Since I came home almost 4 weeks ago, I have not been very adventuresome. Due to the restrictions placed on me I am to avoid crowed places. Doesn’t mean I can’t go out, it just means I should avoid people contact. However, I finally succumbed to cabin fever last Sunday. By the end of the day, I begged Julia to go with me someplace, anyplace. We agreed that Costco would work since we needed to pick up a few things.
I had been feeling better for several days so I was pretty sure that I would be able to attack the Mecca of buying way more than you need just because it looks cheap. This wasn’t going to be a full fledge, let’s see if we can fill up the cart trip, just one to let me see the real world. As a result, I felt pretty confident that this would be a piece of cake. Wrong again.
We were there no more than 30 minutes and I had to stop twice and sit down. I have now officially joined the Octogenarians of the world. I guess my many trips to the bathroom over the previous weeks had not kept me in Lance Armstrong type shape. This was my wake-up call.
Starting the next morning, I took a 20 minute walk around the neighborhood. By the time I was done, I was ringing wet and ready for a nap. However, it at least started me on the way back. This morning I stretched that to 25 minutes and wasn’t quite as whipped. Somehow, I have got to get back to feeling like myself. Getting closer, but still a long way to go.
On Wednesday, Julia and I made the trek up to the Mayo Clinic to see Dr. Mikhael. This was my first visit with him since rounds in the hospital. He continues to be very pleased with my progress. As a result, he dropped the normal two week follow-up for one in four weeks. Prior to that visit, I will have some extensive blood work done that will give a good indication if I am in some form of remission or not.
During this visit, I asked him to delve a little deeper into what is considered remission. Since there is no real cure for this blessed disease, all you can hope for is the ability to knock it down a step or two and then hang on for dear life while it tries to gain the upper hand. With were I am and what I have shown so far, Dr. Mikhael believes that I have an 80% chance to get to at least a 90% remission. Not sure what that means, but I’m not going to be satisfied with 90%. There are some levels around 100% that are my goal. Obviously the higher the number, the greater the likelihood of a longer time in remission. Trust me, I am in no hurry to go through this again anytime soon.
I’m hoping to get out a see a movie this week and will continue to follow both of the boys with their baseball exploits. Justin has a couple more weeks of baseball while Jason will play with the Angels in the State Tournament. I think they have a chance, so that could be fun.
Over the last few weeks, I have had a number of calls from friends just checking in to see how I have been doing and those have been great. It’s nice to hear from people that I have been friends with for years and a few have threatened to come out and visit. We certainly have room, so don’t let the 115 degree temperature scare you off.
The one thing that has been difficult has my inability to pick up the phone and call Terry. It was always nice to give each other reassurances that we would both beat cancer. I miss that. I still well up when I think much about it, but there just isn’t anything I can do but rely on others to try to take his place. I know it will get better.
No comments:
Post a Comment