Glad That's The Hell Over

(Thanks to all of you who sent me supportive messages this week. I will answer them all individually, but just not been much up to it today. I hope you understand.)--DCF

To me, the funniest thing about being in the hospital is folks who come by and say something like: Enjoy it and get some rest. That's akin to saying to Joan d'Arc: Hope the fire gets you warm. One visitor said it must be nice to have access to Percoset, then you can lay around all day stoned. Ha! You take the Percoset to try and forget where the hell you are...that doesn't work.

I was in the human repair lab for two reasons: First, a new tumor (they think) was found in my vena cava after last week's CT. Seemed every doctor in that hospital was scratching his head over that one. It was all very exciting I guess as the parade of scrubs and stethoscopes coming through did not stop from the time I got there until I left. And since I was there anyway, they did a follow up endoscopy (clean as a whistle, thank you), both a cranial and abdomen MRI, not to mention taking some action photos of the heart (so very comforting to see you heart in action).

As for the swollen members of my precious body, they drew some fluid from the abdomen and then connected me to a bunch of IV's to download albumin (some kind of moisture killing drug) and other fluids. So I says to the doc, I says, "Doc, seems stupid to try to get fluids out by putting fluids in." He told me that it does seem stupid, but it works. I did lose some nine pounds but my bet that is from not eating the crappy hospital food (you  ever heard of brown gravy on ham? That bad.) One look at that stuff and you toss your first meal. I mean the very first, like when you were at your mother's bosom (that brings up another interesting study. The "bosom" is actually a woman's chest, not her breasts. Back in the more delicate days references to breasts were kind of off-putting.).

As for the patient, he doesn't know what to think of all this. Since he was all swole up, the news of the new tumor went over his head like 767. And I do mean swole. But today I am much less the swollen man, especially in my thighs and scrotum. And what a blessing. Last thing a man needs is a fifteen minute search for his fluid dispenser, sometimes wondering if it just got stolen. Talk about fates worse than cancer. This morning that was not an issue. Things heading north for sure.

The "new" tumor might have been there for a while. What surprised everybody was that most vena cava tumors present themselves at diagnosis and since this one is hiding behind the liver it was only by coincidence they found  it this time. The plan, man, is Torisel. Begin after the first of the year. As I said, they believe Sutent has simply run its course. We shall see.

One fun thing about Percoset. Try writing a blog or memo while you are on it. Whoo-wee, far out man and all that old hippie stuff. For every letter you strike correctly the next you don't, which is why the entries last week were so short. Several of you have already commented on the fact that I seemed a little loopy. You got that right.

Finally heading for deer camp, if for no other reason than to have lunch with the guys. I understand they have taken a few nice deer and have saved some Jim Bean for me. I'm bringing my own farts.

More come the morrow.

Comments

[Mary]

OMG David only you could write a blog like this. I am still laughing. I am glad things all worked out and you are home again. If you think it is funny being in the hosp try working in one. It gets even funnier on the other side. Glad you are back. Hope you enjoy your day at deer camp. Talk to you soon.