Living with MCL

My lymphocyte count did show a significant jump to 115.9 thou/cumm (from 97.6 thou/cumm) last month. That’s not great news, but I shouldn’t have expected much, since it was barely 24 hours since yesterday’s bike ride. Plus, like I’ve said before, at these levels, the accuracy is not very precise.

Still the results were slightly better than back in July ’08 (at 120.7 thou/cumm), and my hemoglobin and platelets were stable to slightly improved. So I am somewhat encouraged.

Now I have something to look forward to next month.

I know many doctors believe that. Why else would they recommend the infusion of deadly chemicals (chemotherapy) into a patients body to cure cancer?

I’m just hoping that old adage extends to extreme exercise.

Now I know what I did today, a 55 mile bike ride with 3000′ of climbing, might seem like a walk in the park for some, but for me it was hard. And today’s ride was made even tougher, considering I haven’t ridden that many miles since my hand surgery, and I haven’t done any hills.

I barely made it home this morning, starting to bonk about 2 miles from the house. Fortunately, the group didn’t push the pace to the extreme, and I was able to sit in, making it home and quickly shoving some food in my mouth, and down my throat.

Now I’m planning on taking a nap (I already took my shower), as I anticipate tomorrow’s blood test, to see if the cure has set in.

It’s been a busy week for me, and I’m pretty well toast.

It started with 3 dinners out this week, 2 relatively stressful days at work, a 5 hour tour of the beach cities with Alejandro and Marcela (friend/fellow MCL’er and his wife from Argentina), and the most miles I’ve ridden on the bike in any week since my hand surgery. Plus, there’s tomorrow’s ride, into Whittier, which will consist of the first significant hills I’ve ridden since my hand surgery as well.

But what really put me over the top, was the spirited conversation over coffee, after one of those bike rides this week. It was about US health care. [My favorite topic.]

I couldn’t believe it, when one of the participants stated he didn’t think health care was a right. I was surprised because, one, I obviously don’t feel that way, and two, I just can’t believe there really are people out there with so little compassion for their fellow man.

His reasoning was, he didn’t think he should have to pay for the health care of someone who was fat, didn’t exercise, smoked or whatever. Well, I can sort of understand that, but what about the person .. continue reading ..

It’s one of those days you just want to sit around the house and do absolutely nothing, or watch some movies you have recorded. It might even be a good day to read a book, if you were so inclined, which I am not.

As you should be able to see from the view out my bedroom window, it is raining outside. The rain started last night, and hasn’t let up since.

I can’t complain too much though, as this is the rainy season, and we do need the rain. Plus Monday’s are typically my day off from exercise, so I will surprise everyone, and not complain.

I just feel sorry for anyone who might be visiting from, say Argentina, like a friend of mine (fellow MCLer), who happens to be in Cambria today. He might be a little disappointed.

Fortunately the rest of the week, when he will be in LA, will be nice, and the real intent of his trip was to visit his son in Tahoe, who works at one of the ski resorts, and ski, so I know he’s not complaining too much either. This weather will actually benefit that part of his vacation.

I’m just glad I didn’t have to work today, not that I would have gone in anyways because of the weather, but it was a good feeling knowing I could sleep in, and I didn’t have to make that drive.