2 weeks Post Tx

[DougV]

Since stopping round 2 it has now been just a tad over two weeks.  I know some of you on tx are curious how long after tx before you get back to normal so.......

Only side effects I had during tx was blood chemistry, periodic fatigue (depending on where my red counts were at the time), and crocodile skin, and a severe allergy to house work (a condition I'm afraid that is chronic).

First week, still a bit tired.  But not so bad it was an issue.  Day after I quit my son and I drove up to Atlanta (7 hours) and went to the GA Renaissance Festival, walked for hours, and my appetite was returning. 

Second week, towards the end, I realized I was not the least bit tired during the day.  I find myself doing things out of boredom now where during tx that would be couch time.  I've spent several days spending at least a few hours in the yard.  I went and picked 10 pounds of blackberries just a few minutes ago, couple hours of thorns and sun.  Bottom line, over all I feel pretty well back to normal after two weeks.  Don't have labs yet, be another couple weeks, but my color is rapidly returning, I breathe fine even with working, so I know my blood counts are  going back up.  Bruises and cuts that took forever to heal on tx are now healed.  Basically after two weeks  I feel normal again.  The only thing still hanging on that I can tell is my skin is still dry and leathery, but that is a matter of time as it is already getting a bit more supple and soon I'll be back to being 29 again.

Doug

[negative1]

Thanks for the post Doug.

Glad you are getting your energy back. It took me a bit longer than you but the first thing I noticed was that the riba cough left within a week or two.

How is the short term memory doing? That was the toughest for me.

Enjoy life once again.

Earl

[Pancho and Lefty]

Thanks Doug,

Sounds like things are coming back together quickly.

This is welcome news to those of us still in the outback.

Max

[Mongo]

I'm glad you're out & about, Doug.  I haven't picked berries since I was a kid.

So, if I'm reading this correctly, right about the time I end treatment, and celebrate my 48th birthday, I'll turn 29?

This is very good news, Doug.  Very good news!



All my Best,

Kerry

[DougV]

Kerry,

Sorry, the trick is to never celebrate a birthday over the 29th one.  Doesn't mean you can't have a birthday just it is always the 29th birthday.  Works well too, I'm on mu 23rd 29th birthday at the moment. 

Yeah Max you recover reasonably quickly, maybe some nagging little thing, but for the most part....

Earl,

My short term memory left me in 2004 when I decided to retire.  Ain't never come back....

[robin]

So Doug...when can we expect to hear about your wonderful cakes and cooking feats? So happy you are feeling better. Keep your spirits high...robin

[19Dragon52]

{{{Hi Doug}}}

Glad to see you giving us a Post TX update and really happy that you are doing so well.  I'm glad you made it to the Renassaince Fair in GA with your son...I know how much you enjoy those.

I'm with Robin on hearing when you're back to cooking all those delightful recipes & menus...Of course the cakes are a MUST!  Whatcha going to make with your 10 lbs. of black berries?!  Enquiring minds want to know!  

Love Ya.....

[Lee]

Doug,

It was so good reading your post....I am so very glad your energy is returning and that you were able to make the trip with your son....


wow...after reading about your recipes and cooking ....cant wait to read about them!!!!


Blessings to you always, you are such an inspiration to us all.

Lee

[DougV]

Robin and Joyce,

Made a couple blackberry cobblers.  That accounted for 4 pounds of berries.  Individually froze several pounds then put them in jars.  That way even frozen I can get what I want.  Then froze a couple pounds with a bit of sugar sprinkled on them.  My wife likes to take them out and eat them when they thaw as the create their own syrup as they thaw.  The rest I have eaten the heck out of.  Headed out again Monday or Tuesday to get more.  Got to grab some blueberries too.  They aren't my favorite but I do like them, great snack when frozen, and my all time favorite muffin is still the blueberry muffin.

One of my earliest memories as a kid knee high to a grasshopper, think I was about six, is going fishing for catfish with my granddad and grandmaw at a small lake.  Around the lake on one side were a bunch of wild blackberry bushes.  I'd fish awhile, take a bucket, pick blackberries awhile, always being careful to eat one for everyone picked of course,  eventually I'd pick a big bucket full, and we'd go back to their house and my grandmaw would fix deep fried catfish and fries and a big old blackberry cobbler.  So now anytime I see blackberries I can pick I do so and when I do I think about my grandparents while I do.    Hmmm, that reminds me, I just found a local source for stone ground cornmeal so I think about Wednesday it will be time for the exact same meal my grandmaw made me......

Lee, thanks.

Doug

[OZ]

We used to hike the logging roads and pick blackberries in my younger days.  Then come home and make blackberry cobblers.
Nothing like the fresh berries.
Now, we are too busy watching our sugar intake and since Ed's vascular problems and surgery, haven't hiked any roads for years.
It is nice remembering though how fun it was.
Donna

[negative1]

Deep fried catfish, fries and cobbler.....

I just has this huge rush of cholestrol run through my viens!

We had black berry bushes near our house as a kid and I would pick so many then come home and call my grandma and she would talk me through making a cobbler over the phone... I was all of 9 I think.
Earl

[robin]

Blackberries bring back fond memories of purple stained finger-tips. the cobblers sound wonderful, Doug. So glad you are feeling a bit better and back to your old self. Keep your spirits high...robin
PS...heard anything on your labs?

[DougV]

Oz, I'm lucky, no digestive issues at all.  I watch sugar intake, but only to diet a bit.  So if I wanna indulge I am limited only by my waistline.

Earl,  Grandmaws and cobblers, they do kind of go together.  Besides cobblers are kind of a lost art.  When is the last time you walked in to eat somewhere and they had cobbler on the menu.  (Yall folks in GA during peach season are exempted of course.)

Robin, ah yes, stains and scratches.  Stains I got off after only a day.  My arms and legs don't have a square inch anywhere that isn't scratched.  And no ma'am.  Think it's this week I'll go give 'em blood and next week I'll get the results.

Doug