Apparently there are penalties to pay for having food after a long period of only drinking Ensure. I had trouble sleeping because of the rumbling sounds coming from my abdomen. It was strange. (Ben, it was like your stomach in the doctor's office, all night long.)
In addition, or because of, I had strange dreams about loud music and needles. Robin, you must be rubbing off on me. I was walking around with a handful of "sharps" trying to find somewhere I could dispose of them. And someone kept turning the music up loud. As I said, weird!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Today, I'm going to a Fiesta. I may even be able to eat there!! Me gusta la comida mexicana! (I like Mexican food! (Although McDonald's breakfast burritos don't really qualify...))
Tengo un amigo de Mexico. (I have a Mexican friend.) One of several, really, but this friend has been over several times with his two beautiful daughters to play in my back yard. Well, the girls get to play, but we get to help.
The last time he was over with his oldest girl, I set up the chair swing I mentioned in an earlier post. Boy, did she have fun! She brought tears to my eyes when she started calling me "uncle."
So, to make things even better for such a nice little girl and her younger sister, I positioned the rope higher in the tree. I'm guessing 25 - 30 feet. It really has a long swing arc now! Ask Ben!
Anyway, mi amigo emailed me to let me know that he wouldn't be able to come over today. He was going to a Baptism for his friend's daughter. Now, I know this friend; we've had several discussions. He works at the same place as my friend but on second shift. It was at their work where I met these guys.
So, I got invited to the Fiesta. I'm looking forward to meeting this acquaintance again, seeing his baby girl,--if you know me at all, you should know how I am with babies and little kids. I can't get enough--meeting his esposa, his wife, and of course, seeing my friend and his family again.
Amy, I looked through your phrase book but they didn't have anything in there for fiestas. But, I'll take mi diccionario anyway!
Hasta luego! (Until later!)
Saturday, September 1, 2007
Friday, August 31, 2007
FOOD!!!!!
Now that was a unique and pleasant experience!
The Vicodin and another drug called Carafate, allowed me to eat an 18.8 ounce can of Campbell's Chunky Grilled Chicken and Sausage Gumbo! Not entirely pain free, but pretty darn close.
I know that for you chunky soup is not a big deal. But I couldn't eat it, before. Tomorrow morning it's McDonald's Breakfast Burritos! Anyone want to join me?
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Because I've lost so much weight, and because my blood pressure was 98/60 at the doctor's office today, and because the chemotherapy will probably lower my bp even more, my regular doctor called this evening and discontinued one of the three bp meds I had been taking. See, there is a bright side....
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I want to go on record to say that I'm proud of my kids. Always have been, and I see no reason to stop now.
My daughter, Amy, has been a cool, calm, rational voice that I look for whenever there's a problem, like the one I'm going through right now. Now, I don't always agree with her but I still love her just the same.
And she's always thinking.
For example, she sent me a care package of Spanish language books and a couple of magazines that featured a favorite actress of mine with a note indicating that I needed some "light reading" while undergoing treatment. Actually it sounded more like homework to me. But, I had been thinking about spending some time while in treatment still trying to learn Spanish. See how much we can think alike?
And, she sent me a link to the Moffitt Cancer Treatment Center at the University of South Florida, one of the ten best in the nation, to offer an alternative to the folks I'm seeing now. I wish I could take her up on the opportunity to be treated there.
And Ben! What can I say?
Today, he got up in the middle of his night--he works second shift--to take me to the doctor. He sat through my discussions with the doctor, and offered insights about the discussion on the way home. And, he'll probably have to do it again on Tuesday when they implant the port in my chest.
Then, he stuck around for a while, before going off to work, and he sat in the sun in my rope chair swing that Amy brought back from South America for me, and I in my hammock, and talked about many, many, things. It was just what I needed, today.
Ben has always been kind of quiet and reserved. So when he suggested that he move in with me, I was startled. Pleased, but a little surprised. And with all the help he's given me already, I'm blown away by his desire to help his old man.
I don't know what this surly old curmudgeon did to deserve such great kids, but I'm very happy, and very proud, that they're mine. I don't want anyone to ever forget just how much I love them.
So, if you ever do forget, just ask me; I'll refresh your memory.
The Vicodin and another drug called Carafate, allowed me to eat an 18.8 ounce can of Campbell's Chunky Grilled Chicken and Sausage Gumbo! Not entirely pain free, but pretty darn close.
I know that for you chunky soup is not a big deal. But I couldn't eat it, before. Tomorrow morning it's McDonald's Breakfast Burritos! Anyone want to join me?
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Because I've lost so much weight, and because my blood pressure was 98/60 at the doctor's office today, and because the chemotherapy will probably lower my bp even more, my regular doctor called this evening and discontinued one of the three bp meds I had been taking. See, there is a bright side....
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I want to go on record to say that I'm proud of my kids. Always have been, and I see no reason to stop now.
My daughter, Amy, has been a cool, calm, rational voice that I look for whenever there's a problem, like the one I'm going through right now. Now, I don't always agree with her but I still love her just the same.
And she's always thinking.
For example, she sent me a care package of Spanish language books and a couple of magazines that featured a favorite actress of mine with a note indicating that I needed some "light reading" while undergoing treatment. Actually it sounded more like homework to me. But, I had been thinking about spending some time while in treatment still trying to learn Spanish. See how much we can think alike?
And, she sent me a link to the Moffitt Cancer Treatment Center at the University of South Florida, one of the ten best in the nation, to offer an alternative to the folks I'm seeing now. I wish I could take her up on the opportunity to be treated there.
And Ben! What can I say?
Today, he got up in the middle of his night--he works second shift--to take me to the doctor. He sat through my discussions with the doctor, and offered insights about the discussion on the way home. And, he'll probably have to do it again on Tuesday when they implant the port in my chest.
Then, he stuck around for a while, before going off to work, and he sat in the sun in my rope chair swing that Amy brought back from South America for me, and I in my hammock, and talked about many, many, things. It was just what I needed, today.
Ben has always been kind of quiet and reserved. So when he suggested that he move in with me, I was startled. Pleased, but a little surprised. And with all the help he's given me already, I'm blown away by his desire to help his old man.
I don't know what this surly old curmudgeon did to deserve such great kids, but I'm very happy, and very proud, that they're mine. I don't want anyone to ever forget just how much I love them.
So, if you ever do forget, just ask me; I'll refresh your memory.
Oncology Report
OK, are you ready for this?
Radiation treatment is OFF the table; the cancer has metastasized. It’s spread to at least three other lymph nodes; two under my left clavicle (collarbone), and one lower in the abdomen.
I go in Tuesday, September 4, to get an implantable vein access port placed somewhere near (not really sure here) my left collarbone. Then I start chemotherapy less than one week later on Monday, September 10. I guess I’ll have to take that week off until I find out what the three drugs will do to me.
The port will make it easier to “shoot me up” when I’m in the office, but it also sounds like I’ll be wearing a portable pump, similar to a diabetic’s insulin pump, to keep a constant flow of one of the drugs going into my system.
One thing I do know, I’m going to be bald. I mean, even more than I already am. :-D I’m going to lose my hair!!
And, I’m going to be just like the Packers; I’m going to be taking Vicodin! Along with another prescription that will coat my esophagus and stomach, I should be able to EAT again. Yay-y-y-y-y!!! Hello, Big Mac!!
But there is a down side. These drugs for the chemotherapy can cause all sorts of problems; hearing loss (We do a baseline test on Tuesday, Sept 11), water retention, neuropathy (nerve damage or loss), among others I don’t remember right now. I’ll know more later.
So, I’ll work this Sunday and Monday, take Tuesday off to get the implanted port, Wednesday is up in the air right now (I’m supposed to work, but will I be able to?), and Thursday through Sunday is my off rotation. Starting Monday the 10th, I’ll be on vacation for a week until we find out how I can tolerate the regimen.
Still don’t know about the surgery. One step at a time, I guess.
Anything I missed? Any questions? Leave a comment. Please.
Radiation treatment is OFF the table; the cancer has metastasized. It’s spread to at least three other lymph nodes; two under my left clavicle (collarbone), and one lower in the abdomen.
I go in Tuesday, September 4, to get an implantable vein access port placed somewhere near (not really sure here) my left collarbone. Then I start chemotherapy less than one week later on Monday, September 10. I guess I’ll have to take that week off until I find out what the three drugs will do to me.
The port will make it easier to “shoot me up” when I’m in the office, but it also sounds like I’ll be wearing a portable pump, similar to a diabetic’s insulin pump, to keep a constant flow of one of the drugs going into my system.
One thing I do know, I’m going to be bald. I mean, even more than I already am. :-D I’m going to lose my hair!!
And, I’m going to be just like the Packers; I’m going to be taking Vicodin! Along with another prescription that will coat my esophagus and stomach, I should be able to EAT again. Yay-y-y-y-y!!! Hello, Big Mac!!
But there is a down side. These drugs for the chemotherapy can cause all sorts of problems; hearing loss (We do a baseline test on Tuesday, Sept 11), water retention, neuropathy (nerve damage or loss), among others I don’t remember right now. I’ll know more later.
So, I’ll work this Sunday and Monday, take Tuesday off to get the implanted port, Wednesday is up in the air right now (I’m supposed to work, but will I be able to?), and Thursday through Sunday is my off rotation. Starting Monday the 10th, I’ll be on vacation for a week until we find out how I can tolerate the regimen.
Still don’t know about the surgery. One step at a time, I guess.
Anything I missed? Any questions? Leave a comment. Please.
Today's the Day!
It seems I couldn't sleep much longer, knowing that today is the day I find out; 1) whether or not my cancer is spreading, and 2) what game plan the doctors have decided on to try to keep me alive. So, I'm up.
Due to the surgery requirements, I suspect that part of the issue will come down to a fight between doctors and insurance company.
And I see that I have totally neglected using the topic delimiters that I just wrote about. Old habits die hard.
I was all the way up to 178 pounds this AM. Waking up, I feel pretty good. But, boy, yesterday! I used to be able to mow the lawn without stopping. Over the course of the summer, I noticed that I'd have to stop, usually once, during the course of mowing to rest. OK, so I'm getting older. Grr-r-r-r-r. But yesterday, I had to stop quite frequently.
I've mentioned the back pain, just to the right of the spine, that I get, apparently, from this tumor. Well, did it bother me yesterday!
Like everyone, I've gotten back pain in the past. Usually all I had to do was stretch, pop the vertebrae back into proper alignment and I was good to go. It doesn't work that way with this. No matter which way I twist and stretch, it doesn't go away. I can lie on my back on the floor and the pain will diminish, but that's about it.
Mowing requires me to use my back quite a bit. Driving truck shouldn't bother it that much. Cranking the landing gear on the trailers might bother a little, but thankfully, I shouldn't have to do that too often. I'm hoping that with chemotherapy shrinking the tumor, the pain will lessen.
Mom called yesterday. It was good to hear that she has come to terms with what is going on with me; we both got through our conversation without tears. She is going through her own physical trials, so we traded "war stories" for a while.
Well, I guess I'll have to post later today once Ben and I get back from the doctors office....
Only a half hour since I posted this and I'm already updating it!
I just wanted to say that I received a wedding invitation in the mail yesterday. Most of you should remember my best friend and hunting buddy, Rawley, who died February 28, 1999. (I still miss you, Rawley! I could use some of your infectious love of life, right now.) Anyway, his son, Tim, is getting married this October. Rawley and Nancy's youngest is getting married. I still remember watching him play high school football. Where does the time go?
I'm worried about the time frame, however. The wedding occurs near the end of October which should be just before my surgery. I guess I'll find out today.
And, Tim, remind me, I still have a staple hammer that belonged to your dad. I'll look for it while I'm cleaning the basement.
Edited 8/31 06:50AM
Due to the surgery requirements, I suspect that part of the issue will come down to a fight between doctors and insurance company.
And I see that I have totally neglected using the topic delimiters that I just wrote about. Old habits die hard.
I was all the way up to 178 pounds this AM. Waking up, I feel pretty good. But, boy, yesterday! I used to be able to mow the lawn without stopping. Over the course of the summer, I noticed that I'd have to stop, usually once, during the course of mowing to rest. OK, so I'm getting older. Grr-r-r-r-r. But yesterday, I had to stop quite frequently.
I've mentioned the back pain, just to the right of the spine, that I get, apparently, from this tumor. Well, did it bother me yesterday!
Like everyone, I've gotten back pain in the past. Usually all I had to do was stretch, pop the vertebrae back into proper alignment and I was good to go. It doesn't work that way with this. No matter which way I twist and stretch, it doesn't go away. I can lie on my back on the floor and the pain will diminish, but that's about it.
Mowing requires me to use my back quite a bit. Driving truck shouldn't bother it that much. Cranking the landing gear on the trailers might bother a little, but thankfully, I shouldn't have to do that too often. I'm hoping that with chemotherapy shrinking the tumor, the pain will lessen.
Mom called yesterday. It was good to hear that she has come to terms with what is going on with me; we both got through our conversation without tears. She is going through her own physical trials, so we traded "war stories" for a while.
Well, I guess I'll have to post later today once Ben and I get back from the doctors office....
Only a half hour since I posted this and I'm already updating it!
I just wanted to say that I received a wedding invitation in the mail yesterday. Most of you should remember my best friend and hunting buddy, Rawley, who died February 28, 1999. (I still miss you, Rawley! I could use some of your infectious love of life, right now.) Anyway, his son, Tim, is getting married this October. Rawley and Nancy's youngest is getting married. I still remember watching him play high school football. Where does the time go?
I'm worried about the time frame, however. The wedding occurs near the end of October which should be just before my surgery. I guess I'll find out today.
And, Tim, remind me, I still have a staple hammer that belonged to your dad. I'll look for it while I'm cleaning the basement.
Edited 8/31 06:50AM
Thursday, August 30, 2007
Edits
Yup, still here. I almost forgot to post this morning. I was looking forward to mowing the lawn! It's getting kinda shaggy!
I have noticed that I have made mistakes while posting here. Most are simple typos or punctuation errors. But occasionally, I omitted information that is necessary to make my point. How do I handle these situations?
I decided that the typos and punctuation errors I would correct without calling attention to the matter.
The addition or deletion of text from previous posts will need to be handled a little differently. I will add a note to the bottom of the affected post stating that the post was changed. I will italicize the additions in the post as well. AND, in my daily post, I will make note that the previous post was changed.
Work for you?
Still 177, this AM. Feel pretty good. As I said, I'm looking forward to getting the lawn mowed. Then, given sufficient energy, I hope to work on the basement some more.
Thanks for the continued emails and support.
I have noticed that I have made mistakes while posting here. Most are simple typos or punctuation errors. But occasionally, I omitted information that is necessary to make my point. How do I handle these situations?
I decided that the typos and punctuation errors I would correct without calling attention to the matter.
The addition or deletion of text from previous posts will need to be handled a little differently. I will add a note to the bottom of the affected post stating that the post was changed. I will italicize the additions in the post as well. AND, in my daily post, I will make note that the previous post was changed.
Work for you?
Still 177, this AM. Feel pretty good. As I said, I'm looking forward to getting the lawn mowed. Then, given sufficient energy, I hope to work on the basement some more.
Thanks for the continued emails and support.
Wednesday, August 29, 2007
Sometimes You Feel Like You Are Making a Difference
I'm cleaning out the basement so my son, Ben, can bring his stuff over prior to moving in with me. I had a bunch of stuff earmarked for the local charity so I loaded it up and dropped it off.
One of the workers there mentioned that he recognized my vehicle. Now, my vehicle is just a generic vehicle, just like all the others on the road. So I asked him how he recognized it. "By the bumpersticker." he said. "I've seen it several times and liked your bumpersticker a lot. I've been wondering where I could get one."
My bumpersticker? You can see it here, http://www.stampandshout.com/shop/bumper-stickers/coexist.php.
Now, I'm not normally one for bumperstickers; they can get you noticed! But this one I thought reflected my personal view perfectly. I thought it worthy of notice. And it's working.
When I told the man that they were available online, he was very disappointed. Then I remembered that I had one in the vehicle, so I dug it out and made a present of it to him. He said that it was definitely going on the back of his car.
Made me feel good!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~(R>> I liked your delimiters and am going to copy them when I change subjects in a post. I hope you don't mind.)
Now, I'm wondering just how much I should put in this blog. Someone suggested that I treat it as a diary. I'm not very far from that opinion right now. Everything that I put in here is not meant for everyone, but hopefully it will mean something to someone.
Then the question becomes how much about "my condition" should I put in here. I was thinking originally that I do my "private" thing and not put any details about how I feel in here. But then when and if something bad happened, you would be surprised. Then I realized that part of the reason for this blog is so everyone could keep up to date on me; know when I'm feeling bad and celebrate when I'm feeling better.
So, I thought I'd start. I weighed 177 pounds this AM. I've lost 49 pounds since the end of March on my scale. The hospitals scales are somewhat higher. But they always weigh me with my pockets full. If you know me, I always have my pockets full of something!
I took my hot bath, but it didn't seem to revive me like it normally does. As a matter of fact, I felt pretty crappy. I'm glad that I didn't mow the lawn this morning.
Work on the basement was tiring as well. I'm going to have to start enquiring about pain meds. The pain from the tumor radiates to my back, just to the right of the spine, slightly higher, I believe, than the diaphragm.
And I can get low temperature "sweats." That's the only way I know how to describe it. I feel warm but my skin feels cool and sweaty.
So I guess I'll have to work at things a little slower. And it may be because I wasn't up right away and had breakfast. Time will tell.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~(Thanks, again, R.)
I got a package in the mail today as well.
My daughter turned me on to a singer name Marc Broussard, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marc_Broussard. He does what is known as "Bayou Soul" along with other styles. He was even in a Christian band! So I ordered his CD.
But the big hit, Home, on his first major album, Carencro, named after his hometown near Lafayette, Louisiana, certainly caught my attention. You can review it here, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NC1v5trmB1E. Thanks, Amy!!
I also received another CD I had ordered by the artist know as Lobo, responsible for the hit, Me and You and a Dog Named Boo, and the latest paperback of a favorite author, F. Paul Wilson. It's a Repairman Jack novel.
Well, I think it's time for some tea!
Later!
One of the workers there mentioned that he recognized my vehicle. Now, my vehicle is just a generic vehicle, just like all the others on the road. So I asked him how he recognized it. "By the bumpersticker." he said. "I've seen it several times and liked your bumpersticker a lot. I've been wondering where I could get one."
My bumpersticker? You can see it here, http://www.stampandshout.com/shop/bumper-stickers/coexist.php.
Now, I'm not normally one for bumperstickers; they can get you noticed! But this one I thought reflected my personal view perfectly. I thought it worthy of notice. And it's working.
When I told the man that they were available online, he was very disappointed. Then I remembered that I had one in the vehicle, so I dug it out and made a present of it to him. He said that it was definitely going on the back of his car.
Made me feel good!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~(R>> I liked your delimiters and am going to copy them when I change subjects in a post. I hope you don't mind.)
Now, I'm wondering just how much I should put in this blog. Someone suggested that I treat it as a diary. I'm not very far from that opinion right now. Everything that I put in here is not meant for everyone, but hopefully it will mean something to someone.
Then the question becomes how much about "my condition" should I put in here. I was thinking originally that I do my "private" thing and not put any details about how I feel in here. But then when and if something bad happened, you would be surprised. Then I realized that part of the reason for this blog is so everyone could keep up to date on me; know when I'm feeling bad and celebrate when I'm feeling better.
So, I thought I'd start. I weighed 177 pounds this AM. I've lost 49 pounds since the end of March on my scale. The hospitals scales are somewhat higher. But they always weigh me with my pockets full. If you know me, I always have my pockets full of something!
I took my hot bath, but it didn't seem to revive me like it normally does. As a matter of fact, I felt pretty crappy. I'm glad that I didn't mow the lawn this morning.
Work on the basement was tiring as well. I'm going to have to start enquiring about pain meds. The pain from the tumor radiates to my back, just to the right of the spine, slightly higher, I believe, than the diaphragm.
And I can get low temperature "sweats." That's the only way I know how to describe it. I feel warm but my skin feels cool and sweaty.
So I guess I'll have to work at things a little slower. And it may be because I wasn't up right away and had breakfast. Time will tell.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~(Thanks, again, R.)
I got a package in the mail today as well.
My daughter turned me on to a singer name Marc Broussard, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marc_Broussard. He does what is known as "Bayou Soul" along with other styles. He was even in a Christian band! So I ordered his CD.
But the big hit, Home, on his first major album, Carencro, named after his hometown near Lafayette, Louisiana, certainly caught my attention. You can review it here, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NC1v5trmB1E. Thanks, Amy!!
I also received another CD I had ordered by the artist know as Lobo, responsible for the hit, Me and You and a Dog Named Boo, and the latest paperback of a favorite author, F. Paul Wilson. It's a Repairman Jack novel.
Well, I think it's time for some tea!
Later!
My Schedule
Wow, I can't believe that I slept almost eleven hours last night. Of course, after only five hours the night before, on the average I'm getting eight hours of sleep a night. ;-)
And I guess I won't mow the lawn this AM. We're experiencing rain here.
For those of you who don't know, I work a twelve-hour day, 6:00AM to 6:00PM with a four-day-on / four-day-off rotation. Today starts my off rotation. It's THE WEEKEND! For me, anyway.
If I can find a link to a calendar that can display my schedule, I'll let you know. But basically, this week I'm off starting Wednesday. Next week my "weekend" starts on Thursday. And so on.
I think I'll go take a nice long soak in a hot bath, before starting my day.
Later.
And I guess I won't mow the lawn this AM. We're experiencing rain here.
For those of you who don't know, I work a twelve-hour day, 6:00AM to 6:00PM with a four-day-on / four-day-off rotation. Today starts my off rotation. It's THE WEEKEND! For me, anyway.
If I can find a link to a calendar that can display my schedule, I'll let you know. But basically, this week I'm off starting Wednesday. Next week my "weekend" starts on Thursday. And so on.
I think I'll go take a nice long soak in a hot bath, before starting my day.
Later.
Tuesday, August 28, 2007
Still Vertical!
The title of this post refers to a running joke I had going when I was soliciting comments about starting a blog. I had said that every morning when I got up I would post a blog letting everyone that I was still vertical. Wait for the post about the web cams!!
I heard from my brother, Bill, last night. It was good to talk to him even considering the circumstances. He was kind enough to let me do most of the rambling, but we had a bunch to catch up on. Bill, I promise to let you 'ramble on' sometime soon.
And BTW, Bill asked that I tell my kids, Ben (now you know why the H. Ben!) and Amy, that he said hello! Consider it done.
Most of you know that conventional doctors and I don't go to the same church; we don't worship the same god. Even in this situation I'm in, I've found that they treat the symptom and not the root cause. But it takes time to find the root cause and most insurance companies won't pay for that. So, it doesn't get done.
As an aside, I don't usually feel that way about surgeons. They are the engineers of the human body. When they cut, they usually have something concrete to work on. Like the little kid with a hammer thinks the whole world is a nail, sometimes surgeons believe that only by cutting will they be able to solve a problem, though.
So, as I sit here drinking my updated version of an old Ojibwa herbal tea, I am reminded of how I first learned of it. Actually, Bill brought it to mind last night.
One time I came home from Illinois for a weekend and found a bottle of Essiac in mom's refrigerator. It seems that this herbal tea was considered by some to have anti-cancer properties. Bill told me that several folks from his work had claimed that the tea had worked "miracles" for them. So I looked into it for future reference.
When Bill called last night I was touched to hear that he had dug out his book that talked about the Essiac formula and was going to tell me about this tea. I had to chuckle as I raised my "DAD" mug and took a sip of my hot Flor Essence tea. It is the updated version of the Essiac tea.
I ran out to the National Cancer Institute's article on Essiac / Flor Essence, http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/pdq/cam/essiac/patient/23.cdr#Section_23, to see what they had to say. It's one of those ambiguous reports; some studies say it doesn't work while others indicate that there may be some some benefits to it. BTW, I'll clean up the HTML stuff once I learn how!
All I can say for me is that it does seem to ease some of the stomach pain. Whether I'll be able to take it during chemo- and radiation therapy remains to be seen.
But thanks, Bill, for reminding me about the Essiac herbal tea.
Well, the alarm has gone off; time to get up and go to work. Later!
I heard from my brother, Bill, last night. It was good to talk to him even considering the circumstances. He was kind enough to let me do most of the rambling, but we had a bunch to catch up on. Bill, I promise to let you 'ramble on' sometime soon.
And BTW, Bill asked that I tell my kids, Ben (now you know why the H. Ben!) and Amy, that he said hello! Consider it done.
Most of you know that conventional doctors and I don't go to the same church; we don't worship the same god. Even in this situation I'm in, I've found that they treat the symptom and not the root cause. But it takes time to find the root cause and most insurance companies won't pay for that. So, it doesn't get done.
As an aside, I don't usually feel that way about surgeons. They are the engineers of the human body. When they cut, they usually have something concrete to work on. Like the little kid with a hammer thinks the whole world is a nail, sometimes surgeons believe that only by cutting will they be able to solve a problem, though.
So, as I sit here drinking my updated version of an old Ojibwa herbal tea, I am reminded of how I first learned of it. Actually, Bill brought it to mind last night.
One time I came home from Illinois for a weekend and found a bottle of Essiac in mom's refrigerator. It seems that this herbal tea was considered by some to have anti-cancer properties. Bill told me that several folks from his work had claimed that the tea had worked "miracles" for them. So I looked into it for future reference.
When Bill called last night I was touched to hear that he had dug out his book that talked about the Essiac formula and was going to tell me about this tea. I had to chuckle as I raised my "DAD" mug and took a sip of my hot Flor Essence tea. It is the updated version of the Essiac tea.
I ran out to the National Cancer Institute's article on Essiac / Flor Essence, http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/pdq/cam/essiac/patient/23.cdr#Section_23, to see what they had to say. It's one of those ambiguous reports; some studies say it doesn't work while others indicate that there may be some some benefits to it. BTW, I'll clean up the HTML stuff once I learn how!
All I can say for me is that it does seem to ease some of the stomach pain. Whether I'll be able to take it during chemo- and radiation therapy remains to be seen.
But thanks, Bill, for reminding me about the Essiac herbal tea.
Well, the alarm has gone off; time to get up and go to work. Later!
Monday, August 27, 2007
My appointment with my surgeon...
OK, so these posts won't be going in chronological order, but this will bring everyone up-to-date.
Nice surgeon, kind of chubby, but not overly so. White hair and beard like mine, so I took to him right off.
After we did the obligatory Q & A, and exam, he explained what he would do for me and when. It will be his recommendation that I undergo the chemo- and radiation therapy first before he gets into the game. That would mean that I wouldn't be seeing him again for 6 to 8 weeks. That's good, I think. Unless of course, I need a port under my skin for the chemotherapy injections. He said that he would do that for me as well.
As for how the surgery will proceed, don't read further if you are faint of heart. I'm warning you!!
He will start by cutting my throat! Then, they open up my abdomen over the stomach. That scar should go well together with my gall bladder surgery scar!
Going back to the throat, they sever my esophagus and pull it out the abdominal incision. Next, they will cut my stomach to sever the esophagus altogether. Out that goes! Now, obviously, the portion of the stomach left should be in good shape. If it isn't, I don't know where they will go from there.
After they have the stomach in good shape, they'll thread my stomach back up into my chest and attach it directly to the stub of the esophagus that they left just for that purpose. Aren't they smart?
Tighten things up and then close up! Simple!
Now for those of you who haven't thought about it, the esophagus runs between the spinal column and the heart itself. So, my stomach will be between my spine and my heart. Now, my stomach has always been near and dear to my heart as evidenced by my almost 250 pounds a couple of years back. But this is ridiculous!
This procedure means that I will have to eat small meals, many times a day. No more gorging! And, I won't be able to eat late in the day because of the possibility that my late lunch will revisit me when I lay down for the night. It wouldn't do to aspirate my stomach contents!
So, that was today's visit. As you may know, I have a visit scheduled for Friday, August 31, with the oncology department to find out just exactly when and how the rest of my life will proceed.
Thanks for stopping by and checking up on me!
Nice surgeon, kind of chubby, but not overly so. White hair and beard like mine, so I took to him right off.
After we did the obligatory Q & A, and exam, he explained what he would do for me and when. It will be his recommendation that I undergo the chemo- and radiation therapy first before he gets into the game. That would mean that I wouldn't be seeing him again for 6 to 8 weeks. That's good, I think. Unless of course, I need a port under my skin for the chemotherapy injections. He said that he would do that for me as well.
As for how the surgery will proceed, don't read further if you are faint of heart. I'm warning you!!
He will start by cutting my throat! Then, they open up my abdomen over the stomach. That scar should go well together with my gall bladder surgery scar!
Going back to the throat, they sever my esophagus and pull it out the abdominal incision. Next, they will cut my stomach to sever the esophagus altogether. Out that goes! Now, obviously, the portion of the stomach left should be in good shape. If it isn't, I don't know where they will go from there.
After they have the stomach in good shape, they'll thread my stomach back up into my chest and attach it directly to the stub of the esophagus that they left just for that purpose. Aren't they smart?
Tighten things up and then close up! Simple!
Now for those of you who haven't thought about it, the esophagus runs between the spinal column and the heart itself. So, my stomach will be between my spine and my heart. Now, my stomach has always been near and dear to my heart as evidenced by my almost 250 pounds a couple of years back. But this is ridiculous!
This procedure means that I will have to eat small meals, many times a day. No more gorging! And, I won't be able to eat late in the day because of the possibility that my late lunch will revisit me when I lay down for the night. It wouldn't do to aspirate my stomach contents!
So, that was today's visit. As you may know, I have a visit scheduled for Friday, August 31, with the oncology department to find out just exactly when and how the rest of my life will proceed.
Thanks for stopping by and checking up on me!
Getting Started
I am an esophageal cancer patient. I have friends and family that wish to be kept up-to-date on what is going on with me. So, rather than writing separate emails, mailing out an occasional newsletter, etc. it seemed to make sense to jump into the Internet age, post news here and let folks visit at their one pace. They can then leave messaes as well.
I'm a 56-year-old male QA Manager living in Wisconsin, who ended up driving truck for the last 10 years. I may get into that more at a later date.
January of 2007, I had complained of lower abdominal pain. My doctor at that time had me undergo a colonoscopy, and a CT scan (which the insurance company did not pay for). I later started having trouble swallowing. It seemed as if the food would enter the stomach and then be rejected, i..e. be pushed up against the esophageal sphincter, both physically and with gas pressure. Some time later, the food would move out of the way and I was able to express the gas. I could belch, yeah!!
March 16 started out just fine until I tried to have scrambled eggs, stir-fried onions, and crumbled sausage for breakfast. The first few bites went down just fine but eventually, the situation mentioned earlier occurred. But this time, it seemed as if the esophageal sphincter "spasmed." It seemed like a 'charlie horse' had occurred at the top of my stomach at the diaphram. Same kind of pain, and unrelenting. It wouldn't let up. I was getting weak from the continued pain which lasted weel over a half-hour.
I live two blocks from a hospital that is accepted by my company's insurance carrier. So, rather than drive and possibly cause an accident, I decided to walk. Tried to relax and just keep moving. If I had any other trouble, if I fell to the ground, there was a lot of traffic that would see me there, near the hospital, and call for help. I hoped.
The emergency room physician became annoyed as I told him what was going on. He didn't want me to explain what was going on, he wanted symptoms. He informed me that I did not have an esophageal sphincter, I had a one-way valve.I had explained how, during my spasm, the thick, "ropy" saliva would build in my mouth and I would inadvertently swallow, feel the peristalsis move the saliva down my throat to the "one-way valve" and when the peristalsis subsided, I would felt the saliva move back up the esophagus to the mouth.
From this, he concluded that I had a "blockage."
By this time, the spasm had subsided and I went home feeling drained.
-More later-
I'm a 56-year-old male QA Manager living in Wisconsin, who ended up driving truck for the last 10 years. I may get into that more at a later date.
January of 2007, I had complained of lower abdominal pain. My doctor at that time had me undergo a colonoscopy, and a CT scan (which the insurance company did not pay for). I later started having trouble swallowing. It seemed as if the food would enter the stomach and then be rejected, i..e. be pushed up against the esophageal sphincter, both physically and with gas pressure. Some time later, the food would move out of the way and I was able to express the gas. I could belch, yeah!!
March 16 started out just fine until I tried to have scrambled eggs, stir-fried onions, and crumbled sausage for breakfast. The first few bites went down just fine but eventually, the situation mentioned earlier occurred. But this time, it seemed as if the esophageal sphincter "spasmed." It seemed like a 'charlie horse' had occurred at the top of my stomach at the diaphram. Same kind of pain, and unrelenting. It wouldn't let up. I was getting weak from the continued pain which lasted weel over a half-hour.
I live two blocks from a hospital that is accepted by my company's insurance carrier. So, rather than drive and possibly cause an accident, I decided to walk. Tried to relax and just keep moving. If I had any other trouble, if I fell to the ground, there was a lot of traffic that would see me there, near the hospital, and call for help. I hoped.
The emergency room physician became annoyed as I told him what was going on. He didn't want me to explain what was going on, he wanted symptoms. He informed me that I did not have an esophageal sphincter, I had a one-way valve.I had explained how, during my spasm, the thick, "ropy" saliva would build in my mouth and I would inadvertently swallow, feel the peristalsis move the saliva down my throat to the "one-way valve" and when the peristalsis subsided, I would felt the saliva move back up the esophagus to the mouth.
From this, he concluded that I had a "blockage."
By this time, the spasm had subsided and I went home feeling drained.
-More later-
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