04-30-2012 Rathfoot Follow-up

  We went for the follow-up with Dr Rathfoot today and it went great. He scoped me and saw some aggravation in the opposite side of the throat, but it is usual he said this time of year with all the pollen. The O2 seems to be making a difference and he saw progress it the throat from the last time and was pleased that we're finally healing up more. He said maybe a couple of stretches and injections while they're there would be in the picture for later. For now though the next three months I'm free unless something goes wrong and that's not going to happen. So from now until July it's clear sailing. He was excited and we were too. I thanked him and he took no credit that I should thank God. We found out we both have Great Pyrenees dogs. I didn't mention the TI or PI or whatever Denise calls it, why ruin the moment. Plus I think that would add another doctor, more tests, and maybe more meds I'd forget to take. I do thank God every night. I thank Him for the great doctors, nurses, family, and friends. Though adjustments have had to be made, I thank Him for the gardens and the ability to have them. I'm not afraid to die and not afraid to live either, ain't seen nothing that I can't do, when I depend on Him to help me through.  Hey that rhymes. Poet and don't know it, feet do though, their Longfellow(s).

  Denise went back to work and I celebrated with grabbing Megan and taking off the trash. Followed that with bush hogging the hill until I sheared the pin. I think I massaged the weeds for a while before I noticed that, lol. Installed the gate to go into the grapevine area where the tomato plants are. This wasn't a good day, it was a great day.  I bet I sleep good tonight.

  I gotta have some music to celebrate.

 

04-25-2012

Day 3 and I think I'm adjusting pretty decent. I'm back to 2 finger typing again, just different fingers. I took mom to Knoxville for her check up and we stopped at Easy In to cash a check, discovered that keeping control on my finger on the keys isn't the only thing, writing is even harder. It was embarrassing but we had a good laugh. It took a while to write and even then it's hard to read, not that I wrote pretty to start with. Holding a fork took some creative ways, but I done it. I've been practicing writing too as well as typing.

  Denise thinks I may have had a light stroke, honestly I think that is a good possibility. I see Dr Rathfoot next week for a check-up and I really don't want to see a doctor for this. Surely it's done. No numbness in my forehead, just a regular headache, lips aren't numb anymore, and the right hand, arm, and leg slowly working a bit better and what they lack I've figured out ways around the lacking, and the swelling is going down. Just a mild headache in my right eye tonight, probably sinuses. I'll chill for the night like I did yesterday and tomorrow if it's dry enough I'll till the garden. Good chance it could be the discs in my neck got a bit whacked when I strained that day, they've just now started to pop.

  I met an interesting lady at the doctor's office, a drug rep I talked with while waiting. She had breast cancer and also went to UT for treatment. We were at Ft Sanders at the time, lol. She had a mastectomy and is fully in remission. Her husband is a principle at a local school and she was a teacher who decided to be a drug rep. They have a 5 year old daughter. I think how funny that out of that big waiting room she would set the row in front of me, everybody else was on the other side of the room. It seems that everywhere I go I run into people that either have, had, or were effected by someone close who has cancer. One would think that with 95% of then scientist working on ways to make war and 5% on everything else that we would demand it be the other way around.      

-4-23-2012

 No word still so perhaps no news is good news. No copy sent to Rama either so it may just not be read yet. 

   Done a 1st today, hopefully tomorrow it will straighten out itself. I dug mom's drain line and got a bit hot. I got and still have a massive headache in the right side but Excedrin Migraine seems to work to ease it. It hasn't done much for the dizziness or the swelling in the right hand, slurred speech has left but the control of the right arm and hand hasn't returned yet. Got strength in it but no coordination yet, so I've went from 2 finger typing to 1, lol. Denise thinks it might be a nerve pinched. Cool temps with high humidity plus awkward strain could have got the 2 discs in my neck upset, but usually I can pop them and be fine, never had swelling and leg pain with it that I remember. Maybe tomorrow will be better and it'll reset.       

04-20-2012

No call from UT with the test results and the other doctors haven't received copies yet. I'll take this as no news is good news, either that or they haven't had time to review and read the results yet. I'll find out next week I think when I return to Dr. Rathfoot. I think it stays in the back of one's mind "what if ". Meanwhile I will continue to live each day like it is the last as one day it will be. Enjoy, relax, and find peace.

  
Oh, did I mention the Sign is back, right exactly where it was. How cool is that... Headed from Knoxville to here, right before the Sevierville exit in a field on the right, between 2 hills. 

04-19-2012 Dr. Panella Follow-up

  We went to UT again today, done a chest X-Ray and then headed up to Dr Panella's office for a follow-up. There was a doctor that was training there, nice fellow, they asked if he could see me too. I have no problem with that. He came in and checked me out, looked up some stuff on the web before he started talking or checking me, but didn't look in the chart. He felt a lump in the side of my neck the tumor was on, except way back. After he left out Dr Panella came into the room and he showed him the lump area, Panella checked but wasn't too concerned. He had me open my mouth and with a light showed him the back of my throat and the deformity the Radiation had left. I guess that is normal for radiation and apparently visible. Now I've been told I have a fowl mouth but never a deformed one. :) The blood work and X-ray results weren't back, but he told me if anything was wrong they'd call me. He said he was calling me in Remission!!! That sounds great to me. He did say that the throat could be stretched and talked about that, but I'd rather Dr. Rathfoot make that call since that is what he does. I don't have to go back until October if the tests are clean. I looked in the Chemo Hut, but they've changed people and I didn't see any that was there when I went. Ruth was off too.

  We headed to Sams while we were in Knoxville and picked up a few things. We came home and I planted the Tomato Plants, tilled and leveled the area for peppers, squash, and watermelon. Denise planted 44 Pepper Plants and Megan planted 12 Squash (I thing). The signs aren't right again until late next week to plant again. If it don't rain we will get the rest out plus the Okra, Beans, and Corn. A friend of mine, Dale, already has his out. He grows a beautiful garden. He works his like we do. Keep the stuff we need and give away the rest. We worked until it was getting dark, plus American Idol was on, then Swamp People. It has been another good day. I could get use to that. Best of all, no engagements, appointments, of need to go here or there, so I get to get dirty.  

Annie Getting Pinned

Annie got her Nursing Pin tonight at the Pinning Ceremony. Megan is working on a flick and I'll put that up as soon as she is done. Annie is our middle daughter. Congratulation Annie!!!

Helping Janet

  David gave a link to a little girls' site, Janet is her name. I had not heard of her before. Her website is at http://www.helpingjanet.com I looked at the link below and there is a young man too in need.

She is well collected inside on this video, as many cancer patients are, but inside, it's not this cool and calm always. The second one shows what is going on inside. Please pray for this girl and help her if you can.