The sucky side of sick

Posted on August 18th, 2007 by Cam.
Categories: Let's talk.

I am forgetting what it is like to feel well and healthy I think. It has now been nearly 6 months since I started feeling pain and losing strength in my arms and neck. Somedays it is frustrating because I will feel mostly fine, but that is because I guard my movements carefully, so whenever I do have to use my arms for work I feel like there is a hole in my chest that doesn’t allow my arms to do what they need to do. A simple task like washing some things at work the other day just brings waves of pain. The side effects of the stronger painkillers are too much, so I have gone back to non-prescription stuff. Even so, I am pretty thankful that I am more mobile now than what I have been in the last 5 months or so. I just wonder about the next phase of life, whether I will be able to get around without the pain.
The other things symptoms of what I am experiencing at the moment include unclear thinking, feverish sweats, dizzy spells and skin irritations because my immune system is shot. I am trying to remain physically active as much as possible by walking to and from work which is about 15 minutes each way. Even after that though I am sweating, dizzy and exhausted by the time I get there. I think the constant exhaustion makes my mind cloudy most of the time, so every day just seems like a daze.
On the upside, Libs is on holiday at the moment. We had already taken this time off before the diagosis as we were going to be taking holiday in Sydney, Darwin and Alice Springs, so it has worked out well to just have this time at home to recouperate a bit before the treatment starts. So our days at the moment are spent wandering between the workshop, cafes and pottering around the house. Could get use to this.

11 comments.

Pam Randall

Comment on August 19th, 2007.

Happy Holiday, Cam and Elizabeth. Love Pam R. xxxxxx

the rowes

Comment on August 19th, 2007.

bummer about feeling so crap Cam – bring on that treatment hey? great you guys have some time together at the moment. Enjoy the coffee stops and think of me … hey – look forward to seeing some of the creations coming out of the studio sometime… take care – lots of lovin manda iain and the bee!

Tracey,Jordon ,Harry Steele-John

Comment on August 19th, 2007.

Dear Cam and Elizabeth;sorry to hear that you are feeling the crappy stuff .Sometimes I guess that the whole thing must seem like a nightmare ;despite your strength and recognition of the possitives.You are most definately allowed to utter a few choice words and wonder at the point of this very steep learning curve.Wish there was something we could do to help – hold your bag of boulders for a while or whatever.I know though ;from our own journey that there are times when you just have to hold on and trust.( Ifind the F word sooo sooothing at these times !!)Please know that you are both always in our thoughts and all the love and strength we can muster is winging its way to you and your family to add to the huge amount that already surronds you.Take care of each other.Much love Tracey,Jordon,Harry,Len and Jean.xxxxx

Terry

Comment on August 19th, 2007.

Dear Cam and Elizabeth,

When I was planting the plumbago out the front, just after you had told me your news, I was buoyed by a recurring thought that you would walk by each day and see them grow and draw from their positive energy. Ironically whilst I was planting them, out of the blue, you gave me the food to help them grow.

Out of the blue, as a thankyou, you guys gave me the tulips, which I thought was just the sweetest thing to do.

Today when I was planting the poplars you came by again, this time with Elizabeth. Un be known to you, both you and Elizabeth gave me the encouragement and positive energy to continue with my plan and get them planted and re-connected with the planet.

At the end of the planting and as the rain came tumbling down, again feeding the new lives that I have hopefully created, I was really happy that I could give you guys something to nurture and watch grow.

Just from sticks, cell by cell, and with your love and care, they will regenerate and new life will begin.

It will happen Cameron, cell by cell, and with love and care, your body will regenerate and new life will begin.

x x x

Terry

Rachie

Comment on August 20th, 2007.

Terry says the greatest things! That’s all I can say at the moment.

Paul

Comment on August 20th, 2007.

Hi you two, it was so good Cam to meet your mum & dad last week at church. I feel like a thief in the night pal. I jumped on to see how your doing and i’m coming away upbeat after a nasty week.
So now that I’ve drawn down some of your beautiful energy i’ll sneak away and pray for you both.

See ya soon.

Love and prayers !!

Paul & Kylie

Erica

Comment on August 22nd, 2007.

Hey Cam, Sorry I haven’t written a comment earlier. I have been following your website and am amazed at how strong you are! We are all thinking of you and Elizabeth at this time. Hope the treatment goes well. Have you read Lance Armstrong’s 2 books? I have just started reading the first one on Dave’s recommendation and we both think you might like to read it. Erica Taylor

Browns

Comment on August 22nd, 2007.

Hi Cameron, we thought your blog page had been disbanded, but only to find we had gribblies in the system and now we are back …..

Thank you for the updates on this page. It stops us bothering you when perhaps you don’t want to be bothered.

We do care and am still supporting you in prayer….

Love Aunty Lynne and Uncle Cavan.

Tracey,Jordon ,Harry Steele-John

Comment on August 22nd, 2007.

Dear Cam and Elizabeth. A quick note to say hope the week is panning out okay and that you have had some pain free times Cam.Also that you have both managed to top up your batteries by spending some restful time together.We would very much like to echo Terry’s beautiful comments and thank him for letting us share his words to you both.Wishing you both lots of love.T,J,H,L&J xxxx

The Hoppies

Comment on August 24th, 2007.

Dear Cam and Elizabeth,
Thinking of you every day, we keep praying for strength and all you need to hang in there and please get better.
It sucks to have to go through so much!
We’d love to help…. how can we?
Do you feel like a drive up to the foothills? We’d love to have you guys drop in for lunch, dinner, or just a cuppa and big hugs.(Maybe a stroll in the bush?) Graeme is here at the moment, too.
Keep keeping on.
Sending much love and many hugs and loving thoughts,
all the Hoppies :o )

Ruth

Comment on August 27th, 2007.

Hi Cam and Elizabeth,
Lovely and unlovely co-exist quite comfortably in my life too…you obviously focus on the lovely (and the funny) and I have always loved that about you and your family.
love Ruth

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