Ok let's try this.  Normally I write from my desktop at home, which often means that I have to have enough motivation to actuallt switch the computer on! (I can go days without feeling the need to do that)

So here I am sitting in my infusion chair, actually posting from my iPhone.

This is the first time using the port, and the nurse did have some difficulty with the initial flush of saline, but blood has been drawn and saline is flowing in.

The past couple of weeks I've been feeling pretty strong, almost as if I wasn't dealing with cancer treatments, I wondered if it wasn't just the delay in my taxotere infusion, but I'm starting to feel weak,   and it's just before the infusion.  My vision is also blurred.  I'll let you know if anything shows up when the blood test comes back.

Weight has been up quite a bit, so much so that I've been reluctant to report it, but it was 272.8 lbs this morning.

Mike Gets His Dolphins

The Younger Mike

Mike had told me he was supposed to get his dolphins yesterday (which is a nice day to remember such an event.)  Congrats Mike!

Got the Christmas Tree a Little Early

Yesterday we decided to cut our Christmas tree from Penland Farm in South Carolina.  Anne and I were there last year to pick out a tree while the rest of the family was in Ohio.  But this year, it was just myself, Laura and Mathew.

Normally, I take the day off work, and let the kids out of School for the Feast of Immaculate Conception, and then we get the tree and decorate the house for Christmas.

This year, because I have been missing so much work due to treatments, (I should talk about the port that was installed Friday as well) we just decided to get the tree on the weekend, and will light it Tuesday.  Though I may light it tonight.

I enjoy getting our trees from Penland, which has been in business since 1966, but this year it seemed they over sold quite a bit, there was a lot of empty land and a lot of very young trees.  But then again, if they've been at it since '66, I would assume they know how to manage their cycle.

I wasn't planning on getting down on the ground to cut the tree this year. Though this was the warmest day I've ever cut a tree, I still didn't want to get down to the ground. So this was Matthew's first Christmas tree to cut.

We had to walk a good deal to get to the Mint Cypress we finally selected.  It was a bit more walking that I was prepared to do, and on the way back to the barn, I was easily out paced by a young mother caring a toddler!  I still feel like I'm catching my breath from yesterday.

When we made it home, I rolled the tree off the roof of the car into my chest - hitting my newly installed port pretty hard - OUCH!

Well we cut the bottom, pulled it inside and set it in the dining room.  We have a nice trey ceiling, and we needed that little space as the tree was a bit bigger that I anticipated, but honestly it's just the right size.

Failed Infusion

Today I was supposed to get my 3rd of 6 Taxotere infusions, but after sticking my arms eight times, it was decided my veins were so flat, that they couldn't infuse me easily.  When they do this they like to pick veins on the forearms or on the back of the hand.

Most people are used to having blood drawn where the elbow bends, and that's a much easier vein to use.  However, the risk is, that if the Taxotere were to leak outside of the vein there could be complications, the worst case scenario is that I would lose the arm. I wasn't prepared for that risk. Face it, under normal circumstances this stuff is a strong poison, when the nurses administer it, they don protective clothing!


So, we basically punted, ad they will be scheduling to install a portcath to make the infusions and blood testing easier.  At the time there were two other patients next to me that had had ports installed, and gave me good confidence this would be a good way to go.

The portcath will be installed Friday Dec 4th.  This is an outpatient surgery at CMC Mercy.

Oh in addition, Monday my urologist, talked to me about my right kidney being slightly swolen due to hydronephrosis .  He wanted me to have an external port and a drainage bag much like the urinary catheter I once had.   However, he did state that my kidney function is at 0.19 (again no units) but this is a better than average healthy number.  So I declined the port he was suggesting, and asked that we ultrasound in a month and see if it didn't look better.

266.8 lbs

Wednesday's Appointment

I thought I was going in for another Firmagon injection but it turned out Dr. Burgess was just using Firmagon to kick start the hormone process, and I have now been switched over Luperon . Also, I've been set up for 6 month injections on that.

One of the cautions for the Luperon site is that during the initial weeks testosterone levels will rise for a bit.  While this is bad from the standpoint of slowing the tumors, I'm hoping I'll see a little more energy at least for a while.

It's hard to believe we're in mid November already, and soon there will be a single Thanksgiving holiday. (My company only gives Thursday off.) Later when it's Christmas, we also only get Christmas itself off, and not Christmas Eve.

They sure don't work us like Europeans in this country!

I also spent about 45 minutes yesterday talking with my social worker at Dr. Burgesses office.  Of the many topics covered is setting up a "living will" - which basically will define that I don't care for any extraordinary means to preserve life at this point.

I have to read that package later today.

There has also been some talk about claiming SSDI (Social Security Disability Insurance), but even if the math works out for that, and it appears I may have sufficient cash flow to maintain the house, there are plenty of articles claiming that SSDI won't last into 2016, and the 11 million people currently receiving benefits, are about to get a 20% cut in benefit.

Also it seems this thing at most could pay me $15K a year, so I don't think I can be ready for that.

If so, it would certainly require giving up the house we just purchased.

So apart from hitting Mega Millions tonight, there isn't much hope for financial relief :)

Yesterday, I was perhaps more fatigued than ever before. I was almost unfit to drive.
However today, I've never felt stronger since I started this hormone therapy.

I can't say there's much rhyme or reason where I can figure out these ups and downs other than , the better I eat, the better I feel. Though sometimes, I can't really eat well it's more of a chore than a joy to eat.

I took Laura out to Olive Garden tonight - and again this is unusual. Normally, I come home, have just enough energy to find my way to the couch, wait for dinner, say a rosary, and then go to bed before 7:00 PM .

Here it is, almost 10:00 PM and I'm logged into my computer playing eve, and blogging.  We'll see what tomorrow brings.

Chemo Yesterday

All was fine, hbg was actually at 10.3 dag/dl, so there was no need to order an blood to be transfused.  I had been taking supplemental Iron, and enjoying various beef sources.  For example, Laura and I went to Hickory Tavern and I had the French dip, which was pretty good.

This location is close to work, and I'm supposed to have some kind of discount card from working in this building. I need to find that card. It's a little too far for me to walk, so I'll be taking the car next time I go there for lunch.  Unfortunately, the handicap parking is not very close there.

Hair fall out is expected to get worse, and I am seeing my thumbnails get a lot thicker. Other nails a showing shiny cuticles.

I had mentioned the shortness of breath, but I don't think Dr. Burgess quite understood the complaint, as my nurse later tired to schedule a CT scan of my lungs.  I tried my best to explain that this was not truly a pulmonary condition, as my breathing is just fine.  It's just that after a fairly small exertion I am winded as though I had run a mile or so.

It occurs to me that at my next appointment, I should just demonstrate it but doing a flight of stairs and letting them do vitals and see what I'm talking about.



258.8 lbs.

Beard Fell Out

Yesterday, from just rubbing my chin, I was finding that my beard was falling out.  It really didn't take much before I had a fist full of hair.

So I decided to shave my beard and moustache completely, as I figured it would be all over my pillow this morning if I didn't. 

I don't seem to have any other effects from the chemo other than generalized weakness.

Resting heart rate is still hovering about 110 bpm.  Next Chemo infussion is on the 4th, and there will be a blood test for that.

We had visited St. Maria Goretti Saturday, and I have some pictures to post, but that will be done later.

I also had a visited with my urologist Monday - he wants to set up an ultrasound on my kidneys as the right one had been inflamed when he did the surgery last month, and we should monitor them considering the chemo therapy and the work load they are now under.

I'm still running a bit light headed after climbing just one flight of stairs though.