Radiation Complete for E1

The long awaited day finally arrived . . . E1 (Grandpa) is done with his 44 radiation treatments. According to him, the end didn't come a moment too soon. He received a certificate documenting his accomplishment and we all celebrated his graduation by going out to breakfast.

E1 (Grandpa) has a check-up scheduled in six weeks, basically just to make sure the side effects are clearing up, but then doesn't have another doctor appointment for six months. At that point, they'll do another blood test to make sure his PSA is back to normal. Seems a bit strange to me that there isn't a need for an earlier appointment or the need for an updated PET/CT scan, but I guess that's the way they do it when it comes to prostate cancer. In other Grandpa news, we've convinced him to get his cataracts taken care of, so he has a series of appointments for that starting in mid August . . . pre-op appt., followed by surgery for eye #1, then post-op appt. ... pre-op appt., followed by surgery for eye #2, then post-op appt. Let's see, what else can we do? He does still need a follow-up endoscopy. Oh, and there is still the matter of Grandpa's bum shoulder. And he could benefit from hearing aids. Before it's all said and done, we'll have him as good as new.

E. has been officially retired for 10 days now. The folks from work had a nice little farewell gathering for him, and I think he thoroughly enjoyed himself. I wish I could say that he's been kicking up his feet and relaxing ever since, but that is far from the case. Grandpa's radiation treatments took up each weekday morning and it seems as if the kids have had one thing after another. We keep waiting for things to slow down some, but for some reason, I don't think that will happen anytime soon.

On the health front, E. has been dealing with some very uncomfortable stomach issues lately. Aside from the stomach aches and pains, he's had the raunchiest smelling burps you ever did come across. Of course, any time there is a digestive issue, I immediately freak out. In googling his symptoms (What ever did we do in the days pre-Internet?), I learned a possibility could be food, particularly food high in protein, sitting excessively long in the stomach due to slow digestion (we know slow digestion has been an issue for E. post chemo and radiation). The situation could be exasperated by other factors, such as diabetes (ding-ding). Another possibility could be a stomach bacteria or parasite. And yet another possibility could be a gastric type cancer. My freak-out mode is still in full force.

We go back to Texas on July 18th . . . so close, yet so far. Ugh.

Retirement Countdown

E. has a total of 10 more work days. Yup, you read right . . . TEN. His last day of work will be June 18th and his "official" retirement date will be June 19th. 30 years (+ a few) and out baby!

Having him home for 14 months spoiled me rotten. It was an adjustment (more so for me probably than for him) when he went back to work part-time, but we managed. Then he went back to work full-time. Since then, our time together has been minimal. Waaaaaahhhh! He's out the door early in the morning and when he gets off work, I'm usually on the go, being a taxi driver to once place or another. Sometimes we hook up at a kid's baseball game, but it's not like it is quality time for him and I. I know I'm whining, but man do I miss him.

I'm not sure we'll get much uninterrupted time together post-retirement as it coincides with summer vacation, but at least we have a much better shot. Other than enjoying each other and the kids, no big plans yet. We'll head back to Texas on July 18th and go from there.

Oh, and have you heard? Once E.'s health stuff is all taken care of, he plans on embarking on a second career. He plans on putting that Master's Degree to use, getting his clinical hours in, passing his boards (I think that's what they're called) and becoming a Licensed Clinical Social Worker. Good thing I love him so. :)

S.

E1's Over the Hump

E1 (Grandpa) has now completed 27 radiation sessions. That means only 17 more to go. He is definitely on the countdown as he will be so glad to be done with this "mess."