Hi all.
Many people have asked for an update on my status. I wish I had better news but such is the battle I must fight.
Starting about mid-October, I started getting lots of bile reflux. At first, the doctor’s believed it wasn’t an issue but as it got worse, I started having other issues as well.
I eventually ended up in Mercy Gilbert Hospital with severe kidney pain likely due to
dehydration. After a not good period in the hospital in Gilbert, I was transported to Tucson and back to UMC. After one CT scan, my UMC doctor decided that the cancer had clearly returned. If you wantto hear about the MGH 2 week saga you can drop me a line. Anyway, I was at UMC for a week before they sent me home.
It is nice to be home but I am not able to eat so I am on IV TPN and still getting sick every few hours. In addition, last week, I restarted chemo to see what happens. The hurry up and wait and see is excruciating, but what all cancer patients must experience. They plan to do 2-3 more rounds of chemo and then rescan. At that point we will decide what to do.
As everyone knows, patience is a virtue I lack, so this is definitely hard. Being home is definitely the happiest place I can be. Paul and Anna drive me nuts, but that’s just my energy level. Heather has been amazing and I can only say I love her as she has provided so much support.
To those who have written or stopped by, I say thank you and I’m sorry if my mood swings are legendary. I would not wish this internal mental and physical battle on my worst enemy. My energy level varies from minute to minute.
I also want to thank my co-workers who have provided me with work to help distract me from the abyss that this can be. Definitely, the #1 thing I find is an unchallenged mind results in fatigue, doubt, and depression.
Thanks and best wishes to everyone,
Richard
