Hi Vanessa,

The 560 calorie Instant Carnation VHC that David is referring to has to be ordered through a pharmacy. Most pharmacies...at Walgreens or Target can order a case for you. You don't need a prescription, to be honest, I don't know why you can't just buy it. Usually only takes a day or so to come in.

Hope all is well today! :-)

I was wondering where to buy it and Margaret magically answered my questione. Thanks! Next stop Walgreens!!!! Jeff is okay. Radiation is making him tired and his jaw and teeth now hurt. He finally threw in the towel today and officially shut down business. Thank goodness for that. The disability check came today. Not much $ but a little something to help. Hang on.. here we go...

Vanessa

Sounds like a bit of a rough day. Hopefully, now that Jeff is taking a break from work, he will get the rest he needs and feel a little better. During the first half of treatment Dan always felt a better on the weekends...I hope that is your experience as well!

I was just reading your signature line. Wow, the timelines are close. Two years ago today Dan was starting treatment. So, Jeff has 6 days up on him!

I don't recall seeing a treatment plan quite like Jeff's. He is having 2 full rounds of Cisplatin? That seems like a lot. Did your doctor warn you about ear's ringing? If they start to ring or there is a strong sensitivity to sound...tell your MO right away...permanent hearing loss can be a side effect. Dan's loss is minimal. But, they did change his plan when the symptoms occurred. And, of course, there are many people who did not experience that side effect.

I'm sensitive to the hearing because I woke up 2 months before Dan was diagnosed without hearing in my right ear. A weird case of sudden onset adult hearing loss. I kept thinking that we couldn't raise two teenagers without at least one of us having good ears. ;-)

Margaret,

The dates ( 2 years a part) are so close and Dan was just a couple years younger. 2 children...etc... Dan even looks a bit like Jeff. I'll have to send you a picture. Each of our boys ages 14 and 19 went to the radiation treatment with him, saw the big machine ( 2 weeks brand new state of the art machine) and got a tour of the facility. We are only 15 minute drive away. We were shocked how far you had to go for Dan's treatment.

The second round of chemo will not be Cisplatin. We don't know what it will be yet. Jeff had some ringing in his ears but it wasn't bothersome enough to make note of. His next chem is July 2nd. He is still nauseated but were not sure that is not from the radiation. He has meds for that.

He is really depressed. The psychologist talked to him today, but he doesn't have his next appt. for 2 weeks. Our insurance plan has counseling but not every week. He'll go to a support group and hopefully that will help. She prescribed Prozac which I think is a bit premature considering this is situational depression and his feelings are quite normal. The fact that he gets up to go to treatment, eats and generally participates on this forum and sought out counseling is a good indication he is coping. Who wouldn't be depressed with a cancer diagnosis? He did get sleep meds and ant-anxiety meds which I believe will help. Prozac isn't out of the question but the side effects that need to be managed and all sorts of dosage changes is a bit much for now. We will see how it goes for the next week or so. I'm in the mental health field believe it or not and I'm always amazed how some doctors reach for the anti-depressants first thing. I would like him to learn breathing exercises and visualizations to relax. Whether he wants to do this I don't know. Okay, I'm rambling.Looking forward to a weekend without radiation. The sun is actually shining today, pretty good for San Francisco which is very foggy and grey for the next few months.

Vanessa

Vanessa,

Would Jeff want to talk to Dan? He just got home today. Dan's not an online kind of guy...but, he'd be happy to talk to Jeff on the phone.

Dan did end up on anti-depressants post treatment. He took Wellbutrin. He was really struggling at that point in time when they were prescribed and he just could not see the light at the end of the tunnel. He took them reluctantly for about 3 or 4 months. I didn't have your training or other ideas to try out, so I was relieved when he finally agreed to take them. Plus when he started on them, he couldn't do counseling because he had lost his voice. It did help him...but, it's not for everyone.

I still think Dan might have been able to fair better if he had gotten a PEG. The post treatment time was rough...dehydration was difficult to deal with.

How interesting that our families are so similar. I'd love to see pictures...are you on Facebook?

Let me know if Jeff would be interested in talking to Dan.

Margaret

Watt-

You are not a big baby. You are tough and strong. This is a most brutal treatment in a very sensitive area- it compromises our speech, our eating. You'd have to have a heart of stone not to feel sad or upset. See what you options are with taking disability. It isn't an easy process but that's what disability is for-- to help people who are sick when they aren't feeling good enough to work.

Don't feel guilty. Try and see if someone can help you file for disability. I think the American Cancer society could also help you. there are many organizations out there.

Wishing you complete healing from this diseaes.

KATE

make sure where ever you go to order it that it's the one with 560 calories. Walgreens screwed up twice before they got it right.

David,
I'll make sure and order the one with 560 calories. Thanks for the tip!

Margaret,

I think it would be great if Jeff spoke with Dan. That is if Dan wants to. Jeff is doing better today.

I'm not on Face book. I haven't had the energy to add another item (electronic) to attend to.

Vanessa

Vanessa,

I'll send you a private message on here...if you haven't received one yet...look for the flashing envelope up on the menu bar.

Glad Jeff is doing better today...weekend is here...bet you are both happy to have two days without treatment :-)

Margaret

Vanessa, you can also order VHC through Amazon (Be sure to go to Amazon through the button on the OCF Home Page so OCF gets a little referral cut). The prices are competitive -- Everybody charges shipping.