So by noon tomorrow I should have had one of the most interesting 48 hours of my life. It started on Tuesday morning when I had my MRI at the Duke Cancer Center. An MRI by itself is not that "interesting". I've had one before, in 2011 when I fractured my left foot in 2 places and tore a tendon. However, an MRI for a man's prostate is not quite so simple. Yes, the time frame of 45 minutes is about the same. Yes, you get in the same type of MRI machine. Yes, you listen to music while the machine buzzes and thumps and shakes. And yes, you have to lie completely still during the various scans. But there is one big difference. If you are interested in details, just Google "prostate MRI coil" and read the description. Imagine an inflatable portion filled with Barium as well.
So after that humiliating and extremely uncomfortable 45 minutes, I was done for that day.
Tomorrow I go back to the Duke Cancer Center for my followup appointment with Dr. Zhang. After that I am very hopeful that I will know where I stand, for better or for worse. Hopefully I will have treatment recommendations. I am hopeful that the MRI did not show anymore cancer that we already knew was there, but that is a distinct possibility. If it does, I know that another set up biopsies will be in order. If that does have to happen, I pray it is no worse than the first procedure. But I will have some type of pain medication for afterwards. No more brave crap for me. Give me drugs!!!!!
Regardless of what the news is, I will share. Steve will be with me tomorrow for the appointment so I am not facing it alone and I am extremely grateful for that. Say a little prayer.
Wednesday, September 30, 2015
Wednesday, September 23, 2015
September 2015
The month of September is coming to a close and what a month it turned out to be. On the positive side, my outlook on life was re-energized due to someone special. I got a new pair of glasses, look to the left. <--- Also, all in all I have felt pretty good most of the month. On the negative side, I've had the MRI that is next week hanging over my head the entire month. As hard as I have tried, I haven't been able to completely block that from my mind. The MRI is Tuesday of next week at the Duke Cancer Center and then the follow up appointment with my oncologist is Thursday. So a week from now I should pretty much know what the whole plan is, or at the very least have all the information to make a final decision. Nervous, a little. Anxious, a lot.
September also brought one of the worst colds I've had in a long time. I was completely without my voice for 2 days and very raspy (as the cold came and went) for another 10 days. It's only been the last 3 days or so that I've sounded like myself. I'll let you decide whether sounding like myself is a good thing or a bad thing. The tinnitus has remained a problem. Once I have a decision made with regard to the cancer, then I can move my focus to the ringing. Getting old and being sick sucks!
A positive note on September has also been the fact that I have gotten back to the gym. I tried my old schedule but it just doesn't seem to fit me as well so I've been "playing" with alternative ones. The last couple of weeks it has been a combination of lunchtime workouts and evening workouts. That has worked, but isn't ideal. Therefore I'm going to try a morning schedule. If I can get up 15 minutes earlier just 3 days a week, I can get to the Y, have a full hour workout, and still have time to shower, change and be at the office on time. That way I actually get a lunch AND I can have FREE time of an evening after work. The only thing I would really be giving up is sitting and watching TV for an hour before work. I can live with that....or I think I can. So, tomorrow I will start my "new"est routine and see how it works. Then next week I should be able to put it into complete practice. Monday: YMCA Tuesday: MRI Wednesday: YMCA Thursday: Oncologist Friday: YMCA. The following week, no doctors and extra sleep! This is all in an effort to get rid of the poundage I have put on this summer and to get the waistline back to 2014 size!
To all the well wishers, thank you. I'm in a good place and doing well.
September also brought one of the worst colds I've had in a long time. I was completely without my voice for 2 days and very raspy (as the cold came and went) for another 10 days. It's only been the last 3 days or so that I've sounded like myself. I'll let you decide whether sounding like myself is a good thing or a bad thing. The tinnitus has remained a problem. Once I have a decision made with regard to the cancer, then I can move my focus to the ringing. Getting old and being sick sucks!
A positive note on September has also been the fact that I have gotten back to the gym. I tried my old schedule but it just doesn't seem to fit me as well so I've been "playing" with alternative ones. The last couple of weeks it has been a combination of lunchtime workouts and evening workouts. That has worked, but isn't ideal. Therefore I'm going to try a morning schedule. If I can get up 15 minutes earlier just 3 days a week, I can get to the Y, have a full hour workout, and still have time to shower, change and be at the office on time. That way I actually get a lunch AND I can have FREE time of an evening after work. The only thing I would really be giving up is sitting and watching TV for an hour before work. I can live with that....or I think I can. So, tomorrow I will start my "new"est routine and see how it works. Then next week I should be able to put it into complete practice. Monday: YMCA Tuesday: MRI Wednesday: YMCA Thursday: Oncologist Friday: YMCA. The following week, no doctors and extra sleep! This is all in an effort to get rid of the poundage I have put on this summer and to get the waistline back to 2014 size!
To all the well wishers, thank you. I'm in a good place and doing well.
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