Today, I have almost nothing for you.
My new chemo regime starts next Tuesday and so I had no blood tests taken and therefore nothing to report.
I played tennis three times in the past week and survived. Mind you, Tuesday was very humid and I felt drained after playing.
The cancer center has changed to a new system for tracking results, I does not provide anywhere the level of data as the old system and the research manager is livid that she cannot play with the numbers in the way she used to. I feel sorry for the doctor this coming Tuesday when she expresses her dissatisfaction.
On the positive side,, she cannot see my weight on the new system and so I can tell her whatever I want!
Wednesday, September 18, 2019
Wednesday, September 11, 2019
Left Behind
I found this week interesting.
You may recall that last week, I was hoping to get a procedure done to remove fluid that had built up in my abdomen. Not being able to get an appointment quickly, I went to the Morton Plant ER on Thursday.
What a wonderful time. I got processed and moved to an emergency room bed and then to a waiting area for radiology. I fairly quickly got transported to an ultrasound room. The tech (Angela) working there was 8 months pregnant and I identified her as my twin. She set to work with the ultrasound and determined that I did indeed have enough fluid floating around to justify the procedure. Anthony came in and stuck a needle in my side, which was connected by a tube to a one liter bottle. I filled almost three of those bottles. When all was said and done, I weighed 14 pounds less that I had two days earlier. That makes it a lot easier to play tennis.
The oncologist, Dr, Patel is concerned that the chemo regime we have been using is diminishing in effectiveness as those pesky cancer cells are adjusting to the cocktail we are feeding them. As a result, we are changing the treatment in the next week or so. He is confident that it will be effective.
The two areas which it will work on is the lymph nodes and also the cause of the fluid build up.
On Tuesday, I had a new experience. When we got to the bottom floor of our building, I realized that I had forgotten my water and went back up to get it while the research manager got the car and was to bring it around to the front door. Imagine my surprise when I got down and saw no car either in front of the building or in her parking space. It turns out that she had driven away from our building not realizing that I was not in the car. When she looked right to make a turn, she realized that I was not there. She hurried back to get me and we laughed about it all the way to the cancer center.
You may recall that last week, I was hoping to get a procedure done to remove fluid that had built up in my abdomen. Not being able to get an appointment quickly, I went to the Morton Plant ER on Thursday.
What a wonderful time. I got processed and moved to an emergency room bed and then to a waiting area for radiology. I fairly quickly got transported to an ultrasound room. The tech (Angela) working there was 8 months pregnant and I identified her as my twin. She set to work with the ultrasound and determined that I did indeed have enough fluid floating around to justify the procedure. Anthony came in and stuck a needle in my side, which was connected by a tube to a one liter bottle. I filled almost three of those bottles. When all was said and done, I weighed 14 pounds less that I had two days earlier. That makes it a lot easier to play tennis.
The oncologist, Dr, Patel is concerned that the chemo regime we have been using is diminishing in effectiveness as those pesky cancer cells are adjusting to the cocktail we are feeding them. As a result, we are changing the treatment in the next week or so. He is confident that it will be effective.
The two areas which it will work on is the lymph nodes and also the cause of the fluid build up.
On Tuesday, I had a new experience. When we got to the bottom floor of our building, I realized that I had forgotten my water and went back up to get it while the research manager got the car and was to bring it around to the front door. Imagine my surprise when I got down and saw no car either in front of the building or in her parking space. It turns out that she had driven away from our building not realizing that I was not in the car. When she looked right to make a turn, she realized that I was not there. She hurried back to get me and we laughed about it all the way to the cancer center.
Wednesday, September 4, 2019
Twists
This week has had its share of twists.
I suppose that the biggest is that the fluid in my abdomen and groin area has gotten the attention of the oncologist. He wants to drain it so that he can have it analyzed to determine the cause. The twist? As a result, I will not have my scheduled chemo until that procedure is done.
I am in total agreement with this. The fluid build up is really annoying.
The next twist is that I cannot have the procedure until a week tomorrow. That means that I will not have chemo next week either.
Twist number three is interesting. I take Tulsi Holy Basil each night as it helps me go to sleep. The other night, I had taken it and had just fallen asleep when the research manager appeared to ask me if I had taken my Tulsi Holy Basil. She had found the bottle in her bathroom and thought that perhaps I had not taken it. So, she woke me up to ask me if I had taken a pill to help me get to sleep. Go figure.
Finally, I had a delightful visit with a podiatrist this morning. Among other foot issues, I had trouble trimming my toe nails due to my inflated abdomen. He is a great guy and we got along very well. He was giving me health advice in terms of food, being positive and then having a sense of humor.
He then talked about the power of prayer and described a test that reflected the positive effect of prayer.
The twist? He said with a smile that it was good to have people praying for you unless, ,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,they were praying that you would not do well. My kind of humor.
Life is full of twists. Just roll with them!
I suppose that the biggest is that the fluid in my abdomen and groin area has gotten the attention of the oncologist. He wants to drain it so that he can have it analyzed to determine the cause. The twist? As a result, I will not have my scheduled chemo until that procedure is done.
I am in total agreement with this. The fluid build up is really annoying.
The next twist is that I cannot have the procedure until a week tomorrow. That means that I will not have chemo next week either.
Twist number three is interesting. I take Tulsi Holy Basil each night as it helps me go to sleep. The other night, I had taken it and had just fallen asleep when the research manager appeared to ask me if I had taken my Tulsi Holy Basil. She had found the bottle in her bathroom and thought that perhaps I had not taken it. So, she woke me up to ask me if I had taken a pill to help me get to sleep. Go figure.
Finally, I had a delightful visit with a podiatrist this morning. Among other foot issues, I had trouble trimming my toe nails due to my inflated abdomen. He is a great guy and we got along very well. He was giving me health advice in terms of food, being positive and then having a sense of humor.
He then talked about the power of prayer and described a test that reflected the positive effect of prayer.
The twist? He said with a smile that it was good to have people praying for you unless, ,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,they were praying that you would not do well. My kind of humor.
Life is full of twists. Just roll with them!
Wednesday, August 28, 2019
A Long Leg
What an interesting week.
Primarily, what an interesting Tuesday.
My blood numbers were all exceptional. They were the best in quite a while. The research manager was ecstatic.
Then I had my petscan. What is involved in a petscan?
They start an IV in your arm and take some blood to test your blood sugar level. The technician Andrea was the best one that I have had. She was assisted by Brianna, a student. My blood sugar was in very good shape (94).
Next, they insert a concoction in your arm that, I presume is basically a sugar solution of some kind. Then you wait for an hour to circulate. I get to watch television for an hour. (I also read a little)
Then comes the test, you lie down on this big, relatively noisy contraption with your arms above your head while it moves you up and down taking pictures, measuring now much of the solution is "uptaked." After 24 minutes, you are glad to hear the door open, signalling that the technician is coming in to extricate you. This task was given to Brianna. I made my usual request for a CD and the report from the doctor looking at the pictures.
I went off to have a late lunch and came back to receive both the report and the CD. The two areas in my lymph nodes had decreased in size significantly (more than 50%.) Once again, the research manager was ecstatic and so was I.
I still have fluid floating around from the surgery, which has prompted the research manager to institute a "no salt" campaign to reduce the salt.
Today, on my way to the club, I called her and when she answered, asked her to hold a minute and pretended to order two hot dogs. When she asked what I had eaten at the club, I told her that I thought that chocolate cake was the best low salt option. Her leg is getting longer and longer as I do this kind of kidding often.
So, now we are getting ready for the slight eventuality that Hurricane Dorian comes our way. I will get to play tennis tomorrow, however.
There's always something.
Primarily, what an interesting Tuesday.
My blood numbers were all exceptional. They were the best in quite a while. The research manager was ecstatic.
Then I had my petscan. What is involved in a petscan?
They start an IV in your arm and take some blood to test your blood sugar level. The technician Andrea was the best one that I have had. She was assisted by Brianna, a student. My blood sugar was in very good shape (94).
Next, they insert a concoction in your arm that, I presume is basically a sugar solution of some kind. Then you wait for an hour to circulate. I get to watch television for an hour. (I also read a little)
Then comes the test, you lie down on this big, relatively noisy contraption with your arms above your head while it moves you up and down taking pictures, measuring now much of the solution is "uptaked." After 24 minutes, you are glad to hear the door open, signalling that the technician is coming in to extricate you. This task was given to Brianna. I made my usual request for a CD and the report from the doctor looking at the pictures.
I went off to have a late lunch and came back to receive both the report and the CD. The two areas in my lymph nodes had decreased in size significantly (more than 50%.) Once again, the research manager was ecstatic and so was I.
I still have fluid floating around from the surgery, which has prompted the research manager to institute a "no salt" campaign to reduce the salt.
Today, on my way to the club, I called her and when she answered, asked her to hold a minute and pretended to order two hot dogs. When she asked what I had eaten at the club, I told her that I thought that chocolate cake was the best low salt option. Her leg is getting longer and longer as I do this kind of kidding often.
So, now we are getting ready for the slight eventuality that Hurricane Dorian comes our way. I will get to play tennis tomorrow, however.
There's always something.
Wednesday, August 21, 2019
Finding Lost Days and Lost Pounds
This past week began as a disaster. You probably know that I consume a large number of pills, including some while I am away from home. I carry those pills in a pill box for the the specific day of the week. I discovered that my Wednesday box was missing and no amount of searching allowed me to find it. Then just in time for today, I spotted it in my car. It had fallen down below the driver's seat. What a relief. Life can go on. Not everyone can find a day that they feel they have lost.
Oh, yes, I had my blood letting yesterday and the numbers were all decent. I would like my white blood cell numbers to be a little higher, but they passed the grade. They also weigh you and take your blood pressure. They want my weight to be maintained and the research manager would like it to be lower. When I jumped on the scale, I held on to a bar on the wall, thus lowering my weight by about 20 pounds. But they caught me and my actual weight reflected a gain of the few pounds that I had lost the week before. Of course, I have Bob for a few days, but I have been feeling remarkably good. I also found out that I will have a petscan next Tuesday. So keep you fingers, toes, legs, arms and eyes crossed.
The big news of the week is that I have played tennis on three days, despite rain many mornings.It feels good to be back out on the court. I need to gain my speed back though. On Monday morning, when I walked onto the court, a statuesque woman who was walking her dog stopped to watch (I presume me.) She eventually went on, but came back by for another look. I am not sure, but I think she later jogged by. If she had asked, I would have given her an autograph. I am better at that than I am at tennis at this time because I have had some practice at it with my book.
The research manager is not happy with my watching TV while in bed, saying that the flashes of light are not good for my sleep. I replied that I wanted to share life experience with her. I told her that I could drink coffee (if I drank it) or coke or diet coke at 11 pm and be asleep at 11:05. I don't think that she saw the significance or relevance of that factoid, but we both had a good laugh at my wonky creativity.
Parting Facts:
1. America Says has replaced Cash Cab as my quiz show of choice. It is on earlier.
2. When I was a kid, I had trouble swallowing one "horse" pill. I can now do four at a time, but more than that is not possible yet.
3. I have a joke about a brick ( a different one than my sister-in-law told me). If you see me, ask me about it. If you are my sister-in-law, you can call me as I will not be in Seattle any time soon.
4. Some people have been reviewing my book on Amazon. If you are so inclined to follow suit, I would appreciate it.
Thanks for your continued interest, prayers and support.
Oh, yes, I had my blood letting yesterday and the numbers were all decent. I would like my white blood cell numbers to be a little higher, but they passed the grade. They also weigh you and take your blood pressure. They want my weight to be maintained and the research manager would like it to be lower. When I jumped on the scale, I held on to a bar on the wall, thus lowering my weight by about 20 pounds. But they caught me and my actual weight reflected a gain of the few pounds that I had lost the week before. Of course, I have Bob for a few days, but I have been feeling remarkably good. I also found out that I will have a petscan next Tuesday. So keep you fingers, toes, legs, arms and eyes crossed.
The big news of the week is that I have played tennis on three days, despite rain many mornings.It feels good to be back out on the court. I need to gain my speed back though. On Monday morning, when I walked onto the court, a statuesque woman who was walking her dog stopped to watch (I presume me.) She eventually went on, but came back by for another look. I am not sure, but I think she later jogged by. If she had asked, I would have given her an autograph. I am better at that than I am at tennis at this time because I have had some practice at it with my book.
The research manager is not happy with my watching TV while in bed, saying that the flashes of light are not good for my sleep. I replied that I wanted to share life experience with her. I told her that I could drink coffee (if I drank it) or coke or diet coke at 11 pm and be asleep at 11:05. I don't think that she saw the significance or relevance of that factoid, but we both had a good laugh at my wonky creativity.
Parting Facts:
1. America Says has replaced Cash Cab as my quiz show of choice. It is on earlier.
2. When I was a kid, I had trouble swallowing one "horse" pill. I can now do four at a time, but more than that is not possible yet.
3. I have a joke about a brick ( a different one than my sister-in-law told me). If you see me, ask me about it. If you are my sister-in-law, you can call me as I will not be in Seattle any time soon.
4. Some people have been reviewing my book on Amazon. If you are so inclined to follow suit, I would appreciate it.
Thanks for your continued interest, prayers and support.
Wednesday, August 14, 2019
High blood pressure (not mine)
This has been a decent week.
My Tuesday blood numbers were decent, except that my white blood cells were low. The doctor authorized two shots of neupogen which will bring them back up and everything should be fine by next week.
I was getting my blood drawn yesterday when a woman walked in. They always weigh you (down 4 pounds for me) and take your blood pressure ( mine was decent). However, this woman had very high blood pressure ( something like 192/96) and she was surprised it was so high. I told her it was likely because I had never been in the room with her previously. I am not sure what she thought (well, I do, she thought that I was crazy!), but she did sit one seat away from me in the treatment room.
Why was I in the treatment room? Two reasons. The first was to get my neupogen shot and the second was to have the nurse look at one of the fingers on my right hand. It had formed a blister. The research manager wanted to make sure that it was not mersa ( I guess it is actually spelled MRSA!). However, when I told the nurse that I had played tennis the day before for the first time in ages, she said that was the likely cause. A little antibiotic and all is better. I will play tennis again tomorrow, weather permitting.
There seems to be growing interest in my book. If you have read it, would you consider reviewing it on Amazon or Barnes and Noble? You can also buy it there. Thanks.
My Tuesday blood numbers were decent, except that my white blood cells were low. The doctor authorized two shots of neupogen which will bring them back up and everything should be fine by next week.
I was getting my blood drawn yesterday when a woman walked in. They always weigh you (down 4 pounds for me) and take your blood pressure ( mine was decent). However, this woman had very high blood pressure ( something like 192/96) and she was surprised it was so high. I told her it was likely because I had never been in the room with her previously. I am not sure what she thought (well, I do, she thought that I was crazy!), but she did sit one seat away from me in the treatment room.
Why was I in the treatment room? Two reasons. The first was to get my neupogen shot and the second was to have the nurse look at one of the fingers on my right hand. It had formed a blister. The research manager wanted to make sure that it was not mersa ( I guess it is actually spelled MRSA!). However, when I told the nurse that I had played tennis the day before for the first time in ages, she said that was the likely cause. A little antibiotic and all is better. I will play tennis again tomorrow, weather permitting.
There seems to be growing interest in my book. If you have read it, would you consider reviewing it on Amazon or Barnes and Noble? You can also buy it there. Thanks.
Wednesday, August 7, 2019
Busy Week
This past week has been fairly busy.
Let's start with the medical side of things.
Last Thursday, I had an ultrasound to make sure that I did not have a blood clot in my right leg. I was greeted by a man who said he was "Brian By the Way." I have noted that several of the "By the Way" family work up at Morton Plant. The must have a special in with the personnel department up there.
The ultrasound went well (no clot). When I called the research manager to tell her I was finished, she asked me how the sonogram went. I told her that I was having twins.
I am back to having far infrared saunas, When I was finished last Thursday at 4:00, the receptionist was not there. So I left a note telling her that if three women arrived at 4:45 asking for me to tell them that I would be back shortly. Unfortunately, the owner found the note first and called me to ask what the three women wanted. I am not sure she understood that it was just a joke.
Yesterday, I was back for more chemo. That went well and I find that I am dealing with Bob better than I used to. My blood numbers were a little down in a few areas, particularly white blood cells, but all was livable. I mentioned that I sometimes get tired and while the nurse practitioner said that was normal, she ordered a few tests of things like iron. The results were normal.
Today, I went to the surgeon as a second follow up from my hernia surgery. He identified that I have some fluid build up, but indicated that as far as he was concerned, I could undertake any activity that I wanted. So, look out tennis players, a new old guy will be appearing on the courts.
Of course, things were also busy as we geared up for the Book Launch party last Saturday. We had about 75 guests and several helped with preparations to make the party a success. At least, I enjoyed it, but I think others did also.
Several people bought a book. I am waiting for the publisher's publicity team to get a press release out. That will trigger more activity in terms of promoting the book.
Meanwhile, you can order the book on line through Amazon or Barnes and Noble. If you go this route and are able to review it, that would be great.
This is all very exciting.
Activity at the bridge club is as busy as ever as we plan for the upcoming winter season.
Life may be busy, but it is good.
Let's start with the medical side of things.
Last Thursday, I had an ultrasound to make sure that I did not have a blood clot in my right leg. I was greeted by a man who said he was "Brian By the Way." I have noted that several of the "By the Way" family work up at Morton Plant. The must have a special in with the personnel department up there.
The ultrasound went well (no clot). When I called the research manager to tell her I was finished, she asked me how the sonogram went. I told her that I was having twins.
I am back to having far infrared saunas, When I was finished last Thursday at 4:00, the receptionist was not there. So I left a note telling her that if three women arrived at 4:45 asking for me to tell them that I would be back shortly. Unfortunately, the owner found the note first and called me to ask what the three women wanted. I am not sure she understood that it was just a joke.
Yesterday, I was back for more chemo. That went well and I find that I am dealing with Bob better than I used to. My blood numbers were a little down in a few areas, particularly white blood cells, but all was livable. I mentioned that I sometimes get tired and while the nurse practitioner said that was normal, she ordered a few tests of things like iron. The results were normal.
Today, I went to the surgeon as a second follow up from my hernia surgery. He identified that I have some fluid build up, but indicated that as far as he was concerned, I could undertake any activity that I wanted. So, look out tennis players, a new old guy will be appearing on the courts.
Of course, things were also busy as we geared up for the Book Launch party last Saturday. We had about 75 guests and several helped with preparations to make the party a success. At least, I enjoyed it, but I think others did also.
Several people bought a book. I am waiting for the publisher's publicity team to get a press release out. That will trigger more activity in terms of promoting the book.
Meanwhile, you can order the book on line through Amazon or Barnes and Noble. If you go this route and are able to review it, that would be great.
This is all very exciting.
Activity at the bridge club is as busy as ever as we plan for the upcoming winter season.
Life may be busy, but it is good.
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