Playing Catch up again

When I saw my primary doctor to discuss the high heart rate and the disappointing response from from the stool sample, she made two changes: she doubled my beta blocker for the heart rate and put me on an intense 14 day drug regime to hopefully get rid of that horrible infection in my intestines. I still have a week to go on the infection drug and another week after that before I can test the stool sample.

It's with a big smile on my face that I say the high heart rate is finally down below 100 so we've progress on that. It's so nice NOT to feel like I'm constantly running a race. It also tired me out.

I called my Pulmonary specialist because both my home nurse and my primary doctor found a place by my right lower lung that was suspect and the first thing I had to do was a chest X-ray for the doctor to examine. She called me the next day to say I had to make an immediate appointment at the hospital for an urgent fluid drainage on the left lung area. I may have told you last time they drained my (right) lung area it wasn't at all painful. This time it was just the opposite. They took a liter off and it was very painful. At one point they suspected that the lung was collapsing on the bottom so I had to stay at the hospital for hours in case they had to do surgery. They X-rayed and had it read by a the radiation doctor each time. Finally hours later and 2 more X-rays the hospital released me.

I've been feeling a little better every day since coming home. The drug for the intestine infection does take the edge off my appetite but I try to clean my plate knowing that it does me more good.

Dennis is coming for Easter weekend and we're looking forward to that. He'll be surprised by the heat since he was here last. It does seem like it came early this year. Whatever the heat we'll have a great time while he's here.

Some News

I called my primary doctor to get the results of the stool specimen and received some disappointing news. I still have the infection. I have an appointment to see her in a couple of days so she'll discuss the best treatment then. I also have to talk with her about my high heart rate which has been 110 for the last 4 weeks. Gary will be going to my appointment with me and will take notes so we'll know what was discussed.

I also received a call from the trial doctor's office and they're wondering if I'm interested in getting in the cancer drug trial that he discussed with me on my last visit. I told them the sad news about the infection and also the heart rate and said I would discuss if it was a good idea to start the trial with my primary doctor and call them back.

I do worry about my lung cancer not being in any kind of treatment but at the same time I can't see how I can handle any side effects.

Hope the news gets better when I post again.

April 1 post

Lately the posting on the blog has been negative news which I hope will soon change. The latest thing is that I caught that flu that keeps you running to the bathroom from both sides with horrible cramps which I was treated to during the night. I feel a little better each day but now I'm contagious and had to cancel some lunch plans that I was looking forward to. I planned to make more lunch plans before this latest ailment hit but didn't have a chance once it did.

For the last three weeks my heart rate has stayed at 110 even on the medication so I have an appointment with my primary doctor to look into changing the dosage or something. With my heart rate that high I feel like I'm running all day long and it wears me out.

We need to get all these things healed so I can look into a lung cancer treatment. I haven't been in treatment since I entered the hospital for the pneumonia in January and it's April already. I wish the cancer just got bored from lack of attention and just left. Now that's something to pray for.

Thanks to all for all the cards that still cheer me up every day. Let's hope I'll soon be able to see you all in person.