Memorial Day

Take a minute today and give thanks for all the men and women who have put their lives on the line in service to our country. It doesn't matter what your politics are, we live in a  world where military readiness is a necessity.


Here's another contribution to the "new normal".

Send me East

Send me east in the morning

Let me face that rising sun

Send me east as to wedding feast

Though there’s fighting to be done

Let me rise up with glory

And find my way to you

Make me ham and eggs and coffee

Like the way you used to do

Then send me on my merry way

Giving kiss and hug goodbye

Knowing it’s you I’m thinking of

As off to war I fly

Send me east in the morning

To lands of death and shame

Where cultures clash and warriors dash

And IEDs kill and maim

Send me east in the morning

And tell me that it’s true

That being here is meaningful

It counts; this thing I do

Then send me west in evening

Back to family, home and wife

And tell me that the things I’ve done

Helped to make a better life

That's it from here,

RT

Good News

I realize I haven't been very good at keeping up with this blog. The last time I posted was in February. 

Things have gone pretty smooth since then. We got our RV sold a couple of weeks ago. That takes a big load off my mind and it saves us a $120 a month for storage and insurance costs.

I am entering cycle 4 of the clinical trial this week. It started yesterday. Monday I had blood work and a CT scan done at Mayo Scottsdale and we got the results yesterday with a visit to the oncologist at Mayo Phoenix before my Chemo.

This is the really good news. My tumor markers are down by 50% and the largest tumor is reduced by 20%. It looks like the treatment is working. 

Vicki was more relieved by this than me. She was nervous all day till we got the test results. I feel better than I have in some time, though I still need to gain some weight.

So that's the latest from here.

Hang in there.

RT

Another Clinical Trial

So I started another clinical trial last Wednesday. This one includes infusion therapy on day one of the cycle with pills twice a day for 14 days. I get the last week of 21 day cycle to rest. 

The infusion on day 1 is two different drugs, one of which may be a placebo. You don't get to know since it is a blind study. I have already had the pills and one of the infusion drugs in previous treatments. So I kinda know what to expect.

In addition to starting the new clinical trial last Wednesday I had another thoracentesis. Because of the pocketing of the fluid in my lung they were only able to draw 250  ML of fluid, so the shortness of breath continues. My pulse rate is still elevated between 97 and 107. This one concerns me.

That's it for now.

Here's this week's contribution to my "New Normal".

Biker’s Valentine Card

Get this straight you lovely bitch

I’m not with you cause you’re rich

I like your smile, your skin, your touch

You’ve got edge, but not too much

You make me hot, don’t leave me cold

You’re funny; you’re smart and even bold

So if it’s not out of the question or just uncool

Would you be the Valentine of this fool?

Wednesday's Appointments

So.... I met with my oncologist and my pulmonary doctor on Wednesday. My first appointment was with the oncologist. He suggested 3 options including stopping treatment altogether. I chose another clinical trial. I just wanted to get my lung issued taken care of first. We left if like that till I met with pulmonary doctor at my next appointment.

The pulmonary doc was great, but I got a not so good surprise. After x-rays and some other tests it was determined that my Pleurex catheter was clogged and I still had fluid in my lungs causing shortness of breath. They managed to get me scheduled the same day for removing the catheter (which I really wanted out). I had been draining every 4 days and getting nothing, so it had to go.

The procedure to remove the catheter is done without anesthetic, just topical numbing like at the dentist office. It is a little freaky because they literally yank the thing out of you, no kidding. It doesn't really hurt, but when that thing comes flying out of you it's a little troubling.

All went well and we were home by 4 PM. We started at 9 AM so it was a long tiring day at the hospital. I am always impressed with the way Mayo operates. The doctor went out of his way and rescheduled his day to accommodate me and get it done in one trip. I am very appreciative of that and told him so.

I did tease him a little bit though, referring to myself as his patient zero since he had been dealing with me since 9:40 in the morning and we were just getting out of the operating room at 3. That's a long time for a doctor to spend with one patient.

The bad news in all this is that I still have fluid compressing my lung. We'll see what happens next. In the meantime I should start on the clinical trial in the next week or two.

That's it for now.

Here's this weeks contribution to my "New Normal".

Explanations

Explain to me again why you’re leaving 

she asked with a curious sigh

I can be happy with only you

If that’s what it takes to get by

No, my own desires and faithlessness

match your whims for sexual play

I can’t keep up with the roster

of who’s on who today

It’s nice that they find you attractive

and experienced and oh so sly

If ever your talent for business wanes

as a courtesan you’d get by

And I the trailer park gigolo

hoping from bed to bed

a sad little cheating jerk of a man

lucky now not to be dead

We sated our passion time and again

experimented with oils and scents

came together like snakes and wolves

then slunk out the back through the fence

I wanted romance and mad passion too

yet it turned out so cheap in the end

without some trust and kindness there

it’s not in the cards to be friends

We’re left just with scars and bruises

both on our bodies and minds

nothing explains how we got this way

I didn’t pick up on the signs

So yea, I guess I’m leaving

Better gone than standing here

with the shame of disappointment

betrayal, lies and fear

The New Year is getting interesting

I haven't posted in a couple of weeks due to laziness. During this period I had an appointment with the VA to review my compensation for Agent Orange. What will come of that I don't know.

My participation in a research study for Veterans with terminal cancer continued. My nurse came out to the house twice and we finished sections 3 and 4 of the 7 part program. It is helping. The whole purpose of the study is to help me find meaning in my life in its final stage.

My next appointments at Mayo are with the pulmonary department to see if I can get the Pleurex Catheter removed and with my Oncologist to determine my next course of treatment. According to what comes out of these appointments I will know more of what comes next.

In the meantime the new Medicare RX plan I signed up for has denied my pain killer medication. It seems you just can't win with Medicare Drug plans.

That's it for now.

Here's this weeks' contribution to the "New Normal".

Every Now & Then

Every now and then a feeling comes my way

That takes me back to a place & time

I would have loved to stay

Romantic were those days

my spirit always hot

and I in search of love and life

confounded by others not

Oh lovely Fredericksburg 

In winter clear and cold

The “Natural Child” that coffee shop

Where Hippies go we’re told

And Katherine and Linda 

And Christian and Arlene

My heart was broke a hundred times

And healed and then made clean

By Folk songs sung by friends of mine

About the world we knew

And war and change and love of course

Though our experiences were few

Midnight walks through college grounds

ignoring the winter chill

a sly embrace at dorm room’s door

Enjoying the forbidden thrill

A ride through town in VW Bus

named with humor Thor

bubbles streaming out the windows

of the bus’s door

brightly patched bell bottoms

nestling on sweet hips

Embroidered shirts of Chambray 

Unlipsticked and unglossed lips

The smell of patchouli and clean young bodies 

smiles winsome and willing without guile

a toke and a bit of Hendrix

An adventure for a while

The year was nineteen-seventy-one

When boys turned into men

I miss the feeling of that time

Every now and then

Hang in there, 

RT

31

Today is our 31st Anniversary. It doesn't seem like it has been that long. We will celebrate with a catered (sort of) dinner from Olive Garden tonight. It's one of the few food choices that I believe I can eat. My nausea and lack of appetite keep me from enjoying foods I would otherwise love.

We both noted that the time has seemed to fly by. We looked back at our time together in our 30s, 40s, and 50s and wondered where it all went. The special thing about this anniversary is that we both know we love each other more now than ever. It would be impossible to stay together otherwise. 

Vicki has been taking excellent care of me even when she is feeling under the weather. It has been a struggle for her. We are hoping she will get some relief next month from the pain in her legs. She is scheduled or will be scheduled for vein surgery. I am hopeful that it helps.

I am draining my right lung every 4th day now. That is a 3 day interval. I'm not getting much fluid which gives me hope that they will remove the pluerex catheter as soon as the end of January. We just have to wait and see what they say when I go back to the Mayo Clinic on the 17th.

My Grandson Caleb visited me today. He brought me cookies my  oldest daughter Bridgette had made me. It was nice to talk to him and find out how things are going with him and his brother. It turns out that he was really messed up when he broke up with his first love. They had been together for several years and he took the breakup very hard. I hope he can get himself back together. I believe he is trying.

I am doing my best to eat and gain weight back. I am down to 151 which is too low for my size. Ergo cookies and Ice Cream whenever I feel like it. My breathing is coming easier as well. I am able to walk to the mailbox and back without running out of breath. I will start walking as soon as I can.

I am off the clinical trial for Stivarga and won't know what we will do to combat my cancer till my appointment at Mayo on the 17th of January.  Right now my focus is on getting my lungs in shape and getting rid of this catheter.

That's it for now.

Here's this weeks' contribution to the "New Normal"    

Unintentional

Rain drips, soggy trees bend in wind

the skylight sounds like a snare drum

when the storm throws its fury down

in long lashing streams of liquid bullets

ricocheting off the house and landing harmlessly

on lawn and flower bed and shrub

a small river runs down the middle of our street

washing from side to side and then finding its course

the low spots of the tarmac are instant riverbed

detritus, leaves and other debris float by

like tiny barges set out for market 

only to run aground just past the pothole

Winter’s waning with this storm

the moisture stays after the fury is gone

bringing succor to bulbs and living roots

giving hope to new life and friendlier days

Though the Storms outcome 

is surely unintentional

Hang in there,

RT

Better Late than Never

It has been a couple of weeks since I posted. There is a good reason for that.

After my first visit to the ER at Mayo I've been back in the hospital (Mayo) for a four day stint. During this period they installed a Pleurex Catheter in my right side. This allows me to drain the fluid buildup at home instead of going in to the hospital. It is not that comfortable, but doable with a little help from pain killers.

In addition, one of the doctors on the Palliative Care team recommended I stop taking the Stivarga as well as the Semvastatin I've been taking for years. He researched my file and could not find any evidence that the Stivarga was doing me any good. The Semvastatin has been shown to cause muscle weakness when taken for long periods. I am hoping to see my energy and stamina increase.

There was a complete screw up with getting the Pleurex Bottles and Sterile kits which caused Vicki to have to make 5 separate trips up to Mayo to get bottles and kits so I could drain at home. The case of bottles just arrived yesterday.

At first I was draining every day and getting a full liter of fluid. That went on for four days. The fifth day of draining only got 800 ML of fluid and I had extreme pain in my back and shoulder. I called Mayo and they recommended I come in to the ER again. We decided that I would just go to Chandler regional and get an X-Ray. The X-Ray showed the catheter was in place properly and they released me to got home. I waited a day to drain and got 500 ML of fluid.

I skipped a day again and then got 300 ML of fluid. After two days I drained again and got just 50 ML. I reached out to Mayo and they had me come in for another X-Ray. That was yesterday. The X-Ray was good and they put me on a 3 day drainage schedule. So I won't drain again till Sunday. If the fluid output remains small they will pull the catheter in a few weeks. That's the best news I could have gotten.

While at Mayo yesterday I had my first session with a Veterans with Cancer project that is set up to help Veterans with terminal illness. It was very interesting.

I will continue with the project if possible.

So that's why there have been no posts till now.

Here's this weeks contribution to the "New Normal"

Time Was (a singular conversation)

“Time was when we were relevant

movers and shakers were we”

Some can still shake it a little

Others think they have the moves

Now I don’t mean to belittle

but this crowd has lost its grooves

“Time moves on it’s the true Mover and Shaker

No holding it back or slowing it down”

I concede time’s the action taker

Nothing stops it coming around

So maybe we can’t shake our money maker

The way we did with the 60s sound

“Still we feel inside like we did back then

Though our exteriors have changed their shape”

Don’t blame us for feeling lost at times

We’ve forgotten more than you think

We’ve listened to many decades’ chimes

and many ice cubes clink

“We’re on second and third and 4^th Careers

We’ve retired and come back again”

Many have found new spheres

Of influence and endeavor

So be wary my little dears

Though old we’re still quite clever

 

That's it from here.

Hang in there,

RT