroom, and a number of wonderful new accessories my mom sent over with me. Come visit yall, we now provide fresh squeezed OJ, coffee, hot chocolate, and various teas.
Taking the chemo now...
Ian
14 Comments
7 References
References (7)
-
Response: eyzqz zdaxf2VD6IY, hcbzw , [url=http://www.hzxj3c3soa.com]cxycjx[/url], http://www.8gvpgfcapkm.com u95kq -
Response: l4ora mrlufxXbSO, m4urv , [url=http://www.jpzhewsprj.com]vl5ky[/url], http://www.i1wmfrkgo4.com zfite
-
Response: an3mw s3gbh3b3wG, Hi, you have a great site! pvjg3
-
Response: slj5q e1rhwiYlHf, Hi, you have a great site! http://www.ng4mdkxkye.com awkki , thanks!
-
Response: fqvvuffknpdmabgbpn, http://www.mktiqittup.com ykzuxfwqrn
-
Response: tnjghebbrxpoopirnc, http://www.ncgbtpgzlk.com cwgpcruscs
-
Response: crjpwezieikgdlwzpodraezmdvyc, http://www.rgezumaskg.com bubidffcml
Reader Comments (14)
yay! you're back and everything sounds wonderful! fixing up the pad is always refreshing and satisfying.
you say youre going to work tomorrow, did you change your mind about quitting?
i'm really just writing to tell you that i love you. balance out that chemo with some home made, delicious, organic treats! i'm coming soon and i'm totally craving some hot chocolate.
hi carmen!
snug, louise
It was so great to chat with you last Friday evening (here)! I loved hearing you talk about lounging around in your new funny slippers from Louise,fixing your tea in the french press and snuggling up with Carmen while it was snowing outside in Shanghai. I'm delighted that the home accessories are all working out well - especially the candles and afghan. I want you to treat yourself well during this chemotherapy time and not worry about bills and schedules. Your office mentioned that they were willing to have you work part-time and that's okay for now. And $200.00 is on its way for the James Brown tickets. Take Miss Carmen and have a blast! I want to hear all about it.....
Regarding chemo - remember that you kept a journal last time and that helped us remember the side effects each month (i.e. - when the blood counts dropped and for how long). It's also an important tool for the doctors here and abroad. You sound a bit nervous about beginning this whole process again. I can't even imagine what your thinking while swallowing those pills. All I can remember from last time is that you fell into a routine of nausea and fatigue and that you seemed to feel more secure - after a while - in facing the known rather than the unknown. You could predict the effects of the chemo and that's where the journal came in handy.
I was talking with Larry Bugen today and he mentioned something to me about living with "duality". In other words, living and enjoying life every day as you did this past weekend and combining that with facing a serious illness. It's a hard thing to switch gears from talking about taking chemo on your blog to looking for bread in China. I'm having a hard time knowing that you are taking chemo and that I'm not anywhere near you. AHH!!! It's hard to switch lanes sometimes, but we have to in order to keep on keeping on.
And, Ian, let's not forget what Lance Armstrong said about "forgetting the numbers and fighting this bastard". The fight has begun. Amen.
I love you, son - lots of hugs and kisses to Carmen and her grandmother.
Boy, I'll never get the hang of this. I forgot to end my above comments with
Love, MAMA
We are keeping up with you and praying for you! Your energies are boundless and we know you will win this battle! Take it easy but by all means, enjoy yourself. Your inner beauty shines all the way to Dripping Springs!
Fondly,
June Baumoel
-Ari
I was so happy to see that your mom sent money for James Brown!! I saw him do a fabulous free concert in NYC a few years ago and it was amazing. It was his birthday so he made the audience sing happy birthday to him TWICE. I am thinking about you every day and I asked my mom about the USA today article. She says that it is just waiting for a big enough spot in the paper. I can't wait to read it and see a pic of you at the greenbelt! It will be a good reminder of hanging out with you in Austin last month. Anyway, that's it for now, I would still very much like your address in Shanghai so that I can send you and Carmen mail!
I hope that you are having an easy chemo experience!
lots of love,
Tracey
I am glad to know that your return to China went smoothly and that you are doing well. I have read every entry and I have not left a comment yet, but I hope you know that I continue to be blown away by your positive attitude and your insightful thoughts.
There have been so many mornings in the past when I, like several other people, have woken up and whined or complained about the many unpleasent chores, errands, tests that I have to study for,and other daily activities that nobody really enjoys doing. At the time they can seem so draining and life can sometimes feel like it becomes task. Even though I enjoy so many aspects of life, it can be surprising how easy it is to forget to appreciate life for what it is, a gift.
Anyway, My point is that reading your log entries, viewing your every day courage, and watching you explore your inner thoughts and fears has without a doubt improved my quality of life. The thought of you, your experiences, and your attitude is on my mind several times a day. This makes it extremely diffacult to not enjoy every minute of my life. It may sound a little weird, but every morning when I wake up I think about you and what you are doing, then I smile, and think, wow, this is going to be a great day and I plan on squeezing every ounce of pleasure out of it as i possibly can, because that is what Ian is doing and I guess I should do the same thing. This morning at 8:30 am, my roommate, who was a little groggy at the time thought I was a little crazy when, I slapped him on the back and almost yelled, "Billy, You know what, I'm pretty excited, I think today is just going to be a really great day! I just have this feeling!"
I know this thought along with several others is due to this powerful and wonderful influence of yours which has affected so many people the way it has affected me.
Reading your comments that range from what you are enjoying in China to your fears about death is truly an amazing treat.
I know your courage and energy will give you the ability to overcome this thing you are battling. I love you, I support you, and I am behind you just like so many other people in your life
Your little brother, Roger
How is it going? Glad to hear that you are back in China with Carmen. It sounds like you are sooooooooooo happy living there. I think about you with great joy. You are an inspiration. You remind me of my daddy and your Popa. He always had a wonderful attitude about life.
I will always remember our conversation that day at the cocktail party in my mother's building. We spoke for an hour and I felt that I had known and spoken to you all my life. I thought about you a lot. You have left your mark on my heart.
I want to wish you everything, happiness, luck, pleasure and joy.
Stay strong love.
Warmest regards to you and Carmen.
Lynn
It is Friday evening and I got your lovely message on my phone. Then, I tried to call you back but couldn't get through. The 300-....no. isn't working either. I am so wanting to talk with you and hear how your chemo is going - today should be the last day of the first treatment. Then comes the blood count test in one week. Then a month off, right? Have you found a doctor in Shanghai yet? Please give us all the latest...I along with many others check in on your blog daily.
You are always on my mind and in my heart. I don't listen to music or talk on the phone much any more on the long drives to and from work - I just pretend that you are sitting in the front seat with me and that we are chatting - and oftentimes laughing - about life and its lessons. So many stories about growing up on Bowman Avenue with Roger and Louise and all of your wide range of friends. Boy, do I love them all. You can't let go of those stories even when your far away and maybe not feeling well because they are grrrreat stories and those stories are a part of you!
And to think that this blog began by tracking the next story of your life in China. And now, it is tracking one of the biggest fights of your life and pretty soon your going to be in USA Today.
As Roger mentioned, your honesty and your attitude in dealing with cancer the second time around is "mind blowing". It keeps the rest of us from whining about the daily routines and responsibilities of life.
Ian, keep those thoughts coming and as Lance says, "forget the numbers".
Love, MAMA
http://cstatman.blogspot.com/2004_07_01_archive.html