Don't Smoke Ever

JOY SCALE: 10/10
Hi Everybody, All is well on the cancer front. The change back to Zoladex is working out well. There are a few side effects form the changeover, but I can deal with them. A week ago I was put on oxygen at night time and as needed during the day. I have COPD from 38 years of smoking and now I pay the piper. Almost five years ago I quit smoking. Unfortunately my lungs didn't bounce back as I had hoped. I now know how a fish feels out of water. When you can't catch your breath it is scary. Warning, warning, warning! Do not smoke. It is not worth it. If you do smoke, then quit. The sooner you quit the better the chance your lungs will get back to normal.
Hope you all are enjoying the Spring. Summer is fast approaching.
Peace and Love to All

A Nice Surprise

JOY SCALE: 10/10

Hello Everyone, A couple of posts back I told you that the VA had switched my usual hormone medicine with another brand and that the new brand gave me a lot of trouble with the side effects. The hormone that I was on was called Zoladex and I was injected every three months. The new hormone, called Lupron, was injected every six months. My lovely wife tried to find a way to get me back on Zoladex. She tried to get the VA to make it available, but they said no. She then asked my Oncology nurse if she would inject me with the Zoladex if my wife would bring in the hormone from a source other than the VA. The nurse said that she had to talk with my Oncology doctor and that she would get back to us. Then my wife went to our Tricare doctor and asked if he would prescribe the hormone so she could bring it back to the VA for my injection. Unfortunately our Tricare doctor said that he wouldn't be able to get the hormone for us. As luck would have it a few days later the Oncology nurse left a phone message for me. She said that it was brought to her attention that several more veterans were having the same type of side effects as I was and that the VA would make the Zoladex available again! Someone is definitely watching over me.

All is well in the other areas of my life. I still look upon each new day with gratitude and I try my best to enjoy the day to the fullest. My psychologist said to me a few sessions back that a funny thing happens to some people when they find out that they are dying. They start living!

Peace and Love to All

Just Checking In

JOY SCALE: 10/10

Hello Everyone, That's right I am still alive. I want to update you all on what is happening in my life. My wonderful Soul Mate and wife is on a quest to find my old prescription of testosterone suppressing drug called Zoladex. Let me give you a little background. About five months ago the VA switched me to a testosterone suppressing drug called Lupron. Lupron was administered every six months whereas Zoladex was every three months. I didn't have a problem with the difference between injection times. My problem was Lupron's side effects. Increased bone pain and neuropathy were two of the side effects that gave me the most trouble. I had already told you about the neuropathy a couple of posts back. My wonderful wife and I decided to try and switch back over to Zoladex. The VA is unable to provide me with Zoladex, only Lupron is available. Zoladex can be obtained through Tricare. I know that my beautiful wife will prevail and I will get back on the Zoladex in no time.

The other areas of my life are filled with happiness and growth.

Peace and Love to All

Update on Tests and Other Exciting News

JOY SCALE: 10/10

Hi All, Great news, my PSA level is 0.03 which is as close to zero as one can get. This means that my hormone therapy is working and keeping the cancer at bay. About three weeks ago I had an EMG test taken to test the extent of my neuropathy. The results have come back and I met with my Neurologist. The general consensus is that my neuropathy is caused by many things including my medications, radiation, or even the cancer itself. This is a wait and see situation as I see it. Other news, I have been fighting a cold which will hopefully be taken care of by some antibiotics dispensed by my VA. Hopefully I will be healthy and ready to fly out this coming Wednesday to spend a few days with my Son and his family in New Hampshire.

I hope this blog finds all of you healthy and enjoying life.

Peace and Love

Peripheral Neuropathy

JOY SCALE: 10/10
Hello Everyone, Well I finally have something worthy of this blog to share with you. Have you ever heard of peripheral neuropathy? For approximately 6 months I have been experiencing pain, numbness, and tingling in my hands and feet. When I walked my feet felt as if they were walking on small sharp rocks. My beautiful wife, who is a nurse, said that what I was experiencing was neuropathy. I finally decided to have someone at the VA look at it. The doctor at the Podiatry Clinic confirmed what my wife had said. What I had was peripheral neuropathy. We Googled peripheral neurophathy and here is a definition from Wikipedia: Peripheral neuropathy is the term for damage to nerves of the peripheral nervous system, which may be caused either by diseases of the nerve or from the side-effects of systemic illness. I ended my Podiatry visit with a brand new pair of "Ambulator" protective shoes. Style wise they weren't too bad. I prefer my comfortable work boots, but they do not protect my feet from injury. The protective shoes are in fact used by diabetics because they also experience diabetic neuropathy. For me the shoes will be doing the same thing-protecting my feet from injury. The Podiatrist also gave me a tube each of Biofreeze and Capsaicin to try out. These creams were to be applied a couple times a day. The Hot and cold creams hopefully will give the nerves a different sensation. So far I haven't felt any change in numbness.
I continue to look at each day with joy and hope. My beautiful wife and I continue to share ourselves with reckless abandon. Who can ask for more?

Holidays

JOY SCALE: 11/10

Hi All, All is well on my front. Being politically correct is hard for me, but I will do my best. I hope that all of you are managing to get into the holiday spirit. Put on some holiday music and dance with your partner. If there is snow, then build a snowperson. There are lots of things you can do to get into the spirit. Find a way and enjoy this beautiful time of the year. I wish you all Happy Holidays and see you next year.

Peace and Love to All

Just Stopping By

JOY SCALE: 11/10
This morning I took this picture of a squirrel that managed to squeeze his way into this feeder. Eventually he got all the way in and feasted on sunflower seeds.
It is a beautiful Fall/Winter day here in Ohio albeit a tad cold.
Some of the side effects from the new hormone therapy are still affecting me. Those effects are numbness of the feet and hands and increased bone pain. However I still keep my positive mind set and enjoy everyday that I am grateful to spend with my beautiful wife, family, and friends.
Those of you with good health might consider starting a grateful list that you can turn to every day. Look around and look within. It is there you will find everything you need for your happiness.
If I miss you before next year may you all have a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.
Peace and Love to All