HealingWell
Search Close Search
☰

I have returned from vacation

Support Forums
>
Prostate Cancer
✚ New Topic ✚ Reply
12
❬ ❬ Previous Thread |Next Thread ❭ ❭
Posted 10/20/2013 3:46 AM (GMT 0)
We got back about 4 this afternoon.  Would have to say, probably our best vacation yet, as far as what we did, where we went, etc.  Had perfect weather entire week, not a drop of rain.  Temps in Nassau high 80s and sunny, a bit hot for me, but nice.

Spent day in Freeport mostly at the beach under huge umbrella, waters emerald green, got smart this time and rent a taxi for 7 bucks each.  Spent the day in Nassau mostly shopping, visiting a few historic sites, had great local seafood dinner.  Very crowded, as 5 cruise ships were in port at the same time.

Got to visit our daughter last Saturday, and then all day this Friday and early this morning.  Got back to Greenville in time for me to spend about 30 minutes at Eurofest 2013, in its 17th year (I only missed it one time, after surgery in 2010).  Largest all foreign car show on East coast, at the BMW plant.  Dedicated to Ferrari this year, were almost 50 of them alone, most I have ever seen at one time.

On the health side, as I anticipated, was way more difficult for me this year, as I have declined so much from last year's cruise.  Of the 5 days on the ship, had 2 very serious pain days, one in particular had me worried as it was some of  the worse steady pain I have ever encountered, all I could do was lay around and rest.  Despite elevators on the ship, still endless walking and climbing stairs and steps.  Ship rolled a lot coming back, so made walking even more difficult.  On shore, we had to scale back how much we walked, was almost too much for my wife from her back surgery last year.

Probably going to take me a week or more to get over some of the physical discomfort, but it was worth it, I am still trying to live my life, and enjoy a few things while I still can.  If I further decline between now and next year at this time, as much as I would love to do a third cruise, not sure if I would be able to physically, based on what I endured this year.

Don't get me wrong, it was a great vacation, no matter how I felt, and my wife and I had some major quality time together.  And no, neither of us remotely missed our phones or computers, never went on line a single time.  Both cell phones were left in my glove compartment.  Think everyone should consider a technology break once in a while (assuming you aren't needing it for work and emergencies), does the mind good, and reminds you that life went on fine without all of that.

Good to be back to my HW family, got some catching up to do here too.  Very busy week ahead for me, got to space it out so I can make it happen.


David 

Posted 10/20/2013 3:52 AM (GMT 0)
Welcome home David.  I usually need a few days off after vacation too cool .

ed

 

Posted 10/20/2013 3:56 AM (GMT 0)
Thanks, Ed. My body from the waist down is one massive raw nerve at the moment, hurts to bear any weight on my feet. Was hard driving back from Charleston, as even holding the gas pedal hurt, so stayed on cruise as much as I could, but traffic intensely heavy going west bound. Too many cars, not enough interstate, lol.
Posted 10/20/2013 4:18 AM (GMT 0)
David:

Welcome home and I'm glad you had a good time and had wonderful "quality time with the wife". I'm saddened though to hear the toll it's taken on you. Your description of how you currently feel from the waist down is hard to hear.

Sounds like those 2 days were really bad days. I spent all last week praying for you and doing meditation and sending positive energy to you. This pain buddy was doing her utmost to make sure you made it thru the cruise. Take your time catching up with everyone here. You'll need to let the raw nerves settle down and get quiet before tackling anything else.

I'm here if you need me. I'm going to send you my phone number in an email. Just in case you need to talk one day this coming week. I hope your pain doesn't keep you up all night.

Hugs,
Barbara
Posted 10/20/2013 4:52 AM (GMT 0)
Hi David Welcome home. It's good to have you back. I'm glad you were able to enjoy yourself, but I'm sorry that you're having such a bad time right now. Hopefully it will calm down really really soon. Take care, and try not to do too much.

love and hugs
Loretta
Posted 10/20/2013 6:16 AM (GMT 0)
barb - thanks so much. thought of you and a few of my other "pain" buddies this past week. what I experienced was in line with what I expected. if I push too much, and hard not to do on any cruise, then it will come with a price. but was determined to give my wife the best vacation together I could.

as normal, the drive there and back is always rough, just something about me being in any car for more than an hour at the time. had to keep taking breaks (more than normal) so I could stretch out and walk off some of it. And used the seat heaters as much as possible to give my back some relief. love going to Charleston to visit my daughter, but wished she lived closer. with her husband's schedule, its very difficult for them to visit us here, as he works every weekend, and his two day's a week are split up.

want to hear about how you are doing, so will look at lupus site to see if you posted anything new

Loretta - thanks, too.

david
Posted 10/20/2013 6:33 AM (GMT 0)
Welcome back David

Am guessing I am not only fellow CPer cheering for you & wife !!

I was gifted with a paid for vacation that I am hesitant to take for reasons you well know from personal experience. Sigh

Take care.. vacation after vacation is required !!
Posted 10/20/2013 6:42 AM (GMT 0)
thank you Diane. if there is any possible way for you to take that vacation, just as I did, I would advise and hope you could find a way. despite my pain issues, I found the rest of was just what the "doctor" ordered for my mental and emotional well being.

we came back this time with a much higher opinion of the Bahamas islands, and their friendly peoples, much more than we did after the first trip, and would make me even more willing to go a third time if I am able to next year.

david
Posted 10/20/2013 8:57 AM (GMT 0)
Welcome back David. Great to see you and your better half enjoyed the holiday in spite both of your pain issues. Sounds a pretty good place to cruise and visit.
Posted 10/20/2013 9:11 AM (GMT 0)
Hey David! I thought of you through the week! I'm glad to hear that your vacation was wonderful, despite the bumps and pains. I am very impresses that you left your phone in the glove compartment. I can't imagine doing that! LoL I saw on the news that a cruise ship had some issues and I was worried about ya.

Welcome Home!
Linds
Posted 10/20/2013 11:39 AM (GMT 0)
Welcome back, David!  Good to hear you had quality time with your wife.  Sometimes just getting away - anywhere - helps.  Seems like you had a nice place to visit.  I am sorry you had a few rough days.  I pray you WILL be well enough to enjoy a trip next year.

Hugs,

Aimzee

Posted 10/20/2013 12:53 PM (GMT 0)
Hello David,

Don't really know you (except being a brother with PCa). So glad you and your wife had a week together!! So sorry you had a couple bad days, but I'm sure the good days outweigh the bad ones!! Such a blessing to be with the one you love and share this beautiful world that we have to live in.

My wife and I have only been across the border in southern Calif (back in 1971) and south of the border in TX (back in 1972). There is so much of the good old USA that we've not seen as yet, so we want to tour some of it before too long. Some day, we hope to make a trip to Europe to visit family in Norway and exchange student in Denmark, Germany, Sweden, then to GB and of course Glasgow Scotland (where my family is from)!!

You and your wife, get some much needed rest.

Dave Glasgow in Bartlett, TN
Posted 10/20/2013 1:14 PM (GMT 0)
Welcome back David!

Did you gain any weight? That is the true test of a great cruise. Glad you and your wife had a wonderful time. How about those full moon evenings? Looked real nice here in So. Florida 90 miles away.
Nice to have a tech break and relaxation. Take it easy today watch a little football and let the laundry wait until tomorrow.

Bill from Florida
Posted 10/20/2013 1:22 PM (GMT 0)
Glad you had a great trip David.
Posted 10/20/2013 2:04 PM (GMT 0)
Welcome home! Glad you had a great trip! Hope you feel better soon.
Posted 10/20/2013 2:10 PM (GMT 0)
David - did you drive down to Fort Lauderdale and then take a ferry to Bahamas or take a cruise from Charleston?

I'm hoping to take the kids in that direction soon and had heard of various options from Fort Lauderdale.
Posted 10/20/2013 2:45 PM (GMT 0)
David -

Welcome back! Hope you and your wife had a wonderful cruise!

Sometimes just getting away for a while is the best possible medicine!
Posted 10/20/2013 4:03 PM (GMT 0)
Welcome Home, David
Sounds like some very good time for you and your wife. I try to concentrate on those good days with Mark and know the other days will be mixed in. You are living best you can and staying strong while dealing with the pain. You made a few new memories for both of you and those will always be special. We will be heading back to FL from NJ next week, hopefully before it gets really cold here. In some way, our vacations seem to be a vacation from cancer too and that is so emotionally beneficial. Did the leaves change while you were cruising? Hope to catch some pretty colors on the drive back.
Be thinking about you as we cruise through SC.
Pat
Posted 10/20/2013 6:48 PM (GMT 0)
Hi David,

I am glad you are home safe. Sorry you are in pain and had such bad pain days. I do what you do to and try to make somethings as normal as possible. My husband was given season tickets to his college's football team as a graduation gift. When I go to the games I try so hard to make it normal. I plan so carefully so that that it just fun. Our lives are so focused on medical stuff. Just for a little while to be "normal".
Posted 10/20/2013 7:25 PM (GMT 0)
davidg - we always cruise out of Charleston, just 3 hours or so drive from where we live in SC, plus our daughter lives in Charleston

bill/FL - full moon was great on the open ocean, plus one night, we saw a huge fireball meteor that lit up the surface of the water being so bright. thought of you as we passed by Miami area. Ship stayed further off shore this time, like 35 NM, until we neared Miami

Linds - we think everyone should try the no-technology thing from time to time, life still goes on without all of that. second year in a row we did that, and neither of us missed it, wasn't even tempted with the ship's computer area. saw so many people glued to their phones and I-pads.

grandpa - hope you all get to make some of your trips too

billy - thanks, mate

---------------

as far as weight. last year's cruise - gained 2 lbs. this year, lost 3 lbs. figure that, and I ate whatever I felt like eating, couldn't stay away from the deserts and pastries, my big weakness. we ate more seafood than anything else.

david
Posted 10/21/2013 12:58 AM (GMT 0)
Hey David,

Glad to read that you and your wife had a great vacation.
I'm glad you were able to enjoy yourself even with the bad pain days. I'm sorry your pain level is a bit high now. I hope you'll get some relief.

Take Care

UA
Posted 10/21/2013 2:27 AM (GMT 0)
thanks, UA

The worse day, was last Tuesday after we came back ashore from spending the day in Freeport. Didn't even have to walk that much that day, as we took a taxi to the beach and back to the ship. Did do some walking in the surf at the beach, but not all that much.

By dinner time, I was white with pain, even though I had a new Fentanyl patch on that morning and had taken all the other meds on schedule. Just how it is with me on these "severe" days. I don't have to do anything in particular to have one trigger. I remember being in a blur of pain, waiting forever for an elevator to get back to the cabin, feeling like I would pass out at any moment, and feeling totally besides myself. I don't even want to be around me when I feel like that. I don't get mean or ugly, just pitiful and emotional and ready to throw in the towel. Anyone one reading this that has experienced steady acute pain would understand without further explanation. For those that haven't, no way to fully explain how one feels in that situation.

Being so far from home, made me feel even worse at that moment, and I had all kinds of unpleasant and irrational thoughts at the time. Fortunately, the next morning we had arrived in Nassau, and it turned out to be a "normal" CP day for me. Even though it involved the most walking and the most heat of the entire trip. See what I mean, this pain thing has a mind of its own.

Sitting here Sunday night with such severe back and hip pain. Guess its payback for attempting to have a good time, lol. But the look on my wife's more relaxed and less stressed face was worth it all, and I would do it again just to make her happy.

David
Posted 10/21/2013 3:11 AM (GMT 0)
I'll quote my doctor, "You got to live."

Sounds like you did a lot of living.

Glad you had a great trip.
Andrew
Posted 10/21/2013 4:53 AM (GMT 0)
Thanks, Andrew. I lived about as hard as I possibly could the week we were gone. I am still on a downhill slide the past 2 years in particular, and I know its only a question of time before I reach the point where even a trip such as this will no longer be possible. Until then, I will keep doing whatever I want to do, and can do. We all only get one shot at life.

David
Posted 10/21/2013 12:12 PM (GMT 0)
David,

I am happy that you made it safely back from your cruise, and that you keep on pushing to keep a normal life, even with the challenges you have had to come to terms with. My business associate is currently having another series of chemo, as the MDV3100 is no longer keeping his PSA undetectable. I wish I could pass on some of your courage to him, so that he would not focus so much on himself, but understand that his Wife also needs some support, not just his target for venting. I don't know how you keep getting back up each time the beast has knocked you down, but you always fight back and keep on living life as best you can. You are an inspiration to all of us at HealingWell.

 

October makes my sixth year of being undetectable, an anniversary that I always remember, and wish more Men could be as fortunate. One of my best clients husband just learned Friday that his biopsy shows that he is a Gleason six, so I will try again to help another brother on his journey. Keep fighting David!

 

Beachbum
✚ New Topic ✚ Reply
12