Article

A friend from church brought me four possible publications to which I might submit the article. I'll have to mold it a bit differently for each mag/site. But, I have someplace to shoot for, now.

Endocrinologist visit and ECD article

The Endocrinologist was very pleased with my condition. He agreed that, after seeing my images in 2007, that he didn't think I'd live this long. They just don't understand how stubborn I am. :-)
Finished the article I've been working on. Folks like it. Hopefully I can get a magazine interested.

The Oncologist

The Oncologist was quite happy w/ how I'm doing. He's pretty impressed w/ my getting 90-100 hrs 13 of the last 14 patches (The one that was less was 89 hrs). But, we're not going to mess w/ anything new. He and I figure, why mess w/ a med that's working so well.
I've begun having pretty rough back aches, w/ no apparent cause, just below my mid-back. They started in my sleep Mon. or Tues. night and made breathing painful. The gels & creams do nothing. An hour or so w/ a heating pad eases or relieves them. Doc said not to worry unless they continue for an extended period (Folks have been paralyzed by ECD involvement around their spine/vertebrae). They have continued. But, I'm going to wait a month before calling him back about 'em. I'm going in May 11th for an MRI of the brain, anyway.
He also said not to worry about ECD in my jaw unless I begin having unusual pain in that area.

Long Time

Well, Christmas went very nicely. I didn't have any bad episodes, and my wife and I enjoyed a relaxed family Holiday very much.
I do find that the drive back to my wife's and my home after such a trip leaves me absolutely exhausted for several days. Could be the schedule change, the excitement, the expectation. Who knows? But, aside from being bothersome, it's no biggie. I recover from those after few days, and I'm the same old me, again.
I have ever improving news about my Fentanyl patch. I've moved to 96 hrs on a 72 hr patch w/ no big problems. As I approach the 96th hr, I get fairly sleepy. Other than that, I pull off 4 days w/out a hitch. That also means a 30 day prescription lasts pretty close to 40 days. Saves a little moolah over time. :-)

Possible Transportation

Less than a wk. after My Ophthalmologist's advice not to drive if there's any question about my vision, I found an agency that offers transportation to folks on Medicare. There's a $2 charge for in-town trips. But, the great thing is they'll take me to Asheville for a $12 round trip fee. That's a load off of my mind. At present, my wife either has to take me to the docs and rush to prep. for work after or, she has to get up on her day off and drive when she might not feel like it. That's happened enough that I've really begun to feel like a burden.
Don't know if my wife will go for the $12. Depends on how precious her day off and "me" time is.
Funny thing is, I once worked for this agency.

Day of the Oncologist

Wed. was my day for an Oncologist visit. He had no idea what might have caused my stirring sensation a couple of weeks ago. He did say he wanted to continue with the MRI and CAT scans every 6 months to keep tabs on me. The latest MRI showed that I remain stable. Good word, Stable. :-)

Eye Guy

Had an appt. with my Ophthalmologist Monday. Man, I hate having my eyes dialated! I was a little tired, which affects my vision more, now. So, I think I was a little off my usual impressiveness :-). It was the way he said "You're in the normal range". But, he was not alarmed. In 6 mo.'s I get to enjoy dialation, again. They're also going to check my optic nerve then. This is so much fun.
The news was good enough that my wife and I went to TGI Fridays for a nice lunch. Had the Santa Fe salad w/out Ranch dressing. Had the balsam Vinegarette instead. Was quite tasty!