a blog kept from November 2003 to May 2006 · 68 posts · 45 comments
“this blog will serve as a place for me to document my thoughts and feelings as i deal with bone cancer…”
In 2003 Shaggy was diagnosed with osteosarcoma in his left knee. This is the blog he kept through chemotherapy, limb-salvage surgery, recovery and the all-clear, and the posts that came after. It is preserved here word for word, with every comment, from the original files on his old web server.
well, i guess i should start by catching up on what has happened so far. it has been about a week and a half since my first chemo treatment. i spent one night in the hospital and had two treatments of two different chemo drugs. when i came home from the hospital the hell began. the nausea and vomiting began to set in while i had no energy what-so-ever. my taste buds and sense of smell were all but destroyed along with my healthy appetite. the thought of eating was sickening. i found that i could only force feed myself a few things like diced peaches, applesauce, and some chicken noodle soup. after a few days my energy level started to rise and the sea-sick feelings gradually faded. by the end of week-one i was missing work and my friends pretty bad. the start of week-two brought more vomiting. just when i thought it was over... it makes a fierce comeback. i was determined to go to work, only if just for a few hours. i made it in for a few days and on wednesday i felt great. my appetite was back with a vengeance. after a week of drinking most of my food, i went overboard and ate too much spicy food. my stomach blew up from the garbage i fed it. thursday i was miserable. the home health nurse came to draw blood and test my white blood cell count. they told me that 10 days after my chemo treatment my count would be at its lowest. she called me later that day to confirm this and order me to stay confined to the house until at least monday! she said i was a sitting duck to sickness right now and i need to stay as far away from any germs as i can. i feel like i am under house arrest. the walls of my house slowly closing in....
i have had a decent day today. i have just been taking it easy cleaning out old email, watching tv, playing xbox, and working on my website. my appetite is not very active, but my energy level is not at an all-time low. i really felt like i could have gone to work today, but the nurse called again to check on me and said that i just can't afford to get out and risk exposure to germs. i feel like wearing a bio-suit and gas mask. at this point i would do that if the doctors told me it would make a big difference. i am at their mercy right now. speaking of doctors; i got a statement from the insurance company today stating that they did not intend to pay for the port-a-cath that i had put into a vein in my chest for chemo delivery. they claim it is not medically necessary. as far as i am concerned i really wasn't given any other options. all of the doctors i spoke with said it was by far the best method for chemo delivery. looks like i will be appealing this $1200 charge. i am not going to stress about something this small. i am beginning to feel a little hungry. i think i'll stop writing this blog for today and go try to round up some dinner.
posted by Shaggy @ 7:20 PM
well, another day in that bag and one closer to my next chemo treatment. it is like the countdown to doomsday. i try hard to not think about the next trip to the hospital but it is impossible. today was as unproductive as any. i slept most of the day while my wife and in-laws put the xmas decorations up. i felt really bad for not helping, but i just plain out didn't have the energy.
i did have a little drama earlier in the day. my dad stopped by to take a look at my broken ice maker. we had thought that maybe the water line that we had installed was stopped up or something. he went into the cellar to unscrew it and the threads stripped out on the connector. water was spewing everywhere. i hear his call for help and go into the cellar to find the water shutoff valve. we searched and could not find one. i ran out to the front of the house and opened up the water meter. we had to shut the water main to the house off while he ran to home depot to get a replacement part. upon more brainstorming we realized that the pipe could not have been stopped up because we were able to get drinking water out of the refrigerator dispenser. all of that mess would have been avoided if we had just given the problem more thought. we ended up calling sears repair to come fix it.
posted by Shaggy @ 7:31 PM
i feel like all i do is sleep. i wish i could just sleep for about 6 months and not wake up. i woke up about 5 a.m. this morning with a pounding headache. i grabbed a pain pill and went back to sleep. when i got up about 9:30 the headache was on its way back. time for more pain pills. they just don't seem to help much anymore.
my appetite is pretty pathetic today. i'm not hungry and nothing sounds good. i ate pretty well yesterday but suffered with heart burn because of it. i feel like i am screwed no matter that i do.
the home health nurse came this morning to draw blood. she is taking it to the lab to test my blood count. i am still under orders to stay in the house until the count rises. i should know something by 3 p.m. today. it is always a waiting game with them. i was hoping to go to work today even with the headache. i feel so unproductive, like i am losing my mind to laziness and the tv. i barely feel like writing this blog. it just adds to my headache. i think i'll sleep some more. sleep is my friend...
posted by Shaggy @ 12:57 PM
yesterday was a good day. i was able to go to work and feel somewhat normal. it was good to actually talk to some different people on the phone and help out with their tech problems. last night i started having problems breathing. my chest and back between my shoulder blades hurts when i inhale deeply. i am not sure what is going on. i think it may be related in some way to the all day headache i had on monday. pain pills help relieve the pain but not the tightness. megan thinks i may just need a massage, but i think i may have some kind of infection. i called the nurse this morning, but got their stupid answering machine. been waiting almost an hour. if i don't get a call back soon i think i may just drive over to the clinic and ask to see the doctor. this is starting to get really uncomfortable, but not at an emergency stage yet.
posted by Shaggy @ 9:39 AM
after 3 hours i finally got a call from the nurse. they wanted me to come in and have a chest x-ray. the nurse told me to go to the clinic, so we headed over there. of course that was the wrong place. i needed to be in the hospital. we trekked across the street to the hospital and went through the normal registration and wait process. they took the x-rays and had me hand deliver them to the doctor i was supposed to see. all of my primary doctors and nurses were on vacation. their office was almost empty. i don't understand what took them so long to call me back. i go back to see the doctor and they take all of my vitals. i had a slight fever. the doctor i saw said he was an assistant to my main doc, but he seemed quite incompetent. after a few minutes of examining me he leaves the room and says, "let me go see what we are going to do with you." that sure is real comforting. i hear him consulting another doctor about my x-ray and i think he called my primary doctor to ask for advice. it really makes me feel like it was just a wasted visit to go over there. he gave me an antibiotic to prevent the onset of pneumonia or the like. he also wrote me a prescription for 2 therapeutic massages. i have so much tension in my back and neck, i think that may be part of the problem. it is tender to the touch. i am going to get a massage shortly and just popped an antibiotic. i just need to relax...
posted by Shaggy @ 3:35 PM
well, i didn't post yesterday. thanksgiving came and went. the food was good and i was able to eat. i don't feel like much of anything today. nasal passages stopped up and lungs still hurt with the occasional cough. my hair has started coming out as i knew it would. its not really a big deal. i don't have much more to say. these days all i really feel like is being alone or with megan. i don't feel like talking to anyone on the phone or in person for that matter. i will admit that the depression may be setting in as the next chemo treatment grows closer. i refuse to take any mood altering uppers as i have seen how they change people. the last thing i want to do is babble my head off or have a fake personality. i cope with stress and anxiety in my own way. it may not be the most healthy way, but it is my way.
the cards keeping coming in the mail daily and i really appreciate the thoughts and prayers. i get cards from people i do not even know, whole churches, and weekly ones from the same crazy old neighbors; all of which really care about me. i often find it hard to believe....
oh a couple more things i'd like to add. there are some things that you should not ask or think about me:
1. "how are you doing/feeling today?" - my response is not going to be real and i don't want to lie or explain my feelings to anyone right now. i don't expect this to change anytime soon. it is kind of like being asked by your parents at the dinner table, "what did you do today?" the favorite response is "nothing."
2. "when do you go back for your next treatment?" - don't remind me. just don't go there. period.
3. don't look at me as a "charity case." i know you all are concerned and want to help out. i truly appreciate the offers to help me in any way. you don't have to stop asking or quit doing things for me. i really will ask you if i desperately need something. i have always believed that small, random, unexpected acts of kindness make the most difference...
well, i guess i am going to step away from this computer and get back to what i do best... popping pills and rotting away in front of the television. i must say this venting has helped... a little...
posted by Shaggy @ 8:29 PM
i spent the night in the hospital getting some chemo. it looks like i will have to stay one more night and take IV fluids to flush my kidneys. this chemo is highly toxic to my kidneys. luckily i have not had the nausea that i had before. they are trying some new anti-nausea medicine on me this time. this medicine also treats anxiety and stimulates appetite. the medicine is also use to treat schizophrenia, so i am taking care of my insanity at the same time. hahaha. i just took it about an hour ago and i am trying to gauge how it has affected me. i feel more calm and relaxed. i also feel less likely to be sick. the crazy meds must be workin. guess we'll see...
the main problem with hospitals is how boring they are. the tv is the only thing to take your mind off things. that gets old, fast. especially the daytime tv lineup. all of the shows are aimed at stay at home moms and their toddler children. gimme a break... having my laptop here helps out a little. it adds to the the distraction. i have to admit that his room is much better than last time. it is much larger and has an attached private lounge/waiting room. you could pack a party of about 25 in here if the liquor was flowing. speaking of liquor, the craving for a bottle of beer or a jack and coke has hit the roof. it has been over a month since i have had a drink of alcohol. if i get feeling better in the next few days, i may just have to sneak a small drink.
enough for now folks. have fun at your daily grind. sadly i miss mine with a passion. i miss the repetative normalcy that i am so used to. i miss talking to the 1 out of 10 people that just has no clue and never will....
posted by Shaggy @ 11:33 AM
i made it home today after a luxurious 3 day, 2 night stay at UK hospital. i have to say that it is good to be home! the meds seem to be working pretty good. my nausea is pretty well contained. i have to take these special pills every 6 hours to counteract the poisonous chemo. these pills protect my kidneys.
right now i am fairly hungry but i have no idea what i'd like to eat. i woke up at like 5 am this morning craving frosted flakes. my dad went to the cafeteria and got me 2 of those prepackaged bowls and a danish. i ate both bowls and half of the danish. damn it feels good to eat like a hog!
not much else is going on. i am just taking it easy as usual and watching tv.
posted by Shaggy @ 6:01 PM
last night was a night of tossing and turning. i had to set my alarm clock so i would remember to take my pills every 6 hours. then we got a call around 8 a.m. from megan's dad. her grandmother had passed away in her sleep last night. it feels like someone is playing evil tricks on us. just as i am starting to feel a little better, this happens. i can't help from screaming, WHY??? why is this happening to us at this time? no answers come. there is no explanation. her granny was such a kind, loving, unselfish woman. she would always say how much she loved me just like a grandson. the last time i saw her she told me how she wished that she could take these chemo treatments for me. i know she is in a much better place than this cruel world and she will truly be missed!
posted by Shaggy @ 11:32 AM
well, what can i say about today... i went to UK this morning to get some blood work done. they said all is good with my blood levels. i forgot to take my anti-nausea pill this morning so by lunch time i felt crappy. about an hour after i took the pill, my appetite picked up and i felt quite a bit better.
on another note, i got bored earlier and started picking out components to build a new computer. we have been using the same desktop pc for about 3-4 years and it just isn't cutting it anymore. i use a sony vaio laptop to couch surf most of the time, but megan uses the desktop for auto-cad and photoshop. it is an old P3 500 mhz. i have been reasearching components that i like for a couple weeks now. after reading tons of reviews, i decided to bite the bullet and order the stuff. i think i got a pretty good deal on everything. building a new pc will give me something to do in the coming weeks and allow me to play multi-player games online with some friends.
next week i will probably try to get as much of my xmas shopping done as possible. i need to get things ordered so they will have plenty of time to get shipped here. i plan on doing about 95% of my shopping online. it is much easier to compare prices and you don't have to get out in crowded stores.
snow is in the forcast for tonight and tomorrow morning. i hope we get an inch or two. my philosophy about winter is if it has to be cold, it might as well snow. snow seems to make things more interesting.
posted by Shaggy @ 6:23 PM
today was a lazy day. not much going on. we sat around until about 4pm. finally got a shower and dressed and went out to carabba's to eat. i saw an old friend that i had not seen in a while. he was pretty shocked to find out what i was dealing with. kind of funny but, his brother was actually the person that suggested that i start this blog. anyway, dinner was good and i filled up quick. i just can't get over how small my stomach has gotten.
tomorrow is going to be a sad day. visitation for megan's granny flossie will be pretty much all day. it is still hard to believe she is gone. those summer cookouts and church activities will not be the same without her. i just try to remember the good times and stress that to megan when she gets down. i hope i wake up strong in the morning and able to support megan and her family throughout the day. i don't want attention directed toward me. i still have to be prepared to answer the daunting "how are you?" all day. i hate that so much.... i want that attention on granny flossie's life and all of the great things she did.
posted by Shaggy @ 7:46 PM
i have neglected to post for several days. i wrote a post while i was in the hospital, but my computer locked up and i lost it. i just didn't have the energy to re-write it. it wasn't very good anyway.
i feel worthless. i am always tired and weak. i don't feel like doing anything. taking a shower is enough to wear me out. i just want this whole thing to be over soon. good news is that i am halfway through this round of chemo. i have had 3 of the 6 treatments before surgery. i just have to keep hanging in there and knock them out. i think the worst part about being in the hospital is being tethered to that IV pump machine. i have to get someone to help me when i want to go anywhere. when you have to urinate about every hour that is no good.
i have so many things to keep track of. between the pills i have to take, shot i have to give myself, doctor appointments, and next trip to the hospital. i think i am going to start keeping a calendar on my pc to manage all of this stuff.
posted by Shaggy @ 11:15 AM
well, it has been a few days since my last post. i am getting lazy and slacking off. today i was scheduled to get my 4th round of chemo. the doctor took one look at the sores in my mouth and said no chemo for you today. i don't know whether to be glad or upset. i was ready to get it overwith but i was also dreading it. i called the doctor back to find out when i need to come back for chemo and they said thursday morning. i also have to continue to take some pills every six hours to rid my body of the chemo.
today has been as unproductive as usual. i have had a decent appetite, but eating is like torture. huge pieces of skin are peeling out of the inside of my mouth. i ate pizza yesterday and had to fight to hold back tears it hurt so bad.
on a more positive note, i have a lot of my xmas shopping done. thanks to the internet. i didn't set foot in a single store with the purpose of buying a gift. my sister tracy stopped by and helped me wrap megan's gifts. she is going to pick up a few stocking stuffers for me tomorrow. i may try to go into work tomorrow for a few hours. i will have to check and see how many people are sick and check my energy level.
posted by Shaggy @ 7:02 PM
well, it seems like a lot has changed since the last post. i had my fourth chemo treatment and spent a night in the hospital. this type of chemo was the same as my first treatment. it is really strong and makes me sick. it seems like i am on edge all of the time and i just throw up randomly. i hate it. while i was in the hospital i had a small fever one night. my doctor immediately jumped to conclusions that i could have an infection and has put me on an antibiotic that have to be given through an IV. we had home health come out and show us how to do it. since i have a port-a-cath it is fairly easy to do twice a day for 2 hours at a time for 10 days. we just hook it up and let it run. i really don't think i have any infection. i think she jumped to conclusions and now i have to deal with this IV for 10 days on top of everything else. i just can't seem to get a break. my appetite has been zapped again. nothing sounds good to eat and i don't feel hungry. i hope this doesn't last too long.
posted by Shaggy @ 11:39 AM
what a lazy day today has been. i am sleeping the days away one at a time. it seems like i never get tired of sleeping. today was better than yesterday. i didn't feel quite as sick. my appetite is still pretty weak although i have eaten more today. the nurse came this morning and took some blood. she called later to say that my blood count is great. this is good news. my sister came by today with my nephew, evan. they stayed a couple hours and brought some cheer and a dairy queen blizzard. evan loves to play xbox and i had fun just watching. we are getting closer to Christmas and we still are not done with all of the shopping. i hope we get it done soon. i am just glad i don't have to get out in the crowds and mess. that is something i don't miss at all.
posted by Shaggy @ 7:04 PM
once again i have been lazy and have put off posting for a while. i had a pretty good christmas. santa was good to me. i ate a lot on christmas day and felt the effects the next day. i don't think my stomach has calmed down since. i have probably lost several more pounds because of it. it seems like i vomit everyday for one reason or another. it is discouraging. i don't want to be sick everyday.
today is the last day that i have to do the IV of antibiotics. the home health nurse will be here any minute to remove the needle from my port-a-cath. thank god. i am so tired of doing the IV twice a day. it has been a major inconvenience for both me and megan.
i am looking forward to tuesday. we are meeting with my surgeon at vandy. i am not sure what we will talk about. i assume we will plan the surgery and set a date. i want this tumor out of me now. i know i can handle the physical pain from the surgery. the rehab is going to be rough, but there is no way it will be worse than the chemo treatments. i am hoping that the surgeon will opt for no more chemo after the surgery or minimal treatments. my body can't handle much more.
i just want to be normal again. i want my life back. i want to go to work and get into a routine again. i want to do things for myself. i just feel like screaming. i know things will normalize soon enough, but getting there is a bitch.
posted by Shaggy @ 1:06 PM
today started off better than yesterday... no puking. i was sick all day yesterday. i couldn't keep down water or my medicines. i called the doctor this morning and explained what was going on and they didn't have much to say. they just called in some more medicine at the pharmacy. it feels like my stomach cramps up about every 30 minutes or whenever i put anything into it. i feel hungry but almost afraid to eat anything.
megan and i are heading for nashville tonight. i got a room at the days inn close to the vandy campus. i hope the traveling is good and i don't get sick on the way. it is normally about a 4 hour drive and they are an hour behind our time. i hope we get there by 8:30 or 9 pm.
not much else is going on today. i found out that an old friend of mine had cancer a while back and beat it. it is good to hear other peoples success stories. it still amazes me to know how many people cancer affects....
posted by Shaggy @ 1:05 PM
the trip to vandy was long and full of drama, but i don't regret it. we headed down there monday night and the rain was horrible. megan was driving the xterra in some of the worst driving conditions possible. i puked twice on the way. once in a paper bag and another in a plastic bag form a gas station. my dinner did not stay down. i think it was partially due to the stressful drive. once we got to nashville, the directions we had were not correct. we took a few wrong turns but ended up getting there. the days inn was totally ghetto. we will never stay there again. for a few more bucks we could have been in the holiday inn select! tuesday morning we checked out and had to wait several hours until the doctors appointment. once we got to the doctor, we found out that they were running 2 hours behind schedule. so the wait was even longer. the consultation was something that could have probably been done over the phone. dr. holt explained the surgery a little. i will have a total knee replacement that is made of metal. it will last 15-20 years before needing repair. i will have to have chemo after surgery to prevent the cancer from living in my body and hopefully prevent it from ever coming back. the length of treatments is yet to be determined. i will need MRI's and CT scans a week before the surgery which is scheduled for sometime around february 10th. i go back to see the surgeon on the 3rd for final questions, etc . that's about the extent of things. the ride home was better. i drove halfway. i got pulled over on the bluegrass parkway for doing 78 in a 65 but the cop had pity on me and only gave me a verbal warning. we made it home and i slept like a rock!
well it is new years eve. i think we may get out of the house tonight and go over to a friend's place and try to celebrate a little. i have been feeling pretty good and i just might drink a beer if my stomach stays calm.
posted by Shaggy @ 6:52 PM
well it is a new year. not much has changed for me. i got sick on new year's eve and didn't make it out. i have been strong the last few days and been able to go to work. i feel good until i start thinking of the word chemo. that word makes my stomach knot up and hits the gag reflex in the back of my throat. i am conditioned to be sick when i think about it. my next treatment is thursday. two more to go before surgery. they cannot be over soon enough. i feel like they let me get strong and then hit me again...
today i have to have a echo test on my heart to make sure the chemo isn't causing any problems with it. i had one of these tests before i started treatment so this is just a follow up.
posted by Shaggy @ 10:46 AM
well i made it through my 5th chemo treatment. i had to spend 3 nights in the hospital in order to make sure the chemo cleared my system. hopefully i won't get the nasty mouth sores that i had before. so i am looking ahead. i have one more treatment before my surgery. the doctors have said that i may need a blood transfusion before the surgery to get my levels up. i really don't like thinking about getting a transfusion. too much stigma attached to it. my family will probably donate the blood to be used. that gives me a little bit of comfort.
i have felt pretty good today. being tired is my biggest problem. i have very little energy and feel wiped out. sleeping and eating doesn't seem to help very much. my appetite has been good. i have been snacking all day and i am ready for dinner right now!
posted by Shaggy @ 6:27 PM
i survived my 6th and final chemo treatment before surgery. i feel good. the treatments have left me tired and about 30 pounds lighter, but my appetite is making a huge come-back. with the appetite comes the energy. i had enough energy to work almost a full day today. it was good to get back in there. most likely i won't have to have a blood transfusion before surgery, but it is possible that i will need blood during the surgery. i found out that my blood type is A+. my parents have donated and the blood will be there if i need it. not much else is going on. i am just going to try to get as strong as i can before surgery.
posted by Shaggy @ 7:05 PM
it has been a long time since my last post. i have been feeling good lately and just haven't taken the time to write anything. i have been staying away from the chemo and eating like a pig. megan and i are getting ready to go down to nashville tomorrow night for my pre-op appointment on tuesday. i am looking forward to getting this surgery over with. spending time in the hospital and the rehab is not going to be fun but it is something that i have to do to get through this.
thank all of you out there for your continued cards, emails, thoughts, prayers, etc. i still cannot believe the responses i have gotten over the past months. they remind me to keep my head up and look forward to a healthy future.
posted by Shaggy @ 1:00 PM
The trip to Nashville for the pre-op appointment went well. My surgeon explained the surgery procedure in detail. I had to have some additional x-rays taken of my leg and chest. I had blood drawn for the standard pre-operative tests. They also asked me a million health related questions. They have officially scheduled my surgery for Friday, Feb. 13th. I am not very superstitious, but I don't like the idea of having an operation in firday the 13th. I am sure all will go well, but it is just the thought. I will most likely be in the hospital for about 4 or 5 days.
posted by Shaggy @ 3:38 PM
well, i am getting ready to head off to nashville in a few hours. my nerves are totally shot. i want to get this over with, but i can't help the anxiety and thinking about the surgery. no matter how hard i try to get my mind off of things, this is going to be a huge ordeal. i know that after the surgery everything is going to be down hill. i will have a cancer free leg and a new metal knee to play with :) i am determined to get my ass out of that hospital bed asap. i need to show them that i can hadle this and be in control of my mobility. well, i gotta run and get things packed up. i will post again and let everyone know how things went as soon as i am able to think straight. thanks again to everyone that has sent emails and expressed their concern. it really makes a difference and helps boost my outlook.
posted by Shaggy @ 11:38 AM
well i made it through the dreaded surgery. it has been one of the longest and most painful weeks of my life. my experiences have been varied from great to excruciating. too much has happened and to post it all here would not be possible or practical. i will sum things up in as few words as possible.
according to the doctors the surgery was a success. they removed the bone tumor and replaced it with the metal implants. i have a single incision about 15 inches long along the outside of my leg. it looks very clean and is held together with staples. i have some minor swelling in my knee and ankle. at this moment the pain is moderate. compared to the delirious pain i experienced the first 2 days after the surgery the pain is not much more than a headache. it is a long story but basically my IV penetrated the vein and i was not getting the morphine. it was leaking into my arm making it swell and my hand turn black and blue. my dad happened to notice it and had to inform some of the incompetent nurses. once I got a new IV the morphine took hold and controlled the pain.
anyways, i am just glad to be back in my home and out of that hospital. they told me for 3 days in a row that i may get to go home the next day. i had to stay so long because fluid was still draining from my leg. we had to wait until it all but stopped before i could leave. i am scheduled to go back for a check-up in 2 weeks. i am not supposed to bend my knee until then. it will be close to 6 weeks before i can put full weight on my left leg. right now i have a walker and crutches to use to get around and a knee stabilizer i am supposed to wear whenever i move from place to place.
these next few weeks are going to be painful and difficult but i have a positive outlook and tons of support. i will find out in a couple weeks about the rest of my chemo treatments. i feel confident that i will only have a few more. thanks again to everyone for the support. words can't express my gratitude.
posted by Shaggy @ 7:21 PM
a solid week of pain with no real relief is really starting to get old. my lower back feels like it is broken. sitting in the recliner all day puts pressure on my back. i usually feel the best when i wake up in the morning after laying flat all night. taking a shower is very difficult. our shower is fairly small. we tried putting a chair in it for me to sit on, but that didn't work. i have to stand on my good foot and lean against the shower wall and make things quick. my left leg is like a limp noodle. if i put any pressure on it, it just buckles. this really make me think about the difficulties that handicapped people have. small things like getting through doorways and using the bathroom can be difficult and take a lot of energy.
we took a picture of my scar for those of you that are not faint at heart and would like to see it, click here.
posted by Shaggy @ 5:13 PM
the pain is starting to ease up a little. my lower back still feels like crap. i have just been staying in bed and the recliner all day. if i don't keep my leg elevated, my foot starts to change colors and hurt. one of the staples started to come out the other night. i pulled it the rest of the way out. i have to say that it was quite painful. the staples are not straight. they have curved ends that hook into the skin. i wish i had one of those special staple removers that the doctors use and i would take these little buggers out. they are starting to itch and i can feel them under the skin. i don't know if i can wait until tuesdy to get them out.
i was hoping to go back to work today for at least a few hours, but i really just didn't feel good enough yet. i am bored out of my mind. i haven't left the house since i got back from the hospital. i just need a change of scenery. my brain is rotting from all of the daytime tv that i have watched. even pain pills can't make daytime tv better.
posted by Shaggy @ 5:53 PM
yesterday was my first day out of the house since leaving the hospital. it was great to just get some fresh air. riding in the car was not very comfortable. i could feel the bumpy roads all the way up my leg. we went to get some ice cream and see a movie. i decided to put away the walker and get out the crutches. they are much better for navigating in public and easier to get in and out of the car. getting in and out of the movie theater seemed to take quite a bit of effort. the theater seating was also not very comfortable. i had to sit on the end of the aisle so i could stretch my leg out straight. that is nothing new. i had to do that for months before the surgery because the tumor would not let my leg bend enough to sit in a middle seat. by the end of the movie i was ready to come home. my leg was aching pretty bad from the uncomfortable position. we got home and i headed straight for the recliner and bottle of pills. i slept great last night. didn't get out of bed until after 1 pm today.
tomorrow night we are going back to nashville for my 2 week check-up. i can't wait to get these staples out. i have been wanting to take them out myself for about a week now. i think my leg looks pretty good. not much swelling and i can bend it fairly well (even though i am not supposed to right now). i still can't put much weight on it, but that will come with time. i guess we will find out how much more chemo i will have to endure. i feel like things are starting to get better. i can finally see the light at the end of the tunnel. i am just hoping for good news from the doctor.
posted by Shaggy @ 4:58 PM
the trip to nashville brought some great and dreaded news. i'll get to the news in a minute. the drive down was crappy as usual. it seems to pour down rain everytime we make the trip. this time we skipped a hotel room and stayed with our friends helen and rob. they live about 20 minutes from the hospital. we really enjoyed their hospitality and visiting with them. much better than a hotel.
the doctor had good news about the tumor that was removed. The chemo killed 95% of the cancer cells. this means that the chemo was very effective. bad news is that since it worked so well, i will most likely have the same type and amount of chemo again. i still need to contact my oncologist this week to discuss the details with her. i was really hoping for fewer lower doses. i guess it is better to be safe than sorry later on. i just want this to be over. i want to be sure the cancer is gone and the probability of it coming back is very low.
my mobility has increased a bit. just removing the staples helped some. i can put about 1/3 of my weight on my leg and bend it about halfway without much pain. getting around on the crutches is tiring but not too bad. i am glad to be out of the house today and back to the office.
posted by Shaggy @ 2:42 PM
it has been a while since the last post. i visited my oncologist on monday to find out what my chemo schedule would be. it looks like my schedule will be similar to what it was before the surgery. i will actually have a few more treatments spread out over more weeks. to me this was not good news. but i guess if that is what it takes, i'll do it. my doctor also addressed my pain. i was taking too many pills and not getting enough relief. the pain pills contain tylenol which in excess of 4 grams per day can be toxic for the liver. there were days that i would consume 6-8 grams of tylenol. she prescribed a pain patch that sticks to my skin and releases a constant supply of medicine. it seems to work fairly well with minimal side effects. i find that i still need a pill every now and then for break through pain. my lower back and femur seem to be cause of most pain.
next monday morning i have to report to the hospital to have a CT scan repeated and start chemo again. my last CT was read as abnormal. i think it is because i ate breakfast beforehand which showed up in my stomach and spleen. she thought maybe it could be that or some type of infection. she did not think it was cancer related. i will be glad to get this test done for peace of mind. i won't be gald to climb back in that hospital bed.
some other events have happened to cause megan and i to become a little down. it is unfortunate that these events had to take place at this time, but in the overall picture of things they are minor. we will cope and bounce back.
posted by Shaggy @ 12:46 PM
the dreaded day is tomorrow. right now i feel like hell. i don't want to start chemo again. i just want to run away. just thinking about it and typing this makes me feel sick in the pit of my stomach. i don't know what i can do to make it better. i don't think anything will help. i couldn't sleep last night. i tossed for a few hours on the couch and a few hours in the bed. tonight will probably be worse. it is totally a mind game. right now i am going to take my mind off of things and watch UK play for the SEC title.
posted by Shaggy @ 12:54 PM
chemo did not start as planned. i had a follow up CT scan to the one i had before my knee surgery. it also came back abnormal. my oncologist said she could not start the chemo again until we found out what was up with these enlarged lymph nodes in my abdomen. i had an exploratory surgery yesterday to remove the enlarged lymph node for a biopsy. while the surgeon was in my abdomen he found what appeared to be lesions and partial blockage in my small intestine. he removed a 5cm section of small intestine. upon initial inspection of the tissues, no cancer was detected. an in depth pathology will be decisive. the doctors seem to think it may be something like crohn's disease or ulcerative colitis. much more treatable than cancer. whew! what a huge relief. i was so worried that i may have lymphoma.
if you know me, then you know that i have had significant stomach problems on and off for about 9-10 years. i visited a gastro doctor about 3 years ago and got things somewhat under control. i believe that stress and chemo have caused this flare up in my lymph nodes. it may be a blessing in disguise that this was found now. it is possible that this next round of chemo could have caused my small intestines to burst or leak out into my abdomen. that would have been big trouble. i could have died from that.
as it stands now i am in the hospital. when my bowels start working correctly i will be able to eat solid foods again and be discharged. i have quite a bit of pain in my abodomen. they are giving me morphine and percocet for pain relief. they also have me out of bed and walking the halls. as soon as i recover from this surgery and we get a pathology report i will start chemo again. for now i am just trying to take it easy and recover as quickly as possible. i see this as a minor set-back in my course of treatment. i am just thankful they found it when they did.
posted by Shaggy @ 12:26 PM
i finally got to come home yesterday morning. it always seems like an eternity when i am in the hospital for more than a day. this last week has been filled with nothing but pain. pain seems to be a way of life these days. i have a 2 inch scar above my belly button from the surgery. whenever i use my stomach muscles to sit up, laugh, or cough i get an extra jolt of discomfort. this reminds me when i was in the 5th grade and had my apendics removed. it was very similar. i had a little pillow to press against my stomach when i laughed or coughed. it actually seemed to help.
right now i am scheduled to start chemo this coming wed. but i don't think i will be ready. i want my stomach to heal completely before starting chemo again. i think i would pass out from the pain if i had to puke right now. i am allowed to eat solid foods, but it doesn't take much to fill me up. i think my stomach shrinked after a week of no solid foods.
well, i am going to watch some NCAA tournament games. the cats play tonight and should have an easy win. times like these the couch and tv are my best friends.
posted by Shaggy @ 3:53 PM
today started out pretty good. i stayed in bed until almost noon. i got some real quality sleep. when i got up i felt decent. as the day went on i started to feel worse. i got a sudden urge for a cheeseburger, so i headed over to MickeyD's for some grub. i got home and took about 3 bites of my burger. it tasted good, but i got a sudden wave of nausea. i put the food down and grabbed a trash bag. i knew that i was going to vomit sooner or later. i layed back down in bed for a while until the sickness hit. i vomited a couple times. i think it was the most painful it has ever been. my stomach felt like it was being ripped open because of the cut from surgery. i pressed a pillow tight to it as i got sick. finally about an hour ago i started to feel better. it looks like i am back to the clear liquid diet until i get myself in shape. i ate some jello and took some pills for my stomach pain. i am going to try to make it in to work tomorrow if all goes well. right now i am just going to take it easy. i am really hungry but i don't know what to eat.
posted by Shaggy @ 8:43 PM
sorry for the long delay in posting. just so you know, if i go a long time without posting, things are usually pretty good. i have had a rough time with the wound on my stomach. i did a really stupid thing and removed the staples from it a week before they were scheduled to come out. a small part of the wound popped open and it drained for over a week. it has been about to drive me crazy. i learned my lesson about trying to doctor myself! yesterday i saw a special gastro doctor about my stomach problems. at this point they are stumped. they will not say that i have crohn's. we are still waiting on pathology and blood test results before we know exactly what is going on in my stomach. i go back in 3 weeks to find out more information and decide on a course of treatment.
i am not looking forward to tomorrow. i go into the hospital at 9am to start chemo again. i will have approximately 10-12 treatments spread out over 16 weeks. when this is all over it will be close to a year. i really thought it would have been over by now. i keep getting thrown curve balls. my leg still hurts. i need to begin physical therapy on it soon. i feel like it is getting weaker every day that i wait to start therapy.
well, i gotta run and get ready for tomorrow. bye for now.
posted by Shaggy @ 10:27 PM
i had my first chemo treatment of this round on wed. nine more to go. it went pretty well while i was in the hospital. i didn't get sick until i got home yesterday. i think the reason i get sick a lot of the time is that i do not eat and my stomach acid builds up. my appetite is just not very active and i am afraid to eat sometimes. anyway, not much else to say. i go back to the hospital next wed. for another treatment, then i get a week off.
posted by Shaggy @ 3:38 PM
i woke up today thinking that i would make it into the office, but i am just too weak. eating scattered meals consisting largely of liquid will make you weak. last night was the first real meal i had since the chemo on wednesday. the thing i hate most is that they let me recover just enough before the next treatment. right when i start feeling decent, they hit me again. even though i have 9 more treatments before this whole ordeal is over, i can see the end in sight.
last night was not very restful. i tossed and turned all night; waking up in a sweat at least 5 times. i had very vivid, weird dreams. this whole daylight savings time change has also messed with my sleep habits.
it is a beautiful day outside today. just a little chilly. i am ready for the sunshine of summer. i don't know, but i feel like it gives me a little hope to see the sunshine. the winter didn't give me much this year. i was largely confined to the house and depressed. no sleigh riding or snow boarding. i am really looking forward to going to the baseball park and watching the legends play this year. we made it out to 6 or 7 games last year. i hope to make it more this year. i would buy season tickets but i know that is just not practical for us this season. maybe next year...
posted by Shaggy @ 4:24 PM
weakness. that is my word of the day. i feel like i am physically in a hole with no energy to even try getting out. generally i sleep pretty decent at night and take several naps during the day. that sleep still doesn't produce enough energy to have any type of productivity. i eat when i can. my appetite comes in spurts and goes for long periods of time. my mind wants to eat big burgers and all that comes along, but my senses dry up and want nothing of it. thank god for no chemo this week. i'll have a little chance to strengthen up before the next treatment.
today i have really been thinking about my old lifestyle and friends. i used to live a fast paced, somewhat stressful, but carefree in essence life. now i feel like a 85 year old with price as right and jeopardy contestants for best friends. i know i will recover from this and get my old lifestyle back. i just wish things would speed up a little. i know i'll never be the same person as i was, hopefully i'll be a better person.
it has been a while since i thanked everyone for their support. those cards, calls, and emails really do mean a lot to megan and i. thank you all for thinking of us during this ordeal. we wish good things for you all and can't wait to celebrate life with you after this is all over.
well, i am going to try to catch a cat nap and pray that the weather clears up. the last 2 days have been cold and rainy. i stepped outside to get the mail and let the dog out. that is as far as i am going until i get stronger and the weather gets better.
posted by Shaggy @ 7:34 PM
well, i have been in the hospital since thursday. still here on sunday and i bet i'll be here a couple more days. i got so weak and my blood counts got really low. i have had two blood transfusions to bring my red blood cell count up. my white cells that fight infection are still really low. they are 0.4 and need to be at least 1.0 before i can go home. only time will help them to regenerate. being here is like being in jail. the walls feel like they are closing in on me. i know i need to be here until i get better but it still upsets me. initially i was just to have a blood transfusion on an outpatient basis and go home. i was running a fever and they ended up keeping me.
my next chemo treatment will have to be pushed back until i re-gain my strength and white blood counts stabilize. these beautiful days are killing me. i just sit and look out the window at the sunshine, trees, and people going by on their merry ways.
well i think i am going to take a nap. all of the meds that i am taking make me tired. i am on 3 different kinds of antibiotics to prevent any infections that may arise and several anti-nausea medicines to keep me from getting sick. they haven't been working that well on me for some reason. the last coulpe of days i have thrown up just about everything that i have eaten. my stomach has just gotten into a routine of rejecting food, which makes me even weaker. i think it is getting a little better. i am just eating small meals.
posted by Shaggy @ 11:57 AM
i am still in the hospital. the doctors say maybe i can go home tomorrow or wed. i will end up being in here longer with this problem than i did with my knee surgery. when i came in on thursday i only expected a 1 night stay, and it has turned into 6 or 7 nights. my white blood cell count has not come up any in the last few days. it is still at 0.4. in some ways i am getting used to hospital life. the food is probably one of the worst things. even when i choose what i want from the menus they give me it is still bland and tasteless. the dietary workers ask me if i even want it anymore when they come. sometimes, one lady just leaves my tray outside the door cause she knows i won't eat it. i have been living on graham crackers and nutter butter cookies for the last couple of days. they are the only things that really stay down. we did find out that one of the pills that i was taking was causing me to throw up. they are now giving it to me in an IV form. things are getting better. at least i feel better. the blood gives me more energy and pumps me up a bit.
my family and megan have been with me the whole time. i have not had a moment alone. i am greatful for that. without someone here to talk to and share the load i think i would go crazy. one of the nurse's aids likes to give me a hard time. she trys to make me mad so i will show her up and eat more or walk the halls or do something more productive. she gave me a coveted remote control for the tv today. ususally you have to use the button on the bed rail to change channels and turn the tv off. it is so annoying and won't let you go back throught the channels. anyways, i know i have fewer days left than i have been here. also, my chemo will be pushed back until next monday which is a good thing. there is no way my body could handle it any sooner.
posted by Shaggy @ 6:09 PM
we finally made it out of the hospital last night. my bloodcount rebounded enough for me to face the outside world. i was beginning to think it would never happen. it's great to be home. i almost don't know what to do with myself. my nerves are racing. it is hard to sit still. i feel like i constantly need to be doing something. it was great to get back in our bed last night. i know i speak for megan as well. i feel so bad that she has to sleep on that hard convertible chair-bed in the hospital. i wish it was softer and nicer.
i have to go to the clinic today and tomorrow to get my neupogen shots that boost my white blood cell counts. monday i go back to the doctor to get my blood counts checked and possible admitted for chemo. i have a feeling that it will be a couple days later before i get chemo again. right now i am going to take a nerve pill and get a shower so i can go in. i hope that makes me feel better and keeps me from driving megan crazy with my jitters.
posted by Shaggy @ 12:30 PM
i know it has been a while since my last post. i have not had chemo since then. my blood counts have still not been where they need to be. mainly i think it is my platelet count that is still too low. i have felt pretty good for the last week. i have just been really tired. i have been taking it easy and sleeping a lot. today my left ear is stopped up. i don't know what casued it to get that way. i hope it is not infection. my lungs have felt kind of sore the last few days. i have not been coughing up anything, so i am confident that i don't have an infection. it just worries me sometimes.
i am supposed to report to the hospital on monday for chemo. they have been pushing my treatments back because of my blood counts which is just stringing things out longer. in a way i'll be glad to go ahead and get it overwith asap. the biggest thing i hate about being in the hospital is not sleeping in my bed at home. i hate the hospital beds, along with the food and being hooked to an IV the entire stay.
anyway, today is derby day, so we'll be watching that later. i like Tapit and The Cliff's Edge but i wouldn't bet on them because i never pick the derby winner. megan has much better luck picking them.
posted by Shaggy @ 12:43 PM
i have been slacking off the past couple of weeks. i really just kind of forgot to post anything. sorry to the few of you out there that are actually following along with my progress. i feel like i am getting closer to completion. i have a total of 6 more treatments. 4 of them are inpatient, 2 outpatient. i feel pretty good today. the fatigue doesn't seem to be quite as bad as yesterday. there are no treatments scheduled for next week, so i will have that time to rest up. i do have a couple doctors appointments though. i am hoping to make it in to work at least a coupe days and maybe make it to a legends baseball game if i feel up to it. my bloodcounts are usually the lowest 10 days after a treatment so hopefully i will not be too weak.
well, it is the weekend so hopefully megan and i will do something fun. i am bored to death of the daytime tv. the weather is decent so maybe i'll go outside for a while...
oh, i just learned how to enable comments on my blog, so readers can now leave me comments. please be nice and don't use any bad language. if this gets ugly or out of hand i will just disable this feature. i also changed the look and feel of my blog. hope you like it better...
posted by Shaggy @ 2:03 PM
4 comments
Anonymous said…
Hey Baby,
We're almost there!! Not much more stinkin' hospital food! I love you and can't wait to move on with our lives after this is OVER!!
11:44 AM
Anonymous said…
Hey Shaggy,
This is Marc B.. I have been following your blog since you started it. I just wanted to let you know that I have been thinking about ya and praying for ya man. I would of given ya a shout on AIM but my work blocks AIM now (bastards). I just talked to Justin Seiter the other day and we were talking about you and he sends his best as well.
I just wanted to say hi and wish you a speedy recovery.
10:58 AM
Anonymous said…
Hey Shaggy! Its Alane.. The blog looks great! ;) I have been checking the website almost daily since the first of the year to try to keep up with your progress so the update is a nice change.. J & I think of you often and pray that you will recover soon. We are always here if you need anything.. Hope to see you all soon! Alane & J
7:31 AM
Anonymous said…
Hey Shaggy. The blog design looks great. I think there are lots of us out there who are following your progress and keeping you and Megan in our thoughts. Keep your head up! Let me know if you ever need any food delivered to your hospital room. I feel very confident that I can sneak in a nice bag of "outside" food if needed. :)Mary
12:29 PM
first of all i would like to thank the people that posted comments on my last entry. one of the comments got accidently deleted. sorry for that. the comments help me see who my audience is, which is nice.
the last couple of days have been pretty good. i had a dr.'s appt. on monday. they said my blood counts were holding up ok. thank god no need for a blood transfusion. just precautionary antibiotics. i made it to work on monday and tuesday which felt great. it was good to see everyone and catch up on some things. today is not going that great. my stomach is giving me quite a bit of trouble. i'm not sure why. i think the chemo could be having some effects. i haven't been right since that last treatment. my appetite has been good. i can't eat a lot at once, but small meals all day seem to work.
today i have to go get a test done on my heart. the adrianmycin part of the chemo can have bad effects on the heart. they just want to make sure that nothing abnormal is going on. i have had the test twice before and it really isn't a big deal. i don't anticipate any problems.
posted by Shaggy @ 12:23 PM
1 comment
kimber said…
thanks for keeping up with the blog. i remain interested in your progress and your life. glad i can follow you without being in the way. it matters.
12:45 PM
monday's chemo treatment was delayed because my blood counts were too low, especially my platelets. i have a follow-up appointment in nashville on tuesday, then the chemo on thursday. my platelet count should be good enough by then. i had planned the rest of my treatments out before this delay and it looked like i would finish around july 28th. with this delay we are up into august now. i think i jinxed it by planning things out. it kinda makes me mad because i was prepared to get the treatment. that morning ritual of waking up early and not being able to go back to sleep. staring at the alarm clock and counting down the minutes i have left before i have to get up. then taking a shower and eating some mcdonald's breakfast that dad picked up. the sausage biscuit tastes good but my stomach starts to turn after that. i take my morning pills. pack up my backpack and head to the hospital for "chemo hell". as i lay in the hospital bed, they access my port-a-cath and draw some blood. i am ready for the IV to start when they come in and tell me i can't get chemo because of my blood counts. that's how it goes.
i didn't do anything but sleep yesterday. i think today will be most of the same. i just feel rundown and tired. the pollen outside is definitely in full effect. i have been sneezing like crazy and my eyes itching. i think it is best to just stay inside, eat well, and rest up, hoping my counts start to rise.
posted by Shaggy @ 11:07 AM
2 comments
Anonymous said…
Hey there, sounds like you are doing okay. A few more weeks till treatment is over is alright. You will be done soon. I like your new design for the blog. We are thinking of you and praying for you and we will see you soon. Love, Ellie
1:08 PM
Anonymous said…
Hang in there Shaggy, a lot of people are thinking of you and praying for you. There is a light at the end of the tunnel, soon this will be just an unpleasant memory for you and life will be good again. You're a brave fellow to go through what you are and willing to share it all. God bless, and again, hang in there.
7:19 AM
we took a trip to nashville for my 3 month checkup with the surgeon. i had some CT scans and x-rays of my leg and chest. you know you have a lot of metal in your leg when the x-ray technician says, "wow, you've got a lot of metal in your leg!" so i asked to see the x-rays and i was blown away. i didn't realize the metal went so far down into my tibia and so far up into my femur. the surgeon said everything looked great. i have asked her to email me the x-ray pictures so i can post them on my website. she wasn't really concerned that i have not started physical therapy. she said that usually doesn't begin until patients finish chemotherapy. the main thing right now is to stretch my leg completely straight and hold it for a few minutes at a time. this will keep the muscles loose. i am supposed to go back in 3 more months for my 6 month checkup.
tomorrow is chemo day as long as my blood counts are ok. i predict they will be up enough. i haven't felt too bad the last couple of days. the trip to nashville was good. we had dinner with a friend at a really cool sushi restaurant. we also stopped at the blackstone brewery for a nice microbrew. megan and i both really like nashville...
posted by Shaggy @ 11:09 AM
2 comments
Anonymous said…
I'm glad you really like Nashville, but DON'T get any ideas! I know getting a "clean" report helps ease your mind. Hang in there, we all love you! Tracy
3:03 PM
Conn said…
So what happens when you go into the airport now with the metal detectors? :P Glad to hear the X-Rays went well. See ya.
6:01 PM
things are going pretty well. i had an inpatient chemo treatment last thursday and friday. yesterday i had a basic follow-up doctors appt. my blood levels seem to be holding up pretty well and i have had a decent appetite. if all goes well i will have an outpatient treatment this thursday and friday. i will go in for about 30 minutes. the chemo infusion will only take about 15 mins. i will have next week off. i am glad because my birthday is on the 18th. i don't want to be confined to the hospital or feeling sick on my birthday. that's about all for now. i'll post after i have my outpatient chemo and let you know how it went.
posted by Shaggy @ 3:09 PM
1 comment
Anonymous said…
Glad this week went pretty well and now one less treatment to go. Missed you at Mary's house on last Sat. Hope the blood counts stay up so you can get this next treatment under your belt. Love you guys, Ellie
4:34 PM
the outpatient treatments went pretty well. i felt sick for a few days afterward, but nothing too terrible. the last few days i have been fairly active. i made it into work on tuesday and wednesday. i got really exhausted on wednesday and slept about 12 hours last night. i still feel really run down. i was supposed to go have blood drawn today and get my levels checked but i didn't go. i didn't have a solid appointment. they just said come in before 3 pm. i hate it when they do that because i end up waiting for an hour or longer. since i have this port-a-cath that they access to take blood from, it often takes forever. there are certain procedures they go through to access it. having the port is a good thing but sometimes it makes visits take a lot longer. i guess i could have them stick a vein and get the blood, but i am still needle shy and would prefer to avoid getting stuck at all costs.
i am just going to continue to take it easy the rest of the day. tomorrow is my birthday, but i'll probably go in to work if i feel like it. i like getting out of the house if i can. i am just not used to doing anything but laying around so a day of being out of the house wears me down pretty quick. i am just going to have to build myself back up.
i have calculated when my last chemo treatment will be. as it looks now, if there are no delays, august 5th will be the day of my last chemo treatment. i will be in the hospital for a couple days with it. hopefully that will be my last hospital stay for a long time to come....
posted by Shaggy @ 5:19 PM
3 comments
Anonymous said…
happy birthday! I, too, hope that this will be the end of hospital stays for you. Something about the smell of hospitals. It's just not like home. Mary
8:15 PM
john t. said…
Shaggy Shaggy, It's good to read that your treatments have been going well. I'm sorry I forgot your birthday and I haven't been on AIM in a while. I gotta talk to your pimpness more often. I miss ya man. Hang in there, -johnt
8:33 PM
Anonymous said…
Hi Shaggy
Alex's mum from England - keep logging on and reading your progress and really pleased everything is going well. Alex had his last Chemo Dec 19th and is now back at school full time with his friends and we're all getting some normality back in our lives. He still has physio twice a week, but is getting stronger every day. Can't belive that this time last year he had his op - time goes so quickly. Soon you'll be looking forward and making plans of your own (something we all used to take for granted).
Hope all goes well and look forward to reading more.
Gill English genglish@renglish7.freeserve.co.uk
4:21 PM
sorry for the long delay between posts. i guess you could say that i've been busy and lazy. i had a great birthday and 4th of july weekend. i think we saw more fireworks than we have ever seen. i have been feeling pretty good recently. my outpatient chemo got delayed last week because my platelet count was too low. this sets me back another week. so it looks like i'll be done with the chemo in mid august now. i have been having quite a bit of stiffness in my leg lately. i have been trying to exercise it some, but i really need some physical therapy to get it strong. that's about all for now. i'll try to post again soon. i have outpatient chemo on thursday and friday of this week, so i'll let you know how it goes...
posted by Shaggy @ 11:14 AM
1 comment
Anonymous said…
There were tons of fireworks in Lexington! I don't remember there being some on two different nights. I am glad you got to enjoy them. Outpatient chemo seems to be the way to go. Hopefully everything else will be on schedule. Any word on the x-ray of your leg post surgery? Mary
9:46 PM
last week my chemo treatments were delayed again. my platelet count was still not up to par. i am getting so tired of dragging this out. i want it to be over! i may talk with my doctor about stopping the treatments early. i honestly don't see what good a couple more treatments are going to do. i think if there were any cancer cells in my body that they would have been killed by now. i mean i had less treatments before i had surgery to remove the tumor and it killed 98% of the cancer cells. i go back to the doctor again on thurs. hopefully no more delays.
on another note, our air conditioner's blower motor burned out. i panicked and immediately thought of the worst. i thought it would cost several hundred dollars and a few days to fix. but my dad came to the rescue! he was able to get a new blower motor at the wholesale cost of $50 and replace it within several hours. i am so thankful on a day when the heat index is near 100 degrees.
posted by Shaggy @ 5:23 PM
1 comment
Anonymous said…
I'm so glad you got your air fixed. Rob and I had that problem last August and it was horrible. Sorry it's been a while since I've e-mailed. Hope you guys are doing well and you two can come stay at my house for your 6 month checkup.
Helen
8:35 PM
last week i finally got my outpatient treatments. they went well and i didn't get too sick. i have two more inpatient treatments left and this whole nightmare will end. my next treatment is scheduled for july 29th. not much else going on right now.
posted by Shaggy @ 1:46 PM
another chemo treatment in the books. one more to go.... i am beginning to feel the joy or as the ever so old cliche goes, "see the light at the end of the tunnel." last week's inpatient treatment went well. i am pretty sure i know the reason why it was a much more tolerable experience. ok, now is the point when i tell you that what i am about to write may offend or go against some or your beliefs. that's fine with me. you are not the one dealing with the cancer. anyway, on to the point here. one of my doctors recommended that i try smoking marijuana before the chemo treatments. well, i have smoked marijuana before but never before a treatment. i had heard rumors that it had medicinal values and had suspected that this was true. i can now confirm the rumors. it helped me take my mind off of hell. i was much more relaxed and at ease. for one of the first times, i did not puke in the hospital. i refrained from making myself sick before the treatment even started. i feel like pot should be legal for those who use it for medicine and in a responsible way. ok, i said it. don't make a big deal out of it. just accept it and go on....
today is monday and i am working from home. the chemo may have gone a bit better, but it still leaves my stomach in a total wreck. the monday after is always a good day to stay close to your favorite toilet and do shots of pepto bismol. pepto is also one of my saviors. just like the commercial says, "heartburn indigestion, upset stomach, nausea, or diarrhea" - pepto provides soothing relief! when the chemo comes to a halt i am going to pay a welcomed visit to the almighty gastro doctors to see if they can tell me why i continue to have severe stomach problems.
my leg is pissing me off. i have decided that physical exercise is the only thing that is going to help it. i still have moderate pain everyday and it is weak. i can't climb steps very well and i still limp. i am tired of taking pain pills that don't work. i want my leg to be just as stong as it was before this ordeal. i have begun stretching and exercising it. i borrowed an exercise bike from my sister and my leg is not flexible enough to ride it yet. it just won't bend far enough. this won't be the case for long! i want to get my entire body strong, gain my weight and muscles back. i want to show cancer that it cannot win.
posted by Shaggy @ 2:19 PM
5 comments
Anonymous said…
hang in there man. the light *is* at the end of the tunnel, and you'll be past it in no time. glad the self-medication proved a success!
-geurk
2:57 PM
Anonymous said…
Dear Shaggy
Hadnt read your postings for some time, so just came in to catch up with you. God bless you for your strength, having just finished my 6 months of chemo, and understand your words to the nth degree. You are a real inspiration! You will win! Are they not giving you Maxoran for the tummy upset? It seems to help. Isnt it something how the sickness starts AFTER the treatment sessions. Well you hang in there. You are something else, and while it doesnt matter who I am, or what I have gone through, it does matter that you are an inspiration! Again, God bless you.
3:22 PM
Anonymous said…
If only the doctor could have introduced you to Mary Jane's abilities a little earlier! Can he write a prescription for you - just to cover yourself? One more to go. I know you and Megan are ready for those chemo sessions to be over. Keep your head of Shaggy and just look at what all you have already overcome. Don't worry - the bike trouble is quite normal after big knee surgeries. Also, most people are able to do a full circle backwards before they can go forward all the way. Mary.
8:20 PM
Anonymous said…
It is great to hear you much more positive than before. Whatever it takes to get you through. You will always have my support. Your physical strength will come back after the chemo stops. Just be patient and keep up the positive, hard work. Love you! Your "little" sis.
8:52 AM
Anonymous said…
You are right, no one has any right to judge you for doing something that will make you feel better. You are the one that is going through all of this, not us. I support you in anything that will help you get through this easier. Glad to hear you are ready to start training that leg. Hope to see you soon. Love, Ellie
2:20 PM
last night was absolutely horrible. i puked for about 3 hours straight; from 1:30 to 4:30 am. i felt like my insides were coming out. i finally fell asleep on the couch after exhausting myself. i'm not sure why i got so sick. i felt really good all day yesterday. i am pretty sure it wasn't anything i ate. megan and i had tomato soup and grilled cheese for a late dinner, which tasted really good. i don't know, it could have been the milk. milk products seem to bother me a lot these days. maybe i have a lactose intolerence problem. i don't know how they test for that. i am going to talk to my doctor and see what she thinks.
i have been lazy all day today. still tired, dehydrated, and aching from last night. dad stopped by and brought me some gatorade and megan cooked me some chicken noodle soup. it's good to have people take care of you when you feel like hell. it's kind of weird, but i feel really agitated and jittery, like i can't relax. i'm not sure what could be causing that. i am just glad my stomach is well settled and not aching like it was last night. it was making noises so loud you could probably hear it down the street. i am going to continue relaxing and hopefully sleep well tonight. i really hope tomorrow is a better day...
posted by Shaggy @ 8:00 PM
2 comments
Anonymous said…
That darn Chemo is really something, but in the long run its best for you. No one who hasnt been through it can understand, and the sickness is really unexplainable anyway. Nothing like any other kind of sick, is it. As for the mj, you do what you have to do to feel better, and let the naysayers in one ear and out the other. This is no time for judgement, only a time for support. Like someone else said, you're the one going through this, so you do what you have to do. Hang in there, its almost over, and know many are thinking of you and caring about you.
11:51 AM
Anonymous said…
once you are through chemo hell, please check out some literature on coral calcium. it buffers the body's PH. it has been proven that tumors do not/can not live in a non-acid environment. also, it helps greatly with orthopeadic injuries/surgeries; again an alkalin (non-acid) body simply functions more smoothly. medicine when conducted as a business often overlooks "earthly" cures and treatments. just like your own personal experience with the marijuana...it worked, that's it, and someone (your doctor) should have recommended that to you long ago. i am sure God knew what he was doing when he created these natural remedies. i've been cancer free now for 15 years. i take coral calcium EVERY day and feel absolutely fabulous. it didn't cure me (i didn't know about it then) but I do think it has kept me healthy for the last 8 years. you are so brave; keep it up, just a little further to go!
10:05 PM
well, it's done. i have completed a grueling regimen of chemotherapy. i almost can't believe it. i know i should feel relief, but it is hard to relax. i still feel like there is something left unsettled. over the next couple of weeks i will get numerous x-rays and scans here and in nashville. i will begin physical therapy and see my gastro doctor about my plaguing stomach problems. then, hopefully megan and i can get on with our lives. over the last year we have had to put everything on hold. megan has sacrificed so much to take care of me and keep me alive. i honestly don't think i could have made it without her. no one but her really knows the horrible, depressed days that i just didn't want to live through anymore. our families have been so strong for us and helped out so much. i am just grateful for everything that everyone has done for us.
we are planning to get away for a few days. we had wanted to go to the beach, but the hurricanes have put those plans on hold for a while. we are just going to go to louisville and cincinnatti for a few nights to relax, eat some good food, gamble at the casino boat, and swim at the pool. when we get back from mini-vacation, we are going to have a huge party to celebrate the end of chemo and our second anniversary. i plan on getting a keg and having lots of snack foods for everyone. megan will be designing and sending out invitations soon. i'll also post the info on the blog.
that's all for now....
posted by Shaggy @ 2:07 PM
i started physical therapy today. my therapist is pretty nice. she spent most of the time taking measurements and what-not, just to establish a baseline. she gave me a few exercises to start with. these exercises are aimed at increasing my flexibility. they are a little painful, but i have to do them. most likely i will go back to therapy twice a week for about a month. we'll monitor my progress and see where to go from there.
posted by Shaggy @ 3:58 PM
2 comments
Anonymous said…
I hope they don't push you to hard! That may not be possible, though. Keep it up. Mary
5:42 PM
Anonymous said…
Hang in there Shaggy, you have come a long way, and it will get better.
7:41 PM
today was a good day. i went to get CT scans this morning and to see my oncologist this afternoon. she read the CT scans and had good news. there are no signs of cancer in my body! i do not have to go back for four months. i will be getting my port-a-cath out soon since there is no need for it anymore. on sept. 14th i go back to nashville for a checkup with my surgeon. she will most likely just take x-rays to check how well the metal and bone are fusing together in my femur.
i have had 2 physical therapy sessions so far. they are no fun. i have about 6 different exercises that i am supposed to do 3 times a day. i am trying my best to work hard at the rehad, but it is very painful. hopefully the pain will lessen as my muscles get stronger. in a weeks time i have already improved a little. i have gained about 20 degrees of flection.
for those of you that are interested, the lance armstrong foundation has developed a very informative website, www.livestrong.org. the site has some very good stories by cancer survivors. it provides resources that help you understand some of the physical, emotional and practical issues that may be part of dealing with the disease. they also support the wear yellow campaign and have a link to purchase the livestrong bracelets. these bracelets cost $1 each, with all of the proceeds going to the lance armstrong foundation and cancer research. a friend at work gave me one the other day. i am wearing it to help raise awareness. i urge everyone to do the same.
posted by Shaggy @ 7:58 PM
4 comments
Anonymous said…
That's so aweosme. A relief to no there is no sign of cancer. And to get 20 degrees of flexion in 2 visits is unheard of! Way to go! Keep up with the exercises. I hope all in Nashville is great news too. MB
9:17 PM
Anonymous said…
Dear Shaggy - How wonderful to hear the news! You've sure fought a good fight and its fantastic to hear you are coming out a winner! Hang in with the rehab, the worst is over! God bless you.
10:37 AM
Anonymous said…
I am so happy that there is no sign of cancer. What a relief and a feeling of joy - you two have your future back and I am confident it is brighter than ever. You have done an awsome job winning this fight and you are an inspiration to all of us. Love, Ellie
3:18 PM
Anonymous said…
Came by to check in on what was up and saw this great news! I'm so happy for you guys!! Good luck with the PT and other stuff.
-Michelle H.
3:51 PM
well, it's monday morning and the end of a great weekend. we had a party on saturday night to celebrate the end of chemo and a new beginning. it was a blast! we saw a lot of our friends that we had not seen in a while. it was great to spend time visiting with everyone.
tonight we will be traveling to nashville for my 6 month check-up with my surgeon. i am dreading the trip down there. i hate the 4 hour drive for a 2 hour wait and a 15 minute appointment. we are going to stay the night with some friends and go to the doctor tomorrow. she'll probably take some x-rays and bend my leg a few times. i expect everything will be fine.
then wednesday it is back to dreaded physical therapy. i really hope that PT starts to get better soon....
posted by Shaggy @ 9:56 AM
well, our trip to vandy went pretty good. in addition to seeing the doctor, we got to hang out with some friends for a few hours. it is always a plus to do something you enjoy when you spend 4 hours driving to and from somewhere. the doctor's report was all good. they took a bunch of x-rays of my leg. she gave me one to bring home. i am going to attempt to scan it in to the computer and post it online for everyone to see. it is really mind blowing to see all of the metal in there. she also gave me a card stating that i have "metallic internal hardware that may be detected by metal detectors." it sounds pretty crazy when you put it that way, but i guess its true. i can't wait to try getting on a plane and see if i set the detectors off. i always seem to set them off regardless.
anyway, i don't have to go back to vandy for 6 months. initially she said 3 months, but changed it since i am seeing my oncologist here in lexington in 4 months. i think they just want to keep a close eye on me for the first year.
i am scheduled to see about getting my port-a-cath out on the 21st. i will be really glad to get this thing out of my chest. it just feels so foreign. i think it is also clogged up. the last time they tried to access and use it, it didn't want to work. it really as been great and saved my veins, but it is time for it to go.
physical therapy is still kicking my ass. the pain just doesn't want to ease up. my lower back is giving me the most grief now. i am getting a full body massage tomorrow, so hopefully that will help. if not, i may head to the chiropractor. my therapist told me to get a new pair of shoes this weekend, so i guess i better follow orders. that should help with my walk. well, that all for now...
posted by Shaggy @ 11:13 AM
hey folks, its been a while hasn't it? i bet you thought i just gave up..... well not quite. i am still fighting. if its not one fire its two others. my granny is really sick. she is in an induced coma right now. her lungs look like total shit. she has a severe case of pneumonia. i am really scared that she is not going to pull out of it. it hurts me so bad to see her like this. it is testing the whole family. i need to be strong for them, as they have been so strong for me.
my physical therapy is taking a different turn. i have a new therapist now. she is bringing a fresh insight to my case and hopefully will get me squared away in the next couple of weeks. i only have 5 visits left before the insurance cuts me off. i know the routine, i just need to motivate myself enough to withstand the pain of doing the exercises on my own. i am taking more pain medicine and it continues to work less. the physical pain is getting so old to me, but it is apparent that i am going to have to live with it to a certain degree.
my life is almost back to the hectic shape that it was before cancer hit. i find myself having some different values and outlook on life. cancer has definitely changed me. i have yet to pinpoint some of the exact nuances.
megan is super busy. getting her 'learn' on and working hard for UK. i am so proud of how hard she works at things. she gets frustrated and stressed like we all do, but she has come a long way in being able to manage the stress since the undergrad days. i think dealing with my sick ass has made her tuff (i love you baby!).
anywayz, i better get back to the daily grind. i do ask one thing of all you readers. if you pray.... please pray for my granny. she needs all the help she can get right now. also, i just found out that joanie conley passed away today. my sympathy goes out to her family. she fought a hard fight against cancer.
posted by Shaggy @ 3:24 PM
1 comment
Anonymous said…
O my heavens Shaggy I am so sad to hear your granny isnt doing well, I know how close you all have always been. I always enjoyed visiting with her when we were neighbors on [street] (I am assuming it is your granny Helen). By all means she will be in my prayers, as will you, and your mom and dad and Teddy. I was shocked to hear about Joanie, she was a lovely woman, and I hadnt heard anything about her for a long time, and assumed she was ok. My heart goes out to Jock. Please stay strong, you have done so well.
6:15 PM
its me again. sippin' on some coffee, trying to wake up. this halloween weekend was fairly interesting. in keeping with tradition we watched as many horror movies as we could. i got the original frankenstein film from 1931. it is such a classic. we also watched steven king's maximum overdrive. one of my all-time favorites. last night after the trick-or-treaters left, we went downtown and watched the re-enactment of the michael jackson thriller video in the streets of lexington. it was very cool for lexington to do something like that.
the other night i was bored and browsing one of my favorite websites, deviantart.com. i can spend hours just getting lost in that site looking at the millions of photos and art. i decided to setup my own profile and share some of my work with others. i have been doing this blog for over a year now and it is good for writing and expressing feelings, but it does have limitations. i invite everyone to check out my deviantart site here - shagmasterzero.deviantart.com
on another note, my granny is still in the hospital. she is showing minor improvements. please continue to keep her in your thoughts and prayers...
posted by Shaggy @ 10:26 AM
4 comments
Anonymous said…
Wow! I had no clue Lex was doing such things. Thriller - how exciting. I'll keep your granny in my prayers. Mary
4:12 PM
Anonymous said…
I surely will continue to pray for Helen, and you are often in my thoughts, I am so glad you are doing well.
7:13 AM
Anonymous said…
Shaggy I just took a look at your deviantart site, and have a question. The photo of the "dancing with light"... was that deliberate, the light formations, or did it just appear that way after taking a normal shot? I have a friend who has a photo taken, and strange lights and shapes appear in it, and she is convinced it is energy in a paranormal sense. Any advice I can give her to explain hers, if your light streaks are intentional? Thanks much.
7:22 AM
Shaggy said…
the lights in that photo were caused by a digital effect on my camera. i don't think there were any paranormal forces at work here :)
12:21 PM
the last few days have not been very good ones. monday night i was deathly sick and vomiting most of the night. i had some awesome cajun food that tasted great but my stomach hated. i woke up to bad news on tuesday morning. they removed the life support from my grandmother and she passed away. it was her whishes to not be hooked up to machines for very long. it is very hard to see her go, but it was harder to see her in that condition. the doctors did everything they could possibly do for her. i guess it was just an atypical pneumonia that they couldn't cure. i will miss my granny. she was like a second mother to me. i'll always remember the times when i would sit on the arm of her recliner and she would scratch my back. when i was younger i would spend most of the summer at their house when i worked at the restaurant and was dating megan. she would always have my laundry fresh and clean for me. i'll miss the jello salad that she used to make. it was one of the best deserts.... there are so many other good memories that i have. i just hope she is in a better place now.
anyway, the visitiation will be tomorrow afternoon and funeral around 2pm.
posted by Shaggy @ 1:23 PM
2 comments
Anonymous said…
Oh my, Shaggy I am so very sorry to hear of your granny's passing. I know how very hard this is going to be on everyone, I always knew her to be a wonderful lady. She certainly loved you and Lisa! I remember visiting her when I lived up the street from her, and her walls were always covered with pictures of you two, and she was always talking about you! Things like this are so hard to accept, I know, and I know you will be there for your Grandpa Teddy, as I am sure he will need you in the coming days more than ever. Please convey my deepest deepest condolances to your entire family, and my heart goes out to you, after all you have been through and now this heartbreak. My family and I will hold you in our prayers especially in the difficult next few days. God bless you all. Sincerely, Linda M., Yarmouth Nova Scotia Canada
4:02 PM
Anonymous said…
My apologies for omitting Tracy's name, Helen dearly loved all her grandchildren, that was one of the most obvious things about her. As well as her enjoyment of making a welcoming and comfortable home! .... Linda
6:40 AM
megan and i just got a new puppy. she is a 10 week old black and tan miniature dachshund weighing in at a hefty 2 lbs. she suffered a brief identity crisis. we named her "sushi" for a couple days and then decided that we liked the name"gidget" better. so that is what stuck. little gidget. she is pretty well potty trained (heads for the puppy pad) and sleeps in a kennel with olive at night with minimal whining. she is a little rascal. be sure to check out the pictures on my main website. well, that's all for now...
posted by Shaggy @ 11:21 PM
1 comment
Anonymous said…
She is too cute. And potty trained!! mary
6:55 PM
its been almost 2 months since my last post.... life is moving on these days.... my new years's wish was granted on dec. 30th when i got the "all clear" of detectable cancer cells. i say detectable because i believe that we all have cancer cells in our body. radiation creates mutant genes and the toxins of our environment poison us. i prob have fewer cancer cells right now than most people. after all the killer chemicals i ingested.... anyway right now i am wondering if the chemo didn't make my stomach permanently weak. i had a little stint in the ER the other night. not very pleseant. when i get like that i just want to be unconscious. i go back to GI doctor on wed. to get results from my scope tests. i don't think they are gonna find much. i thik i just need to stop eating junk food and nourish my body instead poking in garbage. i think i'll join the class action lawsuits against the fast food chains... if i won i'd go eat a burger to celebrate... hehe..
our dogs are getting bigger. gidget has multiplied by 2 in the last 2 months and olive is packing it on from all the treats and grubbing puppy food. she's about to go on some weight control formula soon. even our dogs eat like crap. haha. i think we are going to join the YMCA soon. i really want to start working out and getting my leg strong. i have been cutting down on the pain pills and i suddenly have become a grumpy bastard. the pain is never-ending.. like someone tapping you on the back of your head all day. my knee cracks and pops when i flex it. i just wanna inject some WD-40. i think it will eventually get some better... it's just going to take time and exercise on my part. i think the pain pills may be a contributing factor to the stomach issues.
so i guess i am doing great considering those complaints.. hehe.. i'm glad to be alive. that's what matters right now.
posted by Shaggy @ 6:08 PM
3 comments
Anonymous said…
Yeah! About the WD 40, my granny has been rubbing oil - I think motor and baby oil- on her knees to help ease some discomfort. She says it works, but it may just be that she is mental. I'll have to see if I can find any research on oiling knees/joints. Let us know how the Y thing goes. Mary
5:47 PM
Anonymous said…
Hey Shaggy, Im really glad you got the "all clear" from your doctor. That's great to hear. Sounds like your dogs are getting big. I have a fat cat so watch your dogs before they get too big b/c making a pet lose weight sucks. They always beg for more food. Hopefully once you start working out your leg more it will loosen up. Hang in there man!
Your old iHigh/Telecom bud Marc B.
4:53 PM
Anonymous said…
I check back in every so often, just to see how things are. So I was so glad to see this post! I'm so happy for you that you've gotten the all clear.
Good luck with the stomach, I struggle with that a lot too.
Take care and enjoy the rest of your life!
Michelle H. from the old iHigh days michelle@Hillison.com
5:17 PM
blog is back... i am finally running my own server again and can bring back my blog and photo galleries. i have been doing well healthwise lately. i have been focused on shifting my career path and finding new employment. i just received a job offer from the state earlier this week. it looks like things are going to work out. i am excited to move on with my career and have been working to build up my own company, Shaw Consulting LLC. i have been providing IT solutions and web hosting for several years.
megan is busy with school. the semester is almost over so it is crunch time for her. in case you didn't know she is getting her masters in interior design historic preservation.
we still have 2 bad, stinky weiner dogs. little gidget is about to chew up everything in our house. if she wasn't so cute she'd be lookin for a new home...
i just wanted to give everyone an update. take care and i'll talk to you soon.
posted by Shaggy @ 5:08 PM
1 comment
Buck V said…
J Shaw.. just lookin around your & megan's sites.. good stuff! man those pics of your xrays are startling. glad you're OK homeboy.
1:28 PM
The last few days brought more good news. My CT scans and X-rays looked great and showed no evidence of disease. My doctors are happy with my progress to date. It is always a sigh of relief to get the all clear. I am scheduled to return to Vandy in six months and UK in 4 months for more follow-ups. I was surprised to see that I have gained back all of the weight I lost. Right now I am weighing in at 169 lbs. I am going to make an effort to keep working out and building a strong lean body.
In other news, I am glad summer is here and I am able to enjoy the sunny days. Megan and I have been grilling out quite a bit. We enjoy cooking good food and veggies on the grill and eating with friends. I am looking forward to the 4th of July this year. We do not have any solid plans for the long weekend, but I am sure we will enjoy some great time with friends and family. Beating cancer has heightened our senses and made these times more meaningful to us. We have learned to enjoy the little and fine things in life that often go ignored, unnoticed or taken for granted. I encourage everyone to go outside on a sunny day and breathe the fresh air. Feel the sun on your face and be thankful to be alive! Remember to live everyday to the fullest and often tell the people close to you how you feel about them.
Thanks again to everyone out there who has been so supportive! Celebrate freedom and have a safe and happy holiday!
posted by Shaggy @ 8:27 AM
2 comments
Anonymous said…
Oh Shaggy it was so good to come here and read your latest post! You are really an inspiration! Thank God for your recovery and your words to the rest of us. Take care and God bless you and your family.
6:31 PM
Anonymous said…
You get it. That's the main goal. Love what you have this very day. Share that with others. God's peace is infinite. You have inspired many.
11:05 PM
i'm back... i know it has been a while since i have posted. frankly, i have been so busy i have neglected my website. i am going to make an effort to post more often. first i want to say that i hope everyone had a wonderful christmas and that the new year brings you much joy. megan and i spent the holiday with our families and enjoyed the time together. i have transitioned into a new position with the state of ky. i am now working as a network engineer at the commonwealth office of technology in frankfort. i am excited about the new position and i think it is a great move for my career. megan has one more semester left of graduate school. she worked very hard and earned a 4.0 last semester. we will be traveling to europe in late february/early march. the purpose of the trip is academic, however we hope to gain some pleasure from it. we have both traveled abroad before when we were in high school. i am looking forward to experiencing some new countries this time.
my health has been maintaining itself. i travel back to nashville on january 10 for a check-up with my orthopedic oncologist. i must assume all is well. while i occasionally have some lower back flare-ups, etc, my pain is usually at a manageable level. my stomach has refrained from digesting itself. with the proper meds i am maintaining decent gastrointestinal health and have put back on all of the weight i lost plus a little more. as for new years resolutions, megan and i are committing to the most popular - better diet and exercise.
that is about i have for now. talk to you all soon....
posted by Shaggy @ 9:07 AM
1 comment
Linda M. said…
Hi Shaggy
Been keeping up with your progress through this, and so happy to see that you are back on track and leading a happy and healthy life. Stay well and please know that your posts have certainly helped a lot of people. God bless.
Linda in Canada
1:31 PM
hey everyone. i am back in the USA! megan and i traveled to 4 great cities in 10 short days. we flew to paris, france and stayed 2 nights in Le Hotel Notre Dame. our view from the balcony framed the Notre Dame Cathedral magnificently. We then traveled by train to Brussels, Belgium for 1 full day of fun. The next train took us about 3 hours to Amsterdam, Holland. The city of Amsterdamn is filled with some of the most interesting architecture, canals, bicycles, weather and way of life of any place i have traveled. Our next train led to Berlin, Germany. We experienced what remains of the Berlin Wall and had the chance to get an inside look and some important architectual aspects of Berlin.
I had to catch a plane back to the USA, however Megan if continuing her studies abroad with her University peers. She is currently in Austria and heads to Budapest soon. So I am sitting here at my computer working on sorting and cleaning up all of the digital photos I brought back. I had an incredible amount of fun learning about the different cultures and seeing many things that you only read about or see on tv. I encourage everyone to travel more. Get your head from out of your shell and see the world. I feel like traveling makes me more culturally aware and sensitive to world issues. It may have a similar effect for you.
posted by Shaggy @ 7:18 PM
1 comment
John T said…
Shaggy. You are the king.
10:45 AM
i burned my hand the other night. i was making bacon bleu cheese burgers. now my thumb looks like a piece of bacon. it is a little hard to type. i missed a couple days of work with the pain and blisters. typing is my livlihood. When my fingers don't work, i don't work.. it is that simple. well i peck away at this blog. just checking in. by the way, the burgers were incredible... i think we are grilling out veggies tonight... i'll be back to makin bacon before ya know it! maybe i'll post some pictures on my website soon.
posted by Shaggy @ 4:33 PM
1 comment
Anonymous said…
So good to hear you are now getting on with life as is my son Alex (now 12) who is now 2½ years in remission - not sure if you remember him - I did contact you quite some time ago. Good luck with youir life. Gill English UK
8:14 AM
Bone Cancer and Bionic Leg X-rays
From the photo gallery on the same site. Captions are his originals.
tumor x-ray this was the first x-ray of my knee when i was diagnosed with osteosarcoma.scar here is my scar after the limb salvage surgery.bionic knee this xray shows the metal rod in my femur, the artificial knee joint, and metal plate below my knee. i have a metal rod like the one in my femur that runs through the bones in my lower leg that this x-ray does not show.eye hurricane tumor a little piece of art i made with the tumor x-ray, a human eye and hurricane photos...
