CT Results

The nurse calls me with the results of my CAT scan I had done last week and everything sounds pretty good. I will see my oncologist I think on the 24th so he will discuss them further with me at that time. So, I guess great news so far!

Alan

Cleveland follow-up visit

Well, I drove up to Cleveland with my daughter Katie and everything went as expected.
He was happy with my first SCT visit. He suggested that all my future testing be done down here and let Dr. Chowhan manage me from now on. The did a pulmonary function testing and it showed a little decrease in output. I think this is from the lack of exercise/walking. Looking for a walking partner! Chest x-ray and blood work was fine. He said that I need to have a CAT scan and he thinks it should be normal. Normal going into the SCT and it should stay that way! I pray that it does!
He said if I were to relapse, I was pretty screwed. At that time I could try Radiation. So we are keeping our fingers crossed that it never comes back!!!

We spent the night with Keith and Cathy. We had a great time. Drove back the next day and it didn't bother me like I thought it would. I had Katie with me to drive just in case I got sick or something.

I saw Dr. Chowhan last Wed. and he is going to schedule my CAT scan soon. Said I would need to see him every month and pulmonary/chest x-ray every two months.

Feeling pretty good and I will update as soon as I get more news or results of any test. Alan

Doing ok!

It has been a long time since I posted last. SORRY! I'm doing ok. Still having some residual problems but nothing worth talking about. Eyebrows are starting to come back in but no hair on top. I'm heading back to Cleveland for a follow-up appointment this Friday and Katie is going with me. Business has been slow and I'm trying to stir things up to get my doctors to scan more with me. I have been maintaining my weight and still wanting to lose another 20 pounds or so. I have not had the energy to exercise but I feel like after I get my PET/CT scan under my belt that I will start working hard. I will let you know what the doctor has to say.

I will see my local oncologist next Wed and I gather he will schedule the necessary test. Later! Alan

Doing well.

My blood work is still in the normal range. I have been back working a few hours a day and doing pretty good. I still can't find anything good to eat except cottage cheese and fresh fruit. Maintaining my weight. I will need to head back to Cleveland for a follow-up appointment with Dr. Dean and after that I hope that I can just maintain locally and not have to return to Cleveland. I'm schedule to head up on May 1. It has been a month since I've been home and it is still slow going but I do see improvement everyday.

Blood Work looking good

I had some blood work yesterday and so far it all looks great. Blood cultures take a few days to see if anything is growing but since I've not had a temp. they think all will be normal. Still really tired and my nights and days continue to be messed up. I've been getting about 3-5 hours of sleep and I've tried staying up and gowing to bed when I'm really tired but no go. I will lay, toss and turn till about 6:00 am and sleep till about 10 or 10:30. Makes for a weird day. It's Good Friday and I would like to go to church but I think I will wait for Sunday and give it a try. Wear my mask and not shake any hands to be safe.

I hope all is well with everyone and you all have a great Easter!

Day +19

Doing pretty well. I've been home a week and just been laying around. Went to the office for about 1/2 hour and that was a bit much. Picked the kids up from school one day, drove home and that was a bit much. So, after SCT they tell you that you won't feel like doing much for the next 30 days, I'm starting to believe them.

Went to my local Oncologist today and all my blood levels were normal. He was surprised. He was happy with how I was doing. Cleveland has me going in every week for a CBC and I will have to drive back to Cleveland in 30 days for a follow-up appointment with Dr. Dean and I think a Pulmonary function test, to check out my lungs.

Here at home everything seems to be on the mend with the cat situation. Katie is still mad and not talking to Mom but it will take her some time. I rocked McKenna to sleep in my arms for about an hour. She is crawling and has gained 5 pounds since I last saw her. While holding her I was thinking about my own kids how I just loved to rock them to sleep and it just brought tears to my eyes to see my baby Oliver now 15. Kids are doing great. Katie and Oliver are on Spring Break and they just wanted to spend some extra time here with me. They have been helping out a lot. Oliver passed his driver's Ed. test and he is dying for me to get him out on the road to see how good of a driver he is. Maybe this weekend I told him. Katie has been like Mother Hen, making sure Dad is ok. She has been taking Oliver any place he needs to be without question. Mal seems to be doing fine, working hard. Mom has taken some time off from work to take care of all my needs and I'm glad she has. Nice to have someone to wait on you.

So, over all I'm doing well. Will update when I get some new news.

Home again, Home again

Yesterday morning they woke me up to tell me my WBC was 9600 and I was good to get my catheter and infusion port out. Waited, waited and waited but they finally got started around 10:30. The port took about an hour and half to get out, all under local and the catheter took about 45 mins. By the time I got back to my room I had missed my ride. My friend Eric had to pick me up by noon in order to get back in time for work. SO, Keith and Cathy after a hard day at work drive up around 7:00 and picked me up. It was so emotional for me to just get out of that place Knowing I was done!

I know for sure that Christ was with me throughout this entire process. Even to the point I was getting in Keith's car. It was like He was telling me "All is well" So comforting. We got back to Keith's and it was good to see the kids. Didn't stay up too late as we were heading out around 9:00 am.

That evening prior to bed I found out that my Mother put my cat of some 13 years to sleep. Why she couldn't wait for me and allowed me to no this is beyond me. She took the cat why the kids were in school and they nor I got to say our goodbyes. It was really sad and hard to get to sleep. It's not like he was going to die in the next month but he was going down hill. I would have done things differently for the sake of the kids. We are planning a little memorial service for him and put up a stone with his name on it. Sorry Boomer, you will be missed.

Got up this morning and took off to meet my sister and Mom halfway. The ride home was pretty uneventful except for my sore bottom. So, getting comfortable was a challenge. Pulled in the drive about 3:00 and it was NICE to be home. The kids came over around 3:45 and we all hugged and sobbed like babies. I missed the kids so much. I was so homesick, it was making me sick.

Tired, tired, tired. I had to take a nap to recover from the 6 hour drive. Got a little sick at my stomach searching for WATER that had a good taste to it. Could not eat much but Mom fixed me some noodles and butter. Kids have been great all night really helping me out as I still very weak and will be for sometime.

Anyway, I'm home, in my own bed, surrounded by love and it all feels great. I want to thank all that have been praying for me as I have felt all the comforting prayers. I have to go to my local cancer center tomorrow for some blood work. Other than that, I will try to post with any new news. Alan