If it weren't for the ups and downs, my life would be normal?

Tom had his second chemo last week, and things seemed to be pretty normal afterwards. Considering he's only had chemo once previously, we don't have a whole lot to compare with. But it was mostly the same heavy-duty weariness as before, although he managed to get some chores done around the house and went out for a bit visiting friends. Pretty normal, as far as we could tell.

Until yesterday. I should warn you - this post is not for the faint of heart.

He'd not been feeling well all morning, suffering from severe constipation. We tried everything (unfortunately for him) - 2 enemas, various over-the-counter medicines, magnesium caltrate, prune juice - and the situation was getting worse instead of better.

Poor guy - he was in a lot of pain. Finally, a call to his oncologist, who - after hearing what we'd tried unsuccessfully - suggested we just go to the emergency room and find out what the problem really was.

Patients who take morphine have this problem, and - coupled with not enough liquids in their diet (something Tom's had a hard time with) - things turn ugly and one ends up with severe, painful constipation. So we spent 6 hrs at the ER last night, where they initially were concerned that he might have a bowel obstruction. After x-rays, they learned that there was no obstruction (whew!!) and that he was just completely blocked across nearly all his lower intestines. I keep telling him he's full of shit, and for once, I was actually right. Big time.

The ER doctors fixed him with - are you ready for this??? - a milk/molasses enema. Honest. Really. I just couldn't believe it when they told me what they were going to use, but it worked. He's feeling much better today, and all those concoctions he used yesterday - plus the milk/molasses special - finally caught up with him. Amazing how weird food combinations can make one's day . . .

However, Tom now has a very special claim to fame at Bronson Hospital. Turns out he's the only patient the ER has had where this goofy concoction didn't work on immediately. The nurse told us that in his twenty-year career, Tom is the only patient who didn't respond within 15 minutes (usually it's about 5 min for the average person). Tom's now been named the Anti-Enema King - it took him nearly 2 hours. The drs and nurses were all walking around shaking their heads, not believing anyone could last that long. He actually fell asleep during this time period (they couldn't believe that either!).

Me, well . . . I decided to wander down the hall to a quiet little family room that I could have all to myself, and spent the time knitting. Couldn't really do much else, so I nearly finished a baby cap instead.

I love the Anti-Enema King. And he's promised to drink a whole lot more liquids, considering the alternative.