It is getting stranger... but taking it in stride

So on my last blog I told everyone that all of a sudden I'm being paid a lot of attention to. Dr. offices calling me, scheduling of tests, etc.

Yesterday I got a call, out of the blue, from UCSF that I was scheduled for a bone marrow biopsy. My UCSF oncologist wanted it done right away and so it will be next Thursday morning. Thursday morning!!! UCSF has never done anything this fast before!!! I called the nurse and asked if it was normal or was something going on. All he could tell me was "the Dr. ordered it as soon as we could schedule it... and that is next Thursday". I asked if I needed to confirm it... he said, "No you just need to be here".

I'm use to being the patient that nobody is worried about. The patient who gets to choose, come back in 3,4 or 6 months? The patient who always worries more than the doctors. Not really use to all this unsolicited attention.

Luckily my company, and most importantly my boss, were very supportive. I will be able to go, in fact, he told me to take Friday off and just relax. So... I'm taking this all in stride. I totally understand that this is probably no big thing and I will be back to my normal healthy self real soon. It is just the strange world of having MM... I'm sure all my MM blogger friends can relate...

The body is sick, but thanks to Jesus the soul is alive and well...

Things are getting STRANGE...

I lost my local oncologist in May. He had just had it with California requirements and trying to make ends meet with low medical payments. He went to the VA in Reno, so all he has to do now is be an oncologist. That left me looking for a new oncologist here in Redding. I finally got a new one in August. When I saw her I felt great, I had a few questions but, all in all, a no problems first meeting.

During the work up they measured me. I have been 5'8" since I graduated high school but they measured my height and I was 5'7". During the meeting she quizzed me about that and I said that I felt great and anyway I was 53... maybe I was shrinking... She looked at me and said "you are so having a bone scan". I didn't think anything more about it.

Well, just a few weeks later I got a call out of the blue from my Transplant Oncologist at UCSF and he wants to see me soon. I was shocked but made the appointment. Today I get a call from my local oncologist's nurse telling me to expect the call. When I told her that I had already spoke to UCSF she said that
"he wants to direct your treatment from here on out"!!! What does that mean? She just said that they would work closely with them and not to worry. What treatment?
I do my own treatment, exercise, weight control and attitude but I have no formal treatment. I guess I will have to wait until my visit to UCSF to get this sorted out. As well as I feel and as boring as my first oncologist visit was... the height thing was the ONLY thing that I came up with...

I hope I'm worried about nothing... That will be my mind set until I have something real to worry about... Now ... Lets plan my next bike ride!

The body is sick, but thanks to Jesus the soul is alive and well...

The Tour is Done...

Ya... I completed the Tour de Tahoe.. The 72 miles around Lake Tahoe. What a great ride. I was very strong and I was very pleased with my times. It took me 4:49 of ride time. Counting rest areas and snacks to total time was 5:15. I ave 14.9 Mph. Several big climbs and a lot of little climbs. That was countered by some great downhills with a max speed of 43.7 mph. At the end I was tired but all in all felt great! I did have one climb that I needed to stop and catch my breath, alt. about 7000 feet and I tried to hold on to a string of 3 riders. They were much younger and much better riders. When my heart rate hit 218, well, it was time to stop and get it under control. Only took about 2 min. and I was under 140 so I continued and had no additional problems.

I was really glad my wife was there to drive the 4 hours home. I was much too tired to drive that distance and be safe.

I was really glad I did this and that I was able to do it as well as I did.

Now, I need to stop writing this and go do my 26 miles recovery ride!

The body is sick, but thanks to Jesus the soul is alive and well...