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!!