CancerVivor: It's true: I have no hair but have a chemo pump

Monday, October 8, 2007

Back home with my new bestest buddy, my chemo pump.

Anonymous said...: Keith, I'm bummed I wasn't here for your office fiesta. Just wanted to let you know that I'm thinking about you and keeping you in my prayers. Be strong and kick butt!
Sarah Langbein; October 8, 2007 at 6:48 PM
Keith W. Kohn said...: Sarah, thanks. I will kick butt. I will get better and I will be back. So get to work!!!

Seriously, thanks. And seriously, get to work! Seriously.; October 8, 2007 at 7:53 PM
Anonymous said...: Hmmm.

I think you look much better in that haircut than Mark Pino.

: ); October 8, 2007 at 11:55 PM
Keith W. Kohn said...: Of course I do. But what about compared, say, to Ben Kingsley, or Mike Myers (as Dr. Evil), or Patrick Stewart, or Yul Brynner? Those are the tests?; October 9, 2007 at 12:04 AM

Avoid drinks with a lot of electrolytes, such as GatorAde and the like. I can't swear the GatorAde I've been drinking caused my urinary tract infections, but they coincidentally appeared within a day of my drinking the popular sports drink. Might just be how it affects me, but might be how it interacts with chemo.
Keep a box of alcohol pads nearby. When you're nauseous, the smell of alcohol halts the nausea.
Don't stop being you. Allow yourself to be angry and upset, but also allow yourself twice as much to be happy and positive and encouraged. Don't feel sorry for yourself and don't allow people to feel sorry for you. And do not, under any circumstances, allow toxic, negative people to cloud your mind or your space with their negativity.
Allow yourself to get angry, upset, frustrated ... and don't ever feel bad about it. The people around you will understand.
Don't just stay away from the chocolate. Definitely and absolutely no coffee! No caffeine at all. It dehydrates. You need as much water as you can drink. Chicken broth sounds boring and not very appetizing, but it's important that you drink it as well. Also, apple juice is extremely acidic, so no apple juice if you're nauseous. In fact, nothing acidic.
Don't feel like you have to be 'on' all the time. It takes its toll, and you need all the strength you can get. You'll figure it out for yourself, what your comfort levels are, but just try not to feel that pressure.