goodbye

To all who have followed Mike's journey he would want closure.  He fought a hard fight to this awful disease, but in the end he was ready to go.  Mike died on Tuesday the twenty-eight of January.  to my son  fair winds and following seas

Monday 12/30

Had a long talk to my oncologist before being cleared for this other treatment at the VA. Going over all medications, symptoms and any other info, now he thinks that my abdominal pain my be cancer related and why he wants me to have some chemo treatments now before other complications. I'm not convinced because some of the pain has eased up when we use laxatives, IBS pills and suppositories.

An Attending Oncologist came in with his 2 cents and thinks I should consider starting up Hospice he says the VA, unlike other hospitals, will still allow you to have treatments. I did not like hearing that I think he said it because mom mentioned I've had a hard time bathing and laying in bed more than half the day. Which my oncologist days the trial would not accept me if I told them that. 

One thing he wants to do is get my pain under control. So he changed that regiment. It's going to be one that lasts 8 hours; unfortunately, the pharmacy didn't have any. And he changed my Oxycodone to Hydromorphone for breakout pain. I seriously doubt that any pain relief would last 8 hours got me. I guess the next thing is track down Walter White and Jessie Pinkman.

As son as I got home I limped on into bed where I will relaxe a while. 

Monday 12/23

I was discharged Saturday around noon. I haven't been able to write because I've been in a lot of pain. Still am. Mostly in my abdomen. No one ever said why my abdomen hurts the was it does. 

Also my legs have been really unsteady. 

My left leg pain Sero have

Friday 12/20

Yesterday I was mentally exhausted.

Last night was terrible. I like a dark room to sleep. I've got light coming in the window from street lights. The bed keeps flashing orange and blue under the bed. The monitors keep dinging. How's a person supposed to get some shut eye?!

I had an Echo Cardiogram early this morning. Must have been good because the RN took me off Heparin and started me on pills. I know they want to see how I do with pills before letting me go home. 

My Oncologist stopped by the ER and called me this morning. He spoke with Bethesda clinical trial team and they want me on anticoag for 1 month. That means my trial will be slightly delayed. In the meantime I will go back on chemo so I don't end up with more complications for being off it for so long. 

And the hits just keep coming. 12/19

My primary called me back up and wanted me to have an ultrasound. We went in this morning and had my left leg and right arm checked. Turns out I have a deep vein thrombosis in the leg and superficial clot in the arm. So I get sent to the ER and they do a CT of my lungs and abdomen. I'm told I have a significant amount of clots in my lungs. They immediately put me on Heparin and admit me to the hospital.

Monday 12/16

Went to my Primary doctor today and tell her about all my ailments. And there's a new one! My right forearm started aching yesterday and today it started get swollen and red just like my left lower leg did. 

Told her about everything that has happened since 3 days before Thanksgiving till present. She thinks my arm might be a reaction to something. Things that coincide with that would be the muscle rubs like Biofreeze and the Pregabalin that had a lot of nasty side effects. So we used soap and water to remove the rubs and I have to titrate myself off of the Pregabalin. She also ordered up a steroid pack to see what that will do. 

The left lower leg was already starting to look better and the pitting edema seems to have stopped. The biggest problem right now is plantar fascitis in its pain factor. So she also wrote a consult to Podiatry. 

Saturday 12/14

Home Sweet Home. Mom went out this morning to pick up Lucy. I was laid up with plantar fascitis. Seems like something new everyday. And today it's severe pain in my left heel. Lucy was crying when she hoped up in my bed. I'm sure she feels better now. 

Another issue is my lower intestines have been tender for many days. I hope it's just gas. Started taking GasX. Plan to see my primary on Monday. 

Tomorrow, RV Pro is going to install an auxiliary propane hose to the main tank. That way I'll be able to use 20lb tanks anywhere we can't get a refill service.