A struggle but hanging in there

It has been some time since my last update, but I haven't been feeling that great. I have been feeling rather weak and fatigued lately but as other cancer champions can attest to, it comes with the territory. However, about ten days ago I received a copy of the Navy Temporary Disabled Retirement List (TDRL) reevaluation report from my San Diego trip. Nothing much surprising to me except that the blood lab report indicated my white cell counts were elevated, as were my neutriphils (the part of the white blood cells that fight infections). So my primary care doctor at the Air Force Academy ordered more labs and my white counts are still high. He also ordered another pulmonary function test (PFT), a CT Scan with contrast and some other lab tests. The PFT results are the same as the last test and my lungs looked fine in the CT scan. But the scan did find an abnormality of air entrapment in the intestinal walls. The docs are not sure exactly what has caused this but they believe I most likely have an intestinal infection and now have me on anti-biotics for two weeks. The side affects of that treatment have been stomach aches, head aches and diarrhea. I was in bed for the first two or three days but am feeling better now.

Meanwhile, my youngest son is home with flu-like symptoms and there is at least one case of a classmate who has the swine flu. So today my doctor started me on another medication as a precaution. Because of my immunosuppression and lung problems, the swine flu is currently my worst enemy. Before long I might find myself in a plastic bubble. Remember the movie, "The Boy In The Plastic Bubble" with John Travolta? That was in 1976; just a few years ago.

Another medication adjustment is that I am now on a prednisone dose of 20mg every other day; so effectively cutting my dose in half. Hopefully, this will help me to feel better than I have been. I am also attending pulmonary rehabilitation three times a week, which should help me get stronger. It is similar to the other rehab I was doing but lighter workouts and fully monitored during the session with EKG, pulsometer and blood pressure checks.

Other appointments I am waiting for include a sleep study this coming Sunday night, a pain management consultation, and some dental work if Fred Hutchinson approves it. The dental work includes two new fillings and a root canal where old fillings have crumbled to dust. I will also be seeing a new oncologist who I expect will order another PCR test to ensure I am still in that safe place called remission (especially in light of the increased white counts). I'm not too worried about that because the white counts are not very much over the upper limit of normal. Still, there is nothing like a good PCR test result to confirm.

That's about it. I am continuing working on my grad work and enjoying it this term because the topic is Network Security.

Thanks again for all your support and best wishes. My wife and I appreciate it. My poor wife is running herself into the ground because of my limitations. She is a real trooper and I am so lucky to have her by my side. I love you honey and happy anniversary (our 23rd).