PSA Rising – Couldausedanotherday

STOP IT!

I saw a Gastroenterologist. The result of our visit was a prescription to treat symptoms caused by excess stomach acid. I’ll take it twice a day until further notice.

He also made an appointment in May for a camera down my throat. If my symptoms go away or are notably reduced before May, I may not need to swallow the camera.

I also saw a Speech Pathologist on what may be the last stop (win or lose) on my way to solving this throat clearing issue. About my constant throat clearing, she basically said, “STOP IT!”

It reminded me of this Bob Newhart skit. It turns out there is a little more to the STOP IT theory than you might first imagine.

It’s true that something is causing this to happen, but it turns out that throat clearing causes irritation, and irritation causes throat clearing. If the cycle continues long enough, it becomes part of you.

If you can STOP or REDUCE it, you might break (or damage) the cycle.

She offered a list of suggestions of how one might STOP IT, most of which I am already doing. The bottom line is, if I can stifle the throat clearing, at least to some degree, the instances and/or severity may be reduced, at least to some degree, regardless of the primary cause.

I had the follow-up PSA test last week. I haven’t talked with my Urologist yet, but, the test results were automatically posted to my (Medical Stuff) web site.

Test data often appears to be in Greek (Latin?), but these numbers were quite clear: 0.19. Now that’s a cliff-hanger. More than 0.2 indicates a recurrence of the cancer.

I’ve given up trying to predict what a doctor will say or do, I’ve been wrong so many times. I’m sure it will be interesting when we talk next.

Arranging Deck Chairs?

I had a great idea and made coloring books for my grandkids, made up of pictures of them. That led to similar coloring books for my two grown up sons, just for fun. I wanted to make a book for my wife, but instead of a coloring book, I made the pictures look more like pen and colored pencil drawings.

I hope she enjoys paging through it as much as I enjoyed creating it. It features a few pictures she has never seen, surrounded by good memories; some not roused in a while.

It was challenging to keep what I was doing a surprise for Valentine’s Day; working often while she slept or was not yet home from work. I had it spiral bound and ready for Valentines Day with hours to spare.

I also had a Valentine’s Day date with an x-ray technician. She gave me peaches, graham crackers, applesauce, bread, and a milky drink, all generously mixed with Barium.

These treats weren’t gifts for my nibbling pleasure like my wife gave me; these were so she could video x-ray me swallowing them.

After carefully explaining that she is not a doctor and can’t make a diagnosis, she told how the x-ray video showed the consumed food hesitated a notable moment in my lower esophagus before continuing into my stomach.

That’s not likely the cause of my constant throat clearing, but it could be a clue. The Ear Nose Throat doctor’s office called the next day to repeat what the technician said (except the part about not being a doctor), and to add that my x-ray video audition bought me a ticket to see a Gastroenterologist, coming soon to a hospital near me.

I also went in for a “CT Scan of Face (CT Sinus WO Contrast).” The results: “There is no evidence of laryngeal penetration or aspiration identified. Please see the detailed report rendered by speech pathology.” I haven’t seen the report yet.

It would be wonderful to finally solve this constant throat clearing mystery, but if the blood test in March shows my PSA numbers going up, all these other tests may end up being as productive as rearranging deck chairs on the Titanic.

I do Love Spreadsheets

I can’t remember when I started daily, sometimes it seems constantly – clearing my throat. It has to be a year, maybe two or even three, but it is every day. I thought an allergist might identify the cause, so I made an appointment.

His assistant took a felt marker and produced spreadsheets on both of my forearms, complete with columns and headers. She poked my skin in each marked cell with the corresponding poker from her tray of pins and said she’d be back in 30 minutes.

I sat in that quiet exam room with a pillow in my lap and my arms steady on the pillow. It was a perfect time to catch up on prayer. The spreadsheet reported zero allergies, next stop – another blood test.

Are You Rrrrready toooo Rrrrrumble?

My prostate surgery was almost seven years ago. We’ve continued regular PSA testing since then and the results have always been, “undetectable.” In reality, undetectable is actually detectable, but if the number is less than 0.1 ng/ml, it is considered undetectable.

The voicemail with my December test results relayed a 0.15 score and a, “please call to make an appointment.”

I made the appointment and saw my Urologist. He seemed quite concerned and commented a couple times that this never happens this far out from the surgery (almost 7 years).

He’d reviewed my file and seemed pleased that I already had a radiologist, because if today’s blood test verifies the last one, radiation may be prescribed.

Where to radiate would be the question (since there is no cancerous prostate). He told me about a new technique that has just arrived in Portland, and is promising for that very issue.

I asked him; wouldn’t it be funny if the prostate cancer was positioning to play a big joke on the Multiple Myeloma cancer?

I wondered if they would ever battle to claim credit for my demise.

IN THIS CORNER:

The Reigning Champion with 26,730 (estimated) deaths in 2017 – Prrrostate Cancer! Off to an impressive start, but reportedly eradicated with surgery.

IN THE OTHER CORNER:

THE INCURABLE! The Second Most Common Hematological Malignancy – with 10,790 (estimated annual) deaths Mmmuuuuultiple Mmmyyyeloooooooma!! Starting out determined, but beat down repeatedly with radiation, chemo, a stem cell transplant, and more chemo – On the ropes, but still breathing.

Prostate cancer, inching by the fingernails, crawls back to the center of the ring with just a hidden spark of life – grabs Myeloma by the throat and whispers, “Incurable? I’ll show you incurable!”

A young lady who’s had two babies since she started taking my blood, took it once again. It was tested and the results relayed by voicemail: 0.15 confirmed, please call and make an appointment for two months from now.

*A Beautiful Sunrise tempting me to be late for work recently*

I really felt fortunate to catch this action shot – my immediate supervisor at work – going off the rock pile jump on his bicycle, sailing over the mote and fence (in his Grinch pajamas). It’s a Public Works tradition.

The Dreaded Annual Exam

This will be an update for some, and an announcement of sorts for others. Although there is no concrete news to share, I want to let you know what’s going on.

I had my annual prostate exam a couple weeks ago and the numbers were a little high, and they were a little higher than last year, so the doctor said to get a second opinion. The second opinion said to get a biopsy.

I had an ultrasound and biopsy today. It was a bit like a visit to the dentist, only the chair was different. It will be a few days before the results are in, so this is all I have to share. Before today, the doctor predicted my diagnosis would fall somewhere between, “It’s Nothing” and, “Certain Death.” Today after the closer inspection, he sharpened that prediction to a 60% chance of having prostate cancer.

Until later,

Scott