The radiation crew’s prediction that
throat pain would become an issue in the third week proved accurate. Eating has become a chore even when
everything is pureed and thinned. Plus,
Cindy complains that the food is tasteless, but can’t tolerate salt or
spice. Another challenge for the
cook.
Cindy’s complement of palliatives
has added liquid Motrin from the children’s shelf to relieve the throat
pain. The theory that running the liquid
over the throat enhances the analgesic effect seems to be confirmed by Cindy’s
lips becoming numb.
Not helping the increased pain was
the doctor’s advising Cindy last Monday that the schedule has been revised to add
seven days to the treatment; it now lasts until May 7th. Seems that the two doctors running the
department hadn’t gotten together to finalize the schedule until ten days ago. Bummer.
The waiting room has seats for about
ten. A table is dedicated to a puzzle, its
completion proceeding glacially. A TV
was just installed; we had it turned off on its inaugural day (we being
earliest, there were no other customers to consult). There’s
a bookshelf not getting much play and a desultory collection of magazines. We’re getting acclimated and have adopted our
favorite seats.