There are no excuses for not writing and keeping updated, except that I have been busy (aren't we are) and I have been dealing with other health issues.
Right off the bat, I should let you know I had my first monthly check up with Dr. Beck and the Gang at the Indiana University Hospital. It is great. You go to the "Registration Area" and meet with the person who checks you in. She then gives you about 15 barcoded stickers with your name and other information. Anyone you meet with the rest of the day, you give them one of your lovely stickers. I had a chest x-ray done - they took a sticker. I had blood work drawn - they took a sticker. They they told me I was finished. I was heart broken. I still had 13 stickers left to use. I wanted to use them all, but what can you do for "fun" in the hospital? A stress test? EKG? I did consider a sleep study, as they are often in nice, relaxing hotel like rooms, but I figured that might scare Caren if I came home too late. I thought about putting them on the elevators, but that might upset security or the environmental services staff, and they would be able to scan the sticker and no every detail about me from my date of birth to the loss of one of my most intimate friends. So, I just went home - a bit more deflated than when I entered the hospital a few hours earlier.
The doctor's office called Friday to let me know that the tests were perfect, and there was no resurfacing of the cancer. They look for it to appear in a very specific spot in the chest when they look at the x-ray. The blood test is to look look for a certain "marker" in the blood. Before my surgery, the level was 42. One week after the surgery, it was a 2. At my last visit, it was also a 2. You want your level to be a 2, so I was happy.
My next visit to the hospital is in a few weeks. If you want to drive to Indianapolis, wait while I have my tests (takes about an hour and a half) and then hang out in downtown Indy let me know.
Now that I am writing on here again, maybe I will tell you my ordeal with other doctors the past few weeks.
1 comment:
I was very happy to hear your news when you announced it on HP to me. Dem, you need some pics on her of yourself and your lovely wife. Keep up the good fight!!!!! You've got it in ya!
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