multiple myeloma – Page 2 – Couldausedanotherday

Closer to Normal

Summer 2013 in Oregon is circling the drain. I took the box fans out of the upstairs windows and put the electric blanket back on the bed.

My summer was a paradox, creeping along unbelievably slow, moment by drawn out moment in the hospital and in recovery, but then I looked up and suddenly the summer days are gone!

I’m feeling closer to normal and farther from death; although I know it could be waiting in the next crosswalk. But, it could be waiting for anyone there and has nothing to do with cancer.

*Working full time and ready for high water*

I just had my six month visit with my urologist. He said my PSA (indicator for prostate cancer) is non-existent, that’s great. He said I’m halfway through the danger zone….. If the prostate cancer doesn’t come back within five years, it’s highly unlikely it will come back.

I doubled the dosage of my B complex vitamins and it does seem to be helping with the chemo nerve damage / pain in my feet.

My oncologist said next visit, three months from the transplant, they will test for cancer indicators. I thought, with all these vials of blood you’ve taken – what have you been testing for?

We were clicking through TV stations the other night, looking for a reason to stay up ten more minutes, when I saw an eerily accurate representation of my new hair style: it was little Ralph Wiggum on the Simpson’s.

I’m afraid I won’t be able to identify with him for long because in the mirror I see little black seedlings sprouting among the wispy white survivor hairs clinging to my head. This could get interesting.

I remain, as always, thankful to God.

Another Step

After working a couple weeks of half days, my oncologist released me to work full time. I’ve put in a few 8 hour days now, and I believe I really do prefer half days, but it was time to take another step towards normal.

One of my co-workers asked, “Why don’t you just shave your head? Your hair cries I survived Chernobyl!” I pointed out that anyone can shave their head, but only a select few can enjoy the, “faint hovering mist” look.

I’ve come to realize that chemo goes in you like a bullet, carefully aimed to mortally wound the cancer. Piercing its target, it continues clanging and zinging back and forth through your body, messing with everything else until its energy is spent.

I think my chemo bullet rattled all the way down to my feet before expiring, resulting in this stubborn neuropathy.

*Last weekend, Diane and I celebrated our 40th wedding anniversary*
*at the Ohana Hawaiian Café in Portland*

I thought I had lost two good friends to cancer this year – Mountain Dew and Darigold Old Fashioned Chocolate Milk. I ran into them both recently, and they are as good as ever.

Inching My Way….

I’ve been out of the hospital about 4 weeks. I saw my oncologist yesterday and she agreed to let me start back to work part time, so I was officially on the clock this morning for the first time in over 40 days.

Half days are nice, they go fast. It was good to be back on the job and to have a few moments of actually feeling useful and productive.

My checklist of things to do while home bound remains unfinished. Some things will just have to wait until inching my way becomes bigger strides.

*I’m dedicated to the Wispy hair look for now*

Waiting for Normal

Wednesday I turned 61. I celebrated my birthday in style….. Well, in the style of some folks in their sixties. First was an appointment with my oncologist. They took blood and said the numbers were good.

When I asked about returning to work, she said the transplant was a real big deal and I need more time to recover, she would not release me to work until after she sees me again in two more weeks.

She said the bad taste, sores in my mouth, food not tasting good, stomach feeling weird, being easily out of breath, and my worsening vision were because of the strong chemo I received, and will eventually get better.

I haven’t shaved in over a week, but no whiskers are growing. She said that is also from the chemo. She recommended multi-B complex vitamins to help repair the (painful) nerve damage in my feet.

The achy pain in my legs may be due to the stuff going on in my bone marrow, and hopefully will subside soon.

She prescribed something to help me sleep through the night (I’ve been waking around 3am every morning since returning from the hospital).

Diane asked her if I would be able to go out dancing soon. The doc was still considering it when Diane sighed, “Oh, well, he couldn’t dance before the transplant, so I doubt that has changed.”

After the doctor visit, we went to see a movie, “Turbo” (in 3D). That’s one fast snail! We grabbed a bite to eat at KFC and came home. Our younger son and daughter-in-law called from Kenya that morning and we video chatted with our older son and daughter-in-law in Michigan in the evening.

The support and encouragement from family and friends has been awesome. Even reviewing my list of complaints here, I can only thank God for a life overflowing with blessings.