this time for results of last week's blood work and CT scan. The facility looked more crowded than usual, and our wait was longer, but we assumed it was because of doubling up from the coming two weeks of holidays. In our case, though, the wait was special. A couple of weeks ago, we had the worst winter weather of the past semester years, and Dr. Hashmi,, working his way tenderly over the snow, had fallen and broken his right arm. So his Physician Assistant was working her shift and then in charge of the computer on his shift.
Mohamed and I are focused on the many problems and pains. Dr. Hashmi was focused on the big picture. Although there's nothing new here, he was wide-eyed over the fact that I am well into my sixth years with the stage four cancer and the chemotherapy. "It's not that I'm minimizing your pain," he said, though it was exactly that that it felt as if he were doing, "but after all this time, the results are stable. There's absolutely no growth in the cancers. Most of the people I treat with Votrient, are 'miserable' after a short period of time, and we have to move on to something else." So that was the good news: concerning the cancer, much has remained the same for all this time.
That's good news, of course,, but I still couldn't help worrying about the symptoms that remain. I had lost 10# since the last visit. That doesn't bother me too much, since the nausea has generally subsided. I don't have a huge appetite, true, but I eat rather consistently. The most serious for me, though, aren't the constant pains and the debilitating fatigue. So we're adjusting the morphine (doubling the dosage0 and will continue with the Percocet. We'll see how that works out. And of course, there are two further side effects. The increase in opioids means an increase in constipation. And second, does this mean that there will be an increase in fatigue? Yes certainly to the latter. Is there nothing we can do about fatigue. Those discussions have always centered on transfusions. With a low hemoglobin and/or or, fatigue follows, and transfusions can do a lot to supply energy. This time, however, without a second thought, both Dr. Hasmi and Ginger said "Ritalin." So Ritalin us used to provide energy, a logical solution, though we'd never thought of it. If after all these years something a common as Ritalin helps significantly, I'm going to be plenty pissed (and relieved).
Looking forward to:
Portland friends Joanne and Darrell sent two dozen oysters, which arrived yesterday and which I'm looking forward to eat tonight. I never was very good at sharing oysters.
L.A. friend Jill sent a lovely gift basket of wine, cheese, crackers, soup--all ready for exploration.
K.C. friend T.J., whom we haven't seen in some time is coming in for lunch today, and tomorrow it's Scott, also from KC.
Our social life is improving.
Happy Hanukkah. Merry Christmas! And all the best of 2017!!
Love,
Howard and Mohamed
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