Update and Fun with Puzzles

Chemo is done and I"m in the recovery phase, which is going slowly. I'm malnourished and in the hospital. Most frustrating is that I'm still having trouble with my appetite. It's not all gloom and doom, though. I'm rarely in pain and my mind seems okay.

I've been prescribed a new med to stimulate my appetite. A side effect is weird dreams, which have been fun.Weirdest was probably when I was interviewed about the dream while still in it. (interviewer=John Chancellor). In another dream I was dragged to safety during a category 10 quake by Terry and Koz-B. It doesn't take analysis to suss that one out, I'd say.

With so much time, I've begun doing puzzles. Here's one you might enjoy that I learned back in high school (I gave up on it then, but can do it now) - 

You have 12 almost identical billiard balls and a balance scale. One of the 12 is just slightly heavier or lighter than the other 11. You have to determine which ball is different and whether it is heavier or lighter using the scae only three times.  

Nightmares

You'd think I could come up with a nice adventure dream related to my reading "The Searchers" - a macho Texas Ranger chasing after captured settlers; a sympathetic former bilingual captive helping Cynthia Ann back to the Commancheria; even a member of Quanah's raiding party (but "I'll pass on the torturing part, guys.")

But,, no, I got stuck looking in vain for a bus to Montevideo in a huge parking lot, and having everyone more interested in my gringo accent than helping me out. "El gringito habla tan lindo el castellano."

From there I segued to an unknown family member's house where I kept breaking things and hiding them when the family checked in from time to time. Yuk!

It's day eight. My white counts are down and I'm running a slight temp. Nothing unexpected. Five  days or so before the usual upswing, One day at a time.

Hanging In

I'm still in the hospital on day five of the last chemo cycle. It's been tough, I can't lie. My lung biopsy resulted in a partially collapsed lung, which hurts. Luckily, that's now resolved, though the results aren't 100% conclusive. It's evidently very unlikely that it's cancer or t.b. Some docs are saying we may never know. I don't have any symptoms, just spots on the c.t. scan.

With that issue aside, I still feel really funky. It's hard to describe to those who have never had chemo. Neuropathy in my hands and feet is especially annoying.

I remain able to read a bit and I'm into "The Searchers", a recent release that covers the Cynthia Ann Parker / James Parker true story and the making of the movie based on the story. It's excellent. It's the third book I've read about the Parkers. Cynthia's son, Quanah was the first chief of all the Comanches.

Allegedly, I'll start to get better in 10 more days. One hopes.

Back in Hospital + T.V.

I'm back at the hospital. There was no crisis. Dr. K wanted a biopsy of my right lung which continues to produce some kind of spots. It is set for this morning and I'll pass on the results.

Last post I wrote about "The Killing", so I thought I'd list a few more network shows I'm into -

"Project Runway" - I've come to like and get a bit of education in designer clothes since turning 50 or so, and I've always liked dressing so I'm noticed. My wife and I watch together and we debrief with her BFF Ceiny. The show starts with 16 designers, losing one a week. They'll have to make clothes from duct tape, anything found in a hardware store etc. There's also an episode where they design their own fabric. They have to work fast and have tight budgets.

"Pawn Stars" - The gang from Rick's pawn shop in Las Vegas buys guns, cars, rare documents, and other stuff with experts coming in to do evaluations. The three generations of the Harrison family + Chum Lee have a lot of personality, and, as Rick says, "You never know what's going to come through the door,"

"Justified" - It's a modern day Western featuring U.S. Deputy Marshal Raylan Givens, whose specialty is the fast draw. Originally from Harlan County, KY, he's back there to serve. He has relationships with many of the criminals from the old days - ancient family feuds etc. Gangster Boyd Crowder often steals the show. While not an outright comedy by any means, it's often pretty funny, and comic book like. This softens the violence quite a bit, at least for me.

"Elementary" - Modern update of Sherlock Holmes. He's in NYC and Watson is a female. See July 5 post.

Last Cycle + Video Reviews

Subject to lab tests and exam, I'll be starting my sixth and last chemo cycle this week. I can't say I'm looking forward to it, but it can't end if it doesn't start. I've been reviewing what I can be thankful for to keep my thoughts positive. Number one positive is that I have no pain. Next, I'm able to concentrate and enjoy movies and reading. Finally, I'm really grateful for my support team - Terry, of course, and all the volunteer sitters / helpers / dog walkers. Dr. K has been great. He can be annoyingly detailed, but that's a good thing. He's already talking up my "recovery phase". I know he'll be with me.

Speaking of Dr. K, he told us his wife's grandmother was a WWII (aka Great Patriotic War) fighter pilot. I've read a book about these women. It's a fascinating story.

As for my recent movie / t.v. watching, I went back and streamed "Hopscotch" from Netflix. I've seen it a couple of times before, but it deserves a few watchings. It's a Walter Matthau / Glenda Jackson comedy action picture with two of my favorite character actors - Ned Beatty and Herbert Lom. Implausible, but a lot of fun.

I was lucky enough to tune in for Timmy's no-hitter.

Last night Terry and I watched the first episode of season three of "The Killing" (which we've been recording) and we are hooked. We loved the first two seasons. Luckily we watched them streaming well after they aired. I, for one, would have been really angry when season one didn't resolve if I hadn't had season two ready to go. The network has promised that this current season will resolve. BTW - no spoilers in comments, please.

Update + Movie Review

I'm now past the nadir of this chemo cycle - the penultimate. It looks like we're going to make it through without my having to go to the hospital, which is a good thing.

Dr. K confirmed that I am "cured" of my original lymphoma. These last cycles are prophylactic, like all cycles are for most cancer patients, of course. Unfortunately, I still have the new issues to deal with, the most pressing of which is that my weight is way down. However, I finally have some appetite, and I'm hopeful to get back on track eating-wise.

I've been watching a lot of movies and other video. Best has been "Looper", a time travel Sci-Fi thriller with a pretty cool premise. Bruce Willis hasn't shown much range in his career, but he does a great job doing his usual macho thing here.

I can't see traveling backwards in time ever happening. It would play havoc with verb tenses, for one thing (he he). We already travel forward, obviously. We could even travel forwards rapidly in theory. We just need to move fast enough, as you can see here.

Back of the Closet Blast from the Past

Back in the "Hippie Days" I bought a cool looking deer skin shirt-jacket. I'm wearing it on the cover of my Kicking Mule Records LP "Fingers Don't Fail me Now".

Eventually it stopped fitting me and I retired it.

A couple of days ago I got to thinking about it and realized with my current weight it could fit. It does and is now part of my rotation of chemo wear (see 5/4/13 post).

This got me to thinking about everyday information we should be cataloging somewhere. As far as my weight, for example, until I started having annual check-ups at about age 40, I can't remember how much I weighed during any given year. This would be interesting to know. I remember topping out in 1984 at 174. As for bottoming out, that would be now. Otherwise, not a clue, though I'm sure I knew at the time.

I recently found some diaries I kept during the early '60s. I was wading through boring paragraphs about my latest romances when I found some interesting detail info, like I was paying $15 a week for an apartment on West 14th on the edge of Greenwich Village. Can that be right? Well, a professional shave and a haircut used to be 25 cents, no?

On the medical front, my latest CT scan shows my intestinal blockage has lessened and I'm back on solid-ish food.

Dreams, Videos, etc

It's a cliche, but there's a reason for that. What choice do you have but to take it one day at a time, which is what I'm doing.

I had a dream two nights ago where I had this robot to do a bunch of medical things for me, like giving me pills. What would be cool would be to have a Star Trek transporter to send the contents of my bladder into deep space, or just the toilet.

I'm also heavily into day dreaming - playing guitar again better than ever, tooling around in our new car, walking the dog etc.

Watched the movie "Fire with Fire". Not great but made watchable by a terrific performance by Vincent D'Onofrio as a psycho, racist bad guy. I also saw "42", which I liked quite a bit. Really good performances, especially Harrison Ford's as Branch Rickey. Chadwick Boseman, as Jackie, was appropriately athletic. I've really been into the series "Elementary" and am about to bring the first season on home. And, speaking of videos, my YouTube video of Dylan's Duquesne Whistle is closing in on 10K. Please check it out, spread the word, and take me over the top.

My Friends, the Machines

Vitamix Blender

My life is currently being driven by two machines, The CADD-Prism VIP Pump and The Vitamix 1782 TurboBlend Blender. The first pumps TPN nutrition into my bloodstream from a bag in a backpack, while the second lets Terry prepare the food going into my poor abused stomach and small intestine. The blender came with an excellent cookbook of hot and cold purees, and I’m managing to eat pretty well. Salmon / potato soup, and cold pea soup with mint are a couple of early hits.

I’m enjoying being home. I’m still feeling weak, but experiencing no pain, except for some stomach discomfort, which is controllable.

I’m drawing a lot of comfort from my iTunes streaming music - currently Solid Air, my friends from Petaluma. I’ve also been digging The Duck Baker Trio, Ted Greene, Dinah Washington, Gillian Welch and Natalie Dessay.

CADD-Prism VIP Pump - Lower Left

Video Reviews

Thought I’d review some video I’ve been watching. 

Terry suggestrf this video blog by Jerry Seinfeld. It’s a fun concept, especially if you like coffee, comedians and cars, which I do. My personal favorite episode - Alec Baldwin. Best car - '69 Jag XKE (with Sarah Silverman).

As for movies, the best I saw in the last couple of weeks was "End of Watch" about two street cops in South Central L.A. Good performances, lots of action and a nice buddy bro-mance between the partners. Warning - It's depressing . 

"The Listening Room" was also watchable.The male and female leads worked well together and there were some nice action scenes. It was extremely cynical, and had one logical hole that brought the movie down for me. 

I also watched some episodes of "The Glades". Best part is the relationship between the hero and his girl friend. They are really cute together. I think I'll give up on it, though. The perpetrator always turns out to be a peripheral character. You know it's never going to be one of the main two or three suspects. I've called the results half way through for three straight episodes.

It's great to be home. Food is so much better, for one thing. The welcome from the animals was not as enthusiastic as last time, but Judy did give me some lap time. Terry is pillar of strength as always. 

Update - Finally

I can’t deny it’s been a rough couple of weeks. About half-way through cycle number four I fell down and had to get Terry to help me up. I wasn’t hurt, but was checked into the hospital when I reported the incident. 

Soon after checking in, things got worse. I threw up, a very bad development with an ileostomy.  A CT scan revealed irritation of the intestinal wall causing a partial blockage. They put a tube down my nose for a couple of days and had me take in nothing by mouth. This was followed by a few more days of clear liquids only. In the meantime they decided to drip TPN, which is a nutritional supplement delivered through your blood stream.

Currently I’m getting TPN and am on a diet of pureed food, like someone with a broken jaw would get. It’s pretty bad here in the hospital, but Terry has bought a machine to do the pureeing at home, and I’m allegedly going to be released today.

I also had a low grade fever when I checked into the hospital. It took them awhile to get a handle on it, but they did, and I was able to start round five of my chemo on time. I’m now on day four. On the plus side, I’m feeling little pain, and I’m able to concentrate enough to read, watch t.v. and listen to music. My weight is holding steady. On the negative side, I’m really weak. I can’t play guitar, and need a walker to get around. I also have no appetite and have to force myself to eat what I can.

So, it’s one day at a time. Seventeen more days on this cycle and then 21 days for the last cycle. Hopefully, I’ll be ready for my stomach operation by then. That will require recovery time, but maybe in a couple of months I’ll be starting to feel better.

More immediately, it looks like I'll be home today and see Judy and Koz-B . That will lift to my spirits.

Slide Guitar Agenda

Those of you who’ve been through chemo know how weak you get. You can feel the weight of a fork as you pick it up. Last night I was making heroic efforts to play good barre chords. This was right after I’d come off my four day’s of chemo from the infamous bag, a weak point in the 21 day cycle.

I actually woke up with a small bruise on my barring finger - bummer!

I went down to the Cancer Center today for my neulasta shot. One of their standard questions is “any new bruising or cuts.” So, I told my tale of woe. “Why don’t you play slide for awhile?” the nurse asked. WTF. That was it! I didn’t even know she played. I’m sure she didn’t know I played. 

I have an agenda! My calluses on the left hand are still there, though a bit soft. As for the right hand, my fingernails are still strong. I’m having to play pretty softly with my weak muscles, but I’m playing. Kudos to the nurse, whose name I never caught. I’m sure I’ll see her, though, and thank her. This could end up being a blessing in disguise by helping improve my slide chops. (The bruise, by the way, is already in full retreat).

Through it all I’ve got the loving wife, friends, pets, music listening, reading, t.v. watching etc. to keep me happy or at least happy-ish.

Since my last post, I got my weight up to 138. A good technique I’ve developed is the medicinal teaspoon of peanut or almond butter from time to time. It really binds things, which is an important issue, as I explained a few posts ago. 

With the 2/3 mark soon to arrive, I’m feeling confident and optimistic. 

Reflections on Baby Boomers

A few nights ago four of us were around the table after dinner shooting the breeze. We got to talking about singers and broadway show music from the 1950s --- music I never had much interest in. It made me reflect on the great differences from those who were teenagers in the 1950s and those who came of age in the 1960s.

1967’s “Summer of Love”, along with the increasing opposition to the Vietnam War, really made a huge difference in peoples’ life styles. Young blog readers, and some contemporaries, might not realize or have forgotten what a big deal these events were. Those who graduated from college before “65 tended to go the traditional route of getting “straight” jobs, getting married in their twenties, and settling down, while many from the class of ’68 and later were much less likely to immediately seek a career and start a family. Many pursued alternative life styles, becoming carpenters, instrument makers, musicians, concert promoters, community organizers, farmers, alternative manufacturers, perpetual travelers or just dropping out all together by joining a commune or religious cult or whatever. 

My wife Terry and I are on the cusp of the Baby Boomer Generation, one on each side (Dale’s birthday - Nov 30, 1944. Signing of Japanese Surrender Document - Sept 2, 1945. Terry’s birthday - Feb 2, 1946).

We fell solidly in the second group. We took drugs, let our hair grow and married in our mid thirties. After college I went into the Peace Corps, spent six months hitching around Europe, and became a musician and later part owner of a music store, continuing to play and teach. Terry kicked around for six years between college and law school, some of the time living in a communal house in Berkeley and traveling to Europe and Mexico for extended periods. Then she took up immigration law. 

Dale in the Peace Corps - 1968 and Terry (Center Front) with Roommates - Berkeley early '70s

Okay, I realize I’m oversimplifying, but I stand by my theory. I’ll also add that these differences seem much less important as you get older, and some of the older values like politeness, dressing nicely, and enjoying Broadway shows and Opera, have, hopefully, brought me somewhat into the “traditional” camp.

On the medical front, I’m back home in the middle of my second chemo go round. I’m feeling pretty peppy, probably due to the prednisone. The doctors are still not 100% sure what the issue is in my lungs, but the mysterious lung spots got smaller in between scans, so the chance of them being lymphoma are evidently VERY small now.

We had a very good discussion with a nutritionist who stressed taking in protein, calories and things that would slow digestion down like nut butters and pectin, and avoiding roughage including things you might not think of like bread crust and brown rice. I’m managing to continue to gain weight and and I’m now at 132 from a low of 119. “Fighting weight” = 155 to 160.

Count Your Blessings - Might as Well, They're All You've Got

I was whining to my wife a few days ago something like this - “I can only concentrate for about 30 minutes before I get a headache and have to lie down and close my eyes until it goes away.”

“Well,” she responded, “at least you can concentrate for awhile and you can get rid of the headache.”

Temporary Upstairs Dining Room

She’s right, of course. You really do have to take pleasure in what you can do, and appreciate the moment whenever you can. Agonizing over what you’ve lost, or do or do not have is a big waste of time. It’s always now and things are as they are.

I got to thinking about some of the great moments I’ve had over the last few days - getting locked into a tune streaming over my music system, watching the beautiful late afternoon / early evening light while lying on my lounger in the back yard, and having Judy curl up at my side and start purring.

In particular I remember a really nice dinner with Terry night before last. I was “stuck” upstairs with my pole and attached fluid bag. She set up a “table” in the alcove of our bedroom using tray tables inherited from her late mother Jane pushed together. We had a leisurely, “proper” dinner with cloth napkins etc. Dining like this has been an important tradition for us that has been thrown off since my treatments started, so this felt so calming and “right”.

Things are pretty good right now. Nearly ten extra days between treatments have me remembering what normal feels like and allowed me to gain five pounds.

Medical Update - (Techno-Babble Alert)

I learned more about my ileostomy yesterday when the surgeon explained that temporary ones like mine are several inches from the end of the small intestine to make reconnection easier. Those few inches mean I have less intestine and, therefore, time to get the nutrients from my food. Basically, I have to work harder than someone with a permanent one to keep on weight. All I can do is keep working at it, eating as much and as often as I can.

Today I got the skinny on the issue I have with my right lung. After numerous tests doctors tell me it’s “most likely” a fungal infection. The good news is that they have ruled out aspergillosis, which is very serious and common among people undergoing chemo. 

There is still a possibility it could be lymphoma, but, since the chemo has been so effective against my tumors, they don’t see how a new growth could appear.

To deal with the (hopefully) fungal infection, I’m starting a new med called voriconazole. If it works, then they’ll know they were right. The drug costs a fortune in co-pay, and warns of the possibility of hallucinations. That, actually, could be cool depending on what they are. I remember really enjoying the side effects of an anti-malaria medicine we took in the 1990s for a trip to India. 

The lung issue has put off my next chemo treatment until Wednesday, if the fungal theory is correct. I’m sort of bummed about it, though I am feeling a bit better as the days without chemo go by. Obviously, though, It puts off the completion date.

Things are continuing in our new routine. Neighbors and friends bring by some very good food, and our “staff” of volunteers continue to put in hours. I’m doing a lot of music listening with some guitar playing, blog writing, t.v. watching and reading thrown in. 

Listening to Music

Like most everyone, I’d guess, I can’t remember when I first started enjoying listening to music, but it could easily have been when my father, Dale Sr., would sing my late brother Mead and me to sleep with cowboy ballads and pop songs from his youth, like Carolina Moon or When it’s Round Up Time in Texas. He’d also sing working in the yard or driving us to school in our ’49 Ford Coupe.

Later, like most of my generation, I have really fond memories of those little record players that folded into a cube with a handle. They played only 45s and created an instant party plugged into the nearest outlet (with the parents hopefully somewhere else).

In the early 60s LPs became the big thing. By the mid 60s the LP was an art form in itself, with gorgeous packaging and intensely thought out programming of each side. The release of a new LP by the Beatles or Dylan became a major event, with listeners gathered around in awe - “Wow, did you hear that? ‘The Ghost of Electricity Howls in the Bones of her Face’! Heavy.”

(Late adolescence and early adulthood also ushered in going to live concerts, coffee houses and bars with live music. This got me wanting to play on stage, but that’s a whole other story. For now I’m going to to continue to concentrate on home listening.)

The CD revolution caught me by surprise. I should have guessed when Kicking Mule Records contacted me with a very special deal to buy out my inventory of LPs sometime in the 1980s. Before I knew it people were putting their LPs in the basement and going over to CDs. It was a shock for me, but I rolled with it, playing both LPs and CDs into the 1990s. 

I had mixed feelings about shuffling tracks. Artists (including myself) had agonized for hours over programming LPs, and now anyone could punch a button and rearrange the whole recording. However, I can relate to the power-to-the-consumer ideal. I began shuffling myself, and even contemplated buying a fancy player that could shuffle six CDs.

I didn’t buy a first generation iPod, but I got the second generation one (2002 or so) and jumped head first into that technology. Within a year I had transferred my CDs and joined iTunes and purchased new music that way. Eventually, some company offered a turntable that could plug into a USB port and transfer directly from LP to digital on the computer and from there to my iPod. Currently, I have over 12 days of music on this amazing device (now a IV Generation iPod Classic) doubled on the computer.

When I first got my iPod I carefully created categories that weren’t already on iTunes, like Flamenco, Opera, Solo Guitar and African. I’d choose one (Previously mentioned or Jazz, Rock, Experimental, Classical etc.) and listen on shuffle. Then, about four years ago, I made a mistake and started playing in the root position on shuffle. I’ve never gone back. Now, when I listen to my iPod or streaming from iTunes, I’m in the root position on shuffle. I never know what is coming next from my 12+ days of music. There are some jarring juxtapositions, but mostly it’s great. In my current situation, I’m listening to music intensely with eyes closed four or more hours a day. I don’t know what I’d do without it.

Many of my “sitters” leave with a “I should listen to more music” comment.

What I have on iTunes and my iPod  - Video posted since my last entry

Retail Therapy Complete - Extra Week

So we pulled the trigger on the Porsche upgrade. With some sadness and nostalgia we sold our 1978 911 SC and bought a 2009 Cayman. The decision making process is all covered in my previous post - "Retail Therapy".

Our New Car. Old Porsche Shown in First Picture.

In the meantime, something showed in up my lungs that has put off my chemo for a week. Dr. K is convinced it's not a lymphoma issue, but a fungal infection. I'll have tests on Tuesday to check it out. Good news is that I'm feeling pretty good with the extra non chemo days. 

There's a good chance I'll get some music videos up in the next few days. I'll post links.

Terry off to the Dog Park with Koz-B

Roommates

Thought I’d talk about the Comprehensive Cancer Center, where I spend most of every Monday and Thursday.

Dale at Caner Center - Note Terry in Mirror

Most treatment rooms there feature two beds with two visitor chairs (along with all the medical paraphernalia). This has the potential to be pretty funky, but we’ve had good luck. Most of the time we’ll strike up a conversation with the other patient / spouse-sibling-friend duo. We compare tales of woe and “war stories” about our medical situation, discuss family cancer history, chat about aspects of our beloved Berkeley (gardens, history, restaurants, bakeries, street characters, current state of repairs on Chez Panisse etc), and get into stories of others with similar medical problems, usually balanced between the negative and the positive. The nurses and doctors get involved and it often evolves into a reasonably pleasant morning or afternoon, with a portion of the participants happening to have tubes running from them into beeping machines. Patients are given a “bye” to fade into and out of paying attention and take a quick nap as needed.

It’s not an interaction I envisioned six months ago, but it’s a societal gathering that helps pass the time better than expected.

Things are going along. My spirits are not quite soaring, but they see the light at the end of the tunnel and enjoy what they can, as described in the first paragraph. Maintaining weight is a constant fight. I dipped down to 124, but it seems I’ve perhaps stabilized in the high 120s. If I can push into the high 130s, I’d be happy. I’ve been walking around the block okay, so hopefully my body is not “eating” muscle mass to keep going.

I’m still sleeping (or hanging in that in between state), reading, listening to music, playing guitar and watching sports. Same old new reality. 

The new car issue discussed in “Retail Therapy” will soon happen. Stay tuned.

Dreams

It’s really great to be home. I slept about ten solid hours last night, with the Ms by my side for eight of them. Both our pets were really glad to see me. Of course, one expects a good greeting from one’s doggie, but one never knows with a cat. Judy (our cat) actually jumped in my lap, sniffed my nose, and started purring. That’s pretty clear she was glad to see me, no? Very Rewarding!

I was dreaming all night and remember two dreams pretty well. 

In the first I was staying in the basement room at the house I grew up in on Reno Rd. in Washington D.C. I went out the door and up the funky back brick stairs. (You remember, Marta. Maybe you too, Allison and Dalton). I got to the top of the stairs to discover there was a huge party going on in the back yard, which was all of sudden a different and much larger and more ornate back yard. A big ugly bald guy walked by with no pants on carrying a young woman wearing a bridal gown (calling Dr. Freud). 

In the second dream I was at the workshop of guitar builder Harvey Leach (who built a custom guitar for me - see picture). I picked out a guitar I wanted called “The Omicron Special”. I don’t remember much about it. I think it might have looked a little like the Princess guitar John Fahey played (see “The Red Pony” video by Fahey on YouTube). Anyway I started writing out a check with the name of the guitar in the “payee” field. I realized I was screwing up and woke up. That’s why I remember the name of guitar so clearly. I have no idea where this name came from. I didn’t even know “omicron” was a Greek letter until I looked it up this morning.

I’m hanging in there, entering the alleged best five days of my cycle before starting my next round of chemo. I’ve learned the next batch will be a little weaker, which is good news. It will be chemo treatment four of six, so the 2/3 mark is next to check off.

Hospital and Bad News Turns to Good News

At my regular Monday appointment, which fell at the end of the down days of my cycle, I was found to have low blood pressure and a temperature. I was immediately sent to the hospital. Since I had anticipated a long day at the Cancer Center, I had my Kindle and iPod with headphones. That put me in pretty good stead. Terry was able to bring my iPad on Tuesday, loaded with a fresh movie.

The guitar was a different matter. Because Terry was physically limited by a biopsy (more on that in a few paragraphs), because bringing the guitar entails bringing a backless chair and guitar stand, and because my stay was open ended, we kept putting off bringing it. This became more and more frustrating as a transfusion and extra fluids had me feeling better and better. I hung in there.

I just finished playing a bit, though, and it wasn't disastrous. So I'll go from there.

In the meantime, Terry and I each got some bad news, that turned out okay.

First my story

I have a history of temporal mandibular joint pain. It's always there but is easily bearable. On Saturday it was suddenly extremely painful to chew at all. It was the familiar pain, but worse than it's ever been. I guess it was part of the general bone pain that one gets during chemo. I reported this to my oncologist and he called for an MRI, being the thorough guy that he is. The scan showed something in my nasal passage near the ear. He was talking about a biopsy, but wanted to bring in an ear, nose and throat doctor to rule out any type of infection. So, during the 12 hour period between getting this info and the visit by the ENT doc I was thinking I had some new and different cancer.

Well, the ENT doc said it was nothing. There was some techno-babble involved, but think it was something to do with not having enough mucus. In any event it's not a tumor and everything is cool.

In the meantime the extreme pain retreated and I was able to chew again a bit on Tuesday. Now the jaw is back to the normal easily bearable pain.

Now Terry's story 

A couple of weeks ago she got an MRI to check if she had more small tumors that weren't revealed in the original Ultrasound. There were. Tuesday she had them biopsied. Just after we got home today her oncologist called to say they were classified "pre-cancerous" and were "no big deal". She added that a mastectomy is now off the table, and there is "no rush" to do anything.