I Remember Mono

I came down with mononucleosis during the spring of my senior year in college, and how well I remember those few weeks!!  I'm sure I'm not the only one....they used to call it the "kissing disease", and most of us were at high risk, I reckon.  Anyway, I can remember the feeling of exhaustion after walking up a few steps, or even more dramatic, the time I thought I was over it, but wasn't.  That particular afternoon, my fraternity had an intramural softball game which I was watching, and for some reason decided to take a turn at bat.  Well, I hit the ball well past the left fielder....a home run in any ballpark.....except for the fact that I made it only as far as third base before running completely out of gas.... and that's pretty much what I'm dealing with these days.  Whether it's the disease or the treatment, I'm not sure....probably both....but let me tell you that stamina is not currently in my repertoire.  So, it;s with great satisfaction that I can say that I am now halfway through my chemo regimen, looking forward to regaining some strength in the weeks ahead.

Last time, I recounted the incident I had with my right eye.  It went completely dark for a minute or so and then returned to normal.  After a brain MRI, ultrasound of my carotid arteries, an echocardiogram, visits with my oncologist, optometrist, an ophthalmologist, my primary care physician, and a cardiovascular surgeon, I am happy to report that I will not need carotid surgery, as I had been led to believe.  What a roller coaster ride!! They initially told me that my right carotid was blocked as much as 79%, but a second ultrasound at the cardiologist's office showed a lesser blockage.  I sure have met a lot of interesting and pleasant people over the past few months.  I just wish that they weren't all physicians, nurses, and medical technicians.

Anyway, it's nice to be loved and cared for.

Next major checkpoint is three weeks from Tuesday, when my next CT scan will disclose whether I've made progress as significant as that of the first six weeks.  Keep on praying!!

Take That, you dirty rotten recklefreck

Went to the oncologist today, having completed some tests last week, and came away with encouraging news.  The CT Scan I had on Friday showed that the primary tumor is less than half the size it was when I began chemo six weeks ago!  The secondary tumor on my rib cage has been shrunk by the radiation, as well. How's that for the power of prayer and modern medicine?  The doctor was surprised and delighted at my progress.

I had an incident with my right eye last week, as well.  To make sure that there was nothing going on in my brain, I had a brain MRI yesterday and that showed nothing new has developed there.....but most of you could have testified to that over the past few years, right?  I will see an ophthalmologist to determine what might have happened to cause my right eye to go black for a couple of minutes, but at least it wasn't a tumor.  Probably nothing more serious than a stroke!

I even got a week off from the chemo because my white blood cell count is too low right now, so I'll probably be feeling better all during the time that Kathy comes to help celebrate Mother's Day this Friday.  That's a good trade-off for the postponement of the celebration of my last treatment in July.

I also learned to pace myself better this week.  Had a treatment on Tuesday, which always includes a bag of steroid "goodies" to make you feel gooood.  On Wednesday, feeling like a million bucks, I spent four hours working in the sun in the yard....digging and raking and hauling dirt and generally overdoing it.  The price was paid on Thursday to the extent that I had to be rehydrated via IV on Friday!!! Won't do that again, believe me.

Thanks to all of you who have emailed, called, written and prayed for me.  It's really uplifting for both Ellie and me to hear from you.

Blessings.

Bob