Living with MCL

As it turned out Delta Airlines (the airline we are flying) was the only airline not flying in or out of Roatan today, so we’re stuck here [Roatan] for one more day.

At least they decided to fly in an additional, and bigger, aircraft tomorrow morning to relieve the situation, and fly everyone out of here. 

Unfortunately they didn’t give Edie and me, and one other in our group of 8, our business class tickets for the Atlanta to LA leg, despite having paid for them. Everyone else in our group got their business class tickets, but for some reason Delta decided the two sickest people on the airplane didn’t need theirs. Go figure.

Anyways, I complained, and of course played the sympathy card, and I think I remedied the situation. At least I’m hoping that’s the case.

I didn’t get a 100% written confirmation, but the Delta customer rep (Jenna) assured me it was fixed. I’ll know tomorrow for sure when we check in. I’m not sure what I’ll do if it isn’t fixed.

So in the mean time here I sit in our room drinking a cup of green tea, posting to my blog, and surfing the internet. Fortunately we still have our luggage, and they haven’t cut off my internet connection yet, but I am almost out of green tea.

Here it is our last day on Roatan, and tropical storm Alex is bearing down on us. 

It’s raining, the wind is blowing at a brisk clip, and the seas are a liitle rough, even in the normally tranquil lagoon, and we’ve just been informed our flight to Atlanta has been canceled.

Our only hope for now is the Continental flight doesn’t make it in this morning, so we’ll at least have a place to stay tonight.

Oh well, such is life. 

[BIG SIGH]

I used to think there was no greater sensation than scratching an itch, but after spending 5 days in Roatan, Honduras I’ve discovered something at least equal to that.

And that is entering an air conditioned room after spending any length of time outside in 90F heat and 100 percent humidity. 

I’m sure it’s possible to get used to, afterall there are millions who live in this type of climate, and profess to love it, but do they really? Or do they just have no other choice?

Now don’t get me wrong, Roatan is beautiful (at least where we are), the diving (the principal reason for coming here) is great, as is the resort (although the food is a little lacking), and it has been a fun trip, so far, but none of that changes the fact it’s freakin’ hot and humid here.

If nothing else, it sure serves to remind me just how fortunate I am to live in southern CA. 

I know I often complain about the weather in southern CA, with its continually changing weather patterns, but despite that, and all its other issues, as far as I’m concerned, there is no other place in the world that can match southern CA for it’s climate, its food and myriad of other features.

So, while I may leave again for some far off distant shore (searching for that something I think I’m missing), for now, I can at least be content with the knowledge, I already live in the greatest place on the planet.

I also discovered posting to my blog from my iPod Touch is very difficult. Hence no pictures. Obviously, I have way too much time on my hands.

Can’t wait to get home!

Another person expressed some concern today, after my last post, that I may be starting treatment soon. Well, let me clear up any confusion. That isn’t the case.

It’s just I get into these moods every now and then, when I can’t help but question how much longer can I be so lucky? Especially when I look at Edie, and so many others in similar situations to me. Why have I been so fortunate to be so active, and not require any treatment for over 8 years, despite having a terminal illness?

It just boggles my mind, and I find it difficult to believe it can go on much longer, but ………….

Anyways, I had an appointment with my oncologist today to review my latest BMB and cytogenetic test results, and guess what? I have Mantle Cell Lymphoma.

Actually I knew that all along, but if you remember back in April, I posted how my new oncologist was convinced I had Splenic Marginal Zone Lymphoma. Well, he’s now convinced otherwise.

We also discussed my low hemoglobin/fatigue, and if it is the result of iron deficiency, or just a manifestation of my lymphoma. He’s convinced, based on the my ferritin levels in the blood, iron stores in the bone marrow, along with some other tests, that I am not iron deficient. [And I agree.] As further confirmation he also checked my haptoglobin levels which were actually higher than normal. It would have been low if I were iron deficient.

(We also discussed depression as a cause of fatigue, and suggested drugs, but I refused to go there!)

So I think it’s safe to assume I’m not iron deficient, but if I wanted, he suggested I continue taking an iron supplement (65 mg of elemental iron per day), for another two months, and see if my hemoglobin increases any, as even more confirmation of that fact.

I’m gonna have to think about that for a bit though.