My doctor is the Yoda of spinal taps. He curled me up like a little baby, poked around and found the right spot in my back and tapped into a juicy spot, and we were done in no time. He was riding the sciatic nerve for the last 2 minutes, but nothing worse than holding a strong 9 volt battery on your tongue for a while. Zinged right down to the toes of my left foot.
Unfortunately, the juice he took out was tainted with some leukemic cells, and so now I am getting an ommaya reservoir installed in my skull, for the administration of chemo and extraction of fluids for testing. This should be easier than spinal taps, and more effective at getting the chemo to the area that needs it.
You can see in this picture that the doctor peels back a flap of skin, then puts a hole in your head and inserts the ommaya reservoir, which has a small tube that connects to the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). That is where they want the chemo to go.
For an extra $500, I have asked for the plexiglas window in my skull, and 3 LED lights, red, blue and green. If I am angry, the red lights up; depressed is blue; at peace is green. The trick is to get them all going and create a disco ball effect.
This guy cheaped out, no LEDs (nice zipper tho):
I have to go in the hospital Friday at 6 am, and they will knock me out at 8 am or so to do this, a short operation, but I have to stay overnight, in case I seize up or start running around nekkid. I have arranged so I get a single room, i.e. no lunatics other than me. I had tickets to see Hal Holbrook as Mark Twain, so too bad, I bought those for someone else.
My meeting with the oral surgeon last Thursday was useless, as he wants the jaw to heal from the infection and extraction for a month or two, so I will see him in a few weeks. It is healing very fast. Mike B and I went up to the Jade Festival last Thursday, and stayed at Limekiln Park, 85 miles north.
Jade Belly Dancers
Bruce M, me, AJ (Mike and Sue's daughter)
Patience shopping for beads
We took the Ford Econoline RV, which remains unnamed. Sue and Patience and AJ came up Friday, and we hung around the Jade Fest, listening to the music and checking out the jade and other rocks, and the people and the cake and smoothies. I was actually well-dressed in that crowd! The refrigerator on the RV worked great, but we didn't test the wastewater systems with no disposal site nearby.
Monday I got a shot of cortisone deep into my left hip. It felt great right away, because of lidocaine, marcaine, Caan and Abel, cane backed chairs, sugar cane, and all the other canes they dumped in there. Once those started wearing off, I didn't feel nearly so Abel, but the cortisone takes a few days to settle in and get to work. Doc even said I should able to golf. Never could before, haha.
After meeting with the neurosurgeon, I was snacking on Chex Mix after lunch. Next thing I know I am cutting my cheek as I eat a pretzel. Apparently I cracked the edge off a temporary crown. How do prisoners hide razor blades in their mouths? I was getting shredded. I called the dentist, and luckily the permanent (?) crowns are in and he can put them in tomorrow, moving up from next Monday. Right now I have piece of xylitol gum draped over the sharp edge. Where did the cracked-off piece go? I hope I don't get torn up when it exits.
The big 25 year anniversary is coming up in November, so Dana and I are looking at Galapagos Islands cruises and visiting Ecuador. Anyone out there knows anything about this area, tell me.
Oh My(a)! Your own personal antenna, cell tower and traffic light system, all wrapped in one. How cool is that!
ReplyDeleteGood to hear you and Mike made it up to the Jade Festival in the Ho-Spice Hotel (hint-hint).
Hey John, do let me know if that cortisone shot helps the golf game. Hell, we might be onto something here. On the other hand, I’m not sure a cortisone-filled hot tub will help my game. I may have to consider soaking the martini olives in that stuff. I’m sure we could find an ample source through one of the Mexican supply chain channels.
And good luck passing that broken crown. Be careful you don’t give yourself a good ole fashioned ass chewing.
I hope all goes well tomorrow John.
Mac
John, not a day goes by that I am not amazed at your resiliency and quick wit! I do wish you the very best and hope you and Dana have a great time when you go away....You both deserve it! Terri (Dana's friend)
ReplyDeleteSo do you have GPS and internet? Can you raise your antenna and make other people disappear? If so, sign me up.
ReplyDeleteGood luck passing the crown. Does this mean you are no longer King????
another day above
ReplyDeletethe tidal marsh
as fall steadily advances
the sun is still
radiant as it climbs, but
the breeze is strong and sobering, and
the cold wild northerlies are
on the horizon
Mo
Wow John! Getting stuck in the big surf at dusk at Narragansett beach was a cake walk compared to your ongoing treatments. Sheesh!!! Bill
ReplyDeleteIt's easy for me to ask you to fight when I know so little of your world .But thats what you do best, so I will. I know I speak for all your R.I.buds when I say our hearts are full with love for you. You have given us more then you will ever know. Earl
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