Week Two Update, Six More To Go

5/25/26

An Update from Rich (Week 3 of Treatment) 5/26/25

Hi everyone,

I wanted to share a quick update on how things went during my second week of radiation treatment at Singing River.

The Routine The daily schedule has shifted slightly to 2:15 PM, which has actually been a great change. It gives Patty and I a little more breathing room in the mornings for our longer road trips, birding on the Bird Barge, and outdoor projects before I have to head over to Pascagoula. The treatments themselves remain incredibly fast and efficient—the machine only runs for about 10 minutes each time, and the staff are great.

The Challenges & Symptoms As the radiation sessions stack up, the cumulative effects are starting to show up right on schedule. The doctors call this the “acute inflammatory phase,” where the surrounding tissues get temporary swelling from the treatment beams.

• The Exhaustion: Right now, the biggest daily hurdle is an almost perpetual exhaustion. I’ve always been someone who loves a quick power nap and bounces right back up refreshed and raring to go. Lately, though, the naps don’t seem to reset the battery—I wake up feeling just as tired as before I lay down.
• The Plumbing: My urinary flow has gotten progressively weaker due to the local tissue swelling, and it comes with a sharp burning sensation.
• The Digestion: The pelvic inflammation is also causing some significant indigestion, continuous gas, and some local muscle fatigue that makes bathroom trips a bit unpredictable.
• The Infection Factor: On the positive side, the nurse caught a minor urinary tract infection early last week. I just finished a 10-day course of antibiotics for it, which helped clear things up, though I am still managing the standard radiation side effects.

Next Steps Today (Tuesday) is my weekly consultation with Dr. Greenfield following my treatment session. We have a detailed checklist of these symptoms ready for him. The medical team has a lot of standard tools—like specific anti-inflammatories, temporary steroid tapers, or localized medications—to calm the tissue swelling down, improve the plumbing, and make the next six weeks much more comfortable.

Overall, Patty and I are keeping a very positive mindset. We knew this middle stretch of the 39-session marathon would be the most physically annoying part, but we are ready to get it adjusted today and keep moving forward.

Thank you all for the continued check-ins and support!

Best, Rich (and Patty)

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