2012-02-26 Mon: Illness Impact on Body

Now that the illness has reached into the interior access of the brain, I asked the doctor what would happen. Would the pain become unbearable? Would paralysis of limb or body occur? Or breathing be impacted? How best could I prepare to meet such contingencies?  In short, what are the signposts to watch for?

The good doctor said some or all of the following symptoms could strike:

• choking or heart attack - pain would be excruciating

• progressive loss of cognitive function - become an idiot, in other words

• progressive difficulty in swallowing

• paralysis - may occur in limbs

• general body weakness and lethargy

• short-term memory loss

• increasingly painful headache and giddiness

Yes, some of these symptoms already occurred last year, such as difficulty in swallowing food, especially fibrous greens and sinewy meat. And general body weakness and lethargy.

Aside from the above, other conditions include:

• thinning skin - due to impairment / destruction of thyroid gland

• loss of appetite

• sleeplessness

• loss of homeostasis

The clearest statement came earlier this week from Rag. He, Ernest and Hafiz - the medical team from HCA assigned to provide medical support - visited yesterday to check on my condition. Rag said: You would feel nauseous. And no, metoclopramide Prescribed to treat nausea; also causes constipation! Aarrggh! * grin *  will not prevent that kind of nausea. You should seek immediate medical attention when that happens.

As the tumour weaves its way into the grey matter, some major nerves and capillaries may become squashed and pinched, leading to:

• spasms

• blindness

• loss of speech

• sudden coma

• stroke

• acute memory loss and brain function

• sudden death