Med Sleep

Geez!! The meds I'm on sure make me sensitive to zzz's. If I don't sleep for at least 8.5 hrs, 9-10's more like it, I just have the hardest time functioning, organizing my thoughts, etc..
Our dog was startled by a falling object last night. He's a Yorkie. So, he's a tad high strung anyway. For a 1/2-1 hr he continued to sporadically bark at, what turned out to be, a curtain rod.
I appreciate his alertness to the unusual. But, I'm an absolute zombie this AM. Thankfully, other than Testosterone gel, no meds today.

New Study

Learned of a possible new ECD study. They'll be looking more at the history and progression of the disease in order to discover better treatments and a possible cure.
It's being carried out by the National Health Institute in Bethesda, MD, and travel, food and lodging will be paid by the NHI for each US patient. So, guess I'm going to Maryland late this year or early next. :-)

Road to a Bigger Prostate :-)

Well, it seems my testosterone levels are low, and my Endocrinologist wants me to move up to 5 tubes of hormone replacement gel a week. Fine by me w/ one exception, the worst side effect w/ this stuff is an enlarged prostate.
Well, at least Saw Palmetto really does work for that. I'll just be taking a little more than the reccomended daily allowance.

Endocrinologists Point of View

Had the priveledge of visiting my Endocrinologist Tuesday. He was very pleased w/ the reports he's been getting from my Oncologist. He was also very pleased w/ my current condition. Supportive he is of my interest in Cladribine ( little break in the "He was" theme :-) ). There was talk of increasing the hormone gel one more tube a week. But, that's, of course, depending on the results of my labs.
It really tickles me how I've, pretty much, done nothing but improve since that day, almost 3 yrs ago, God had a long talk w/ me. I put things in His hands that day, and the rest is recorded right here in cyber space. :-)

Lapse in Memory

As I wrote in my other blog, "What's Their Problem", I'm confronted w/ a new "problem". I've received the forms to complete for assistance from Johnson & Johnson where the Cladribine (Leustatin) is concerned. This both frightens & excites me.
It frightens me because the drug comes w/ a warning for the patient not to be exposed to anyone w/ a contagious illness, because the infusion lowers the blood count. Thus, the immune system is pretty severely compromised.
So, I could die due to a side effect of the med. Hard to be an influential father as ashes in a jar. But, what kind of Dad will I be w/ my head not screwed on straight and my balance not so good, thanks to some of the meds I'm on now. I've been really torn about this.
Well, it's funny how God reminds me in His Word what I'm missing. I was reading Billy Graham's book, "The Journey", this morning and, what should come up the AM after my "Doubt and Fear" entry but, "Conquering Our Fears". Within four sentences, I had my fear eased. Dr. Graham wrote, "The opposite of fear is trust-trust in God and His unchanging love". There is also Psalm 118:6, "The Lord is with me; I will not be afraid".
Once again, I was worried, afraid and in tears w/out talking to the One Who knows me best and knows what's best for me.
I'll finish the application process, and the rest is in His Hands.