Time to come up for air

 Health Care, Life, My MCL, Off Topic  8 Responses »
Sep 062007
 

When I awoke the other morning I was all set to write about how my iron and folate levels were low. But then I thought, why do I continue wasting devoting so much time to maintaining this blog?

Not that many people read it, and besides, who wants to hear about the problems of others, even if some of them may be friends? I know I hardly ever read any blogs anymore, even of the people who I have links to on this site. I’m even starting to get tired of hearing about all my own problems.

There are too many other things I could be doing. I should be enjoying what ever time I have left, instead of dwelling on the negative all the time.

I know when I started this blog, I was on a mission to inform everyone of the problems with the US health care system, and how to ensure they got the most from their health care provider.

But that soon fell by the wayside, as it became all too apparent the US public, with a few exceptions, were happy with the status quo, and thinking the US had the best health care system in the world.

Well let me tell you, we don’t! The problem as I see it ………………….. Oye! There I go again. Why bother?

Like I said, I’ve got to start enjoying life, rather than focusing on the negative.

So for all intents and purposes, consider this my last post. The site will remain up, as I’ve already paid for the domain name, and web site hosting, for a few more years, and who knows, maybe someone will glean some information from it, or maybe get some sort of sadistic pleasure reading it.

I may even post something occasionally, if I consider it particularly relevant, or in the event it is too cold, or raining outside (which in southern California, seems highly unlikely anytime, at least in the foreseeable future), and I don’t have anything better to do.

So until that time comes, Au Revoir, Arrivederci, Sayonara, Auf Wiedersehen, or just plain so long.

Oh, and if you still want to know what is going on with Edie and me, just call, email, or come and visit, or maybe even meet me on the golf course, or for a bike ride.

 Posted by at 10:49 am

Monocytes are WAY up

 Cycling, Edie, My MCL  No Responses »
Sep 042007
 

I don’t know if I can attribute an absolute monocyte count of 9 thou/cumm (3 times higher than mine has ever been, and about 10 times normal), to riding my bike in the extreme heat Sunday and Monday, but something sure caused that spike.

For reference, monocytes protect against blood-borne pathogens, moving quickly to sites of infection in the tissues.

I sure don’t feel any different, and the way I was climbing on the bike the last two days, I can’t imagine anything being wrong.

Of course I have been under a lot of stress the past two weeks, so maybe that has had an effect.

Fortunately all my other counts were stable, not necessarily normal, but at least stable, and Edie’s creatinine only climbed slightly which is some what of a relief. Her platelets have continued to fall however, but that is to be expected from the Velcade as well as the plasmapheresis.

Still we’ll have a lot to discuss with Edie’s regular oncologist (thank goodness she’s back from vacation) when we visit her this afternoon.

 Posted by at 11:34 am

Ever hear of heat shock therapy?

 Cycling, General Health, My MCL  1 Response »
Sep 032007
 

I used to think heat shock therapy referred to a treatment for cancer that involved heating the body to some extreme temperature, 42oC (107oF) as suggested in this report. But the more I read other reports, I’m not so sure that it’s as simple as that.

In any event, if my original belief is correct, then I’m sure I just received a heavy dose of treatment this weekend.

It was so freakin’ hot, you almost can’t imagine.

On Sunday I did a really stupid thing, by riding into the hills of Whittier, where I’m sure temperatures exceeded 100oF, and even after drinking almost a half gallon of water during the ride, I still managed to drop 6 pounds.

I did manage to replenish the fluids I lost, and today (Labor Day), I thought I’d be a little smarter, and ride down to Newport Beach with the local bike club, but when you throw in a 2 mile climb, averaging about 5%, even the beach offered no escape from the heat.

I’ll see tomorrow, when I go for my monthly blood test, if those two days of extreme cycling did a number on my MCL.

Hopefully the effort was worth it!

 Posted by at 7:33 pm

And they call this medicine?

 Edie, Treatments  1 Response »
Sep 012007
 

Medicine is supposed to make you feel better, not worse.

No one should have to go through the same misery Edie experienced last night (after receiving her 4th dose of Velcade yesterday afternoon), having to run to the bathroom, seemingly every 1/2 hour, and certainly, no one should be subjected to watching, not being able to imagine the misery they’re going through, and not knowing how to respond.

Last night had to have been the worst night of all, including the evening after receiving Doxil. It must have been pure hell, and I can only hope that means the “medicine” is working.

Edie goes for another blood test this morning, to check if that is the case.

The only thing I know for sure is, I don’t want to have to go through that same misery.

 Posted by at 6:17 am
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