It Comes From Albany

Subject: Chemo # 6 – Update!

The Wombat — Sat, 28 Jan 2012 16:10:37 +0000

The period between Chemo #5 on 27 December 2011 and Chemo #6 on 17 January 2012 was relatively quiet. No complaints. Not that I wasn’t running up my co-payments. The 27^th was long as in addition to the Chemo, I received the Zometa infusion as well.

On the 11^th I had an appointment with the Urologist. No major, I hope, problems there. However, the hassles with my plumbing do keep me on the edge of my, er, seat. J I also got a quick review of how to insert a catheter should I need to. ARGH! See him again in May. I’ll need to get the stnts replaced then as well.

Chemo on the 17^th followed by the WBC booster shot on the 18^th. This was followed by the Zometa infusion on the 24^th. It took them about 4 tries to find a vein. Pincushion day.

The chemo seems to be working. My PSA has continued to drop, tho it is a long way from zero.

I am still quite tired and run out of energy easily. However, I have begun a very gentle exercise program. I hope, this will help.

In discussion with the oncologist he agreed that my getting a Handicapped Tag would be a good thing for any time I have a very long walk. Never planned on getting one of these. Once I learned where to go, the process was done in abut 5 minutes.

While I still have some hair, it becomes thinner. I’m still managing to hold the nausea at bay. The meds and ginger seem to be working.

My plumbing continues to give me some problems. The severity of the problem varies from day to day.

To add to my non-fun my taste buds have gone south over the past 9 months. Even water has a slightly off taste. Of course, with all the different meds I’m taking I haven’t the faintest idea which one or combination has done me in.

Looking at the calendar, it appears I may have a whole week where I don’t visit a doctor.

If all goes well, I may have some neat news to report next time. It has absolutely nothing to do with the cancer. J

Yummy!

The Wombat — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 00:35:36 +0000

Today ended up fairly well. I went in for my Zometa infusion. It took them at least 4 tries to find a working vein. However, on the way home went shopping. I bought a big kosher salami, 2 lean kosher corned beef sandwiches, & some additional kosher corned beef for later. I only ate half the sandwich saving some room for the remains of my Jell-O thing.

Cruise anyone?

The Wombat — Mon, 16 Jan 2012 17:12:04 +0000

It might be really worthwhile for every cruise ship captain and 2^nd in command be recertified. The recertification should be posted widely on the cruise ship he or she is commanding.

Fish food!

The Wombat — Sun, 15 Jan 2012 16:14:10 +0000

I took Lin out for dinner at Reel Seafood. We both had scallops. Very Yummy!

On the road again!

The Wombat — Fri, 13 Jan 2012 16:06:59 +0000

Had a nice afternoon drive. Red Shift needed some exercise. It was fun to get on the road for a couple hours.

MI 4

The Wombat — Sun, 08 Jan 2012 22:00:05 +0000

I went to see MI 4 this afternoon. It was totally implausible! That said, I enjoyed every bloody minute of it. Great fun. Don’t try and make sense of it, just go along for the roller coaster ride. Tom Cruise isn’t too shabby for a 50 year old who does most of his own stunts. On the other hand Paula Patton is great as an action hero in her own right and so easy to watch.

Only too true!

The Wombat — Thu, 05 Jan 2012 15:34:08 +0000

It is a truism that almost any sect, cult, or religion will legislate its creed into law if it acquires the political power to do so. -Robert A. Heinlein, science-fiction author (1907-1988)

Subject: Chemo # 5 – Update!

The Wombat — Tue, 03 Jan 2012 19:53:51 +0000

The period between Chemo #4 on 6 December 2011, and Chemo # 5, on 27 December 2011 was relatively quiet. No complaints. Not that I wasn’t running up my co-payments.

In for the WBC booster shot on the 7^th. Then off to see the cardiologist on the 9^th. Then a CT scan on the 15^th. Followed by meeting with the oncologist on the 21^st.

I received Chemo #5 on the 27^th along with the bone strengthening infusion[Zometa]. On the 28^th I received both the WBC booster as well as the hormone shot designed to carry me over the next 3 months.

The chemo seems to be working. My PSA has continued to drop, tho it is a long way from zero. The CT scan results imply that my condition is improving. I hope so.

I am still quite tired and run out of energy easily. However, I have begun a very gentle exercise program. I hope, this will help.

While I still have some hair, it becomes thinner. I’m still managing to hold the nausea at bay. The meds and ginger seem to be working.

My plumbing continues to give me some problems, tho the problems have been less over the period.

I have appointments with both the urologist and the oncologist in the upcoming month, plus Chemo #6 [out of 300], probably on the 17^th.

I hope that all goes well with you & yours, & you’ve had a Happy Chanukah, a Kool Yule, a Wild Winter Solstice, a Frantic First & an Ecstatic Etc.

May the best of the past be the worst of the future!

Good film!

The Wombat — Mon, 02 Jan 2012 22:04:34 +0000

I just got back from watching “The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo.” I thoroughly enjoyed it. Yes, it was similar but NOT the same as the Swedish version, which was pretty good.

The acting was excellent and the story moved along. If you enjoyed the books, you will enjoy the film. Even if you saw the Swedish version, you will enjoy the film. I did.

Welcome 2012!

The Wombat — Sat, 31 Dec 2011 22:49:31 +0000

Happy New Year!