Monday, December 30, 2024

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, December 23, 2024

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, December 20, 2024

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. 


Thursday, December 19, 2024

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.

Sunday, December 15, 2024

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, December 14, 2024

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. 

Friday, December 13, 2024

Friday 12/13

Originally I bought Premium Economy for the extra leg room, arm room and pre-seating; otherwise people in the back will put their luggage in the front. The 'extra' leg room was negated when the woman in front of me put her chair all the way back. So I decided to upgrade us to the business class where you can lie flat. I don't think this plane has a first class because we are in row 3. At least I hope to be.  When I tried to check in, it said I haven't paid for my upgrades, which is false. I can see on the app that everything is on paid status. I called up their customer service before bed and even they see that I've paid. She said she would put an expedited bug report in but said if it's not corrected to just go to the counter top check in. I said I hope they don't overbook my seats, which she said they wouldn't. We'll see. 

Last day in Germany. Noticed one of the Viking longboats was pulled up outside of

window. 


We got to the airport in plenty of time. I got our tickets at the counter. Germany has a strange airline called Condor with different colored stores around their planes. I've seen blue, tan and red so far.  Must be a budget airline. 


Boy did we just get cheated. We arrived early as usual 1200 for 445 flight. They were doing some special document check at the gate. At the time there was another flight leaving at the gate. After the woman stamped our tickets she noticed we were early. She took our tickets and said she would bring back new ones. To make a long story short we found out we could use the business class lounge after we had been sitting at the gate for 3 hours. We only got 45 min on the lounge adverb we could have had 3h45m.


I'm wondering if Lufthansa has a 1st class, because their business class sure looks like 1st class. As soon as we were up in the clouds  I relaxed my seat on back and went for a little snooze. I wasn't keeping track of my meds too well because at 2140 both heels starting hurting. My abdomen was also tender. 30 min after taking another oxy and everything started to calm down. Being able to prop my feet up made a huge difference.