Maybe We’ll Know More On Monday
I had a “CT guided retroperitoneal biopsy” on Tuesday to try and get a handle on what is going on in my gut. As the doctor who was doing it told me, when consulting with my oncologist they could see “streaks” of bio-active areas in my PET scan which are suspicious so they correlated their locations with the CT scan images and used a new CT scan to know where to stick the biopsy endoscope. Specifically it was targeting a lymph node that’s in there just in front of my spine. They went in through my back to get it. I was lightly sedated and can remember the doc saying things like “got it”, and “got another one”. He got three samples. I asked him whether he was just getting enough meat to do a biopsy or maybe some more to allow us to do a genetic profile. He was pretty sure he could get enough for the profile.
I meet with my oncologist this Monday to go over what they find. I actually hope it’s not that f-ing cancer. Of course then we still have to solve the mystery of my losing weight, which has been very real. It’s really hitting my energy levels. I start out strong in the mornings and then peter out by late afternoon. I still get hungry but that is confusing because many foods just disgust me and when I find something I like I can eat maybe a third of what I think I can eat. For you who know me, this is very unusual, but it’s been going on since early March. In February I weighed around 210 lbs. Now I’ve been holding this week at 162.
I’d also like to lose these sore back muscles. They still wake me up at night. At least I have a routine for dealing with it though and eventually I can get back to sleep. I’m starting to look for a physical therapist to help with this. I don’t think this is related to the cancer, just a side effect of having been so idle over the past 2 years and then doing heavy work in January & February without breaks or recovery. I really need to jack up my core strength. Hey, good thing is that as I work out the knots my neuropathy in my hands has been going away. I know that my right hand was tingling for a couple of years before I was diagnosed, and was probably due to my posture when working at a laptop, and it would really flare up after I rode the Ducati, so it would be fabulous if I can clear that up before riding again.
Well I’ll be posting again next week to let you know what we find out. Till then, ciao!!
May 14, 2021 @ 4:39 am
Thanks for the update. The weight loss is worrisome. I’ll see you tomorrow on Zoom. Hugs XXXOOO.
May 16, 2021 @ 7:15 am
How did it take me this long to find out you have a blog? Yikes, minus one digital point for me. You sir, have what sounds to be a very through doctor, and I’m glad that’s the case. Super wish you weren’t having to deal with this and could focus on your next bike ride ~ but it sounds like it’s in capable hands and a little bonus is coming with the genealogy thing. So that’s cool. Man, I hope the best for this wave of challenges. I got an emergen-c packet you can have if it’ll help. đź’š
May 16, 2021 @ 11:59 am
No problem, I don’t advertise this blog very much. I’m in the process of configuring an email notification plugin to get alerted to new posts since nobody uses the RSS feeds.
Between the house & its garage clutter and this whatever-it-is health thing I believe I only *might* get the bike running by fall.
I also think the genetic profiling is still a long shot, even if they get good samples. I don’t know why but I’ve just been a tad more pessimistic this year.
May 18, 2021 @ 9:55 pm
Geoff, finally got caught up via your blog. The area your house is in sounds marv-y for a rock nerd. We got our second Fauci Ouchie in April, so are checking dates for a trip north. We have too many people we haven’t seen in a long time. We have a friend in Sea-Tac we tend to stay with, so hopefully we can bounce over. We don’t really want to travel in Seattle, but Dave may not mind the traffic so much now that he has new eyes. Cataracts were fixed in January.
Sorry to hear about the medical travails. It sucks. We can talk if you want someone new to vent to. We have a friend in Shoreline that is having similar problems – back pain, loss of appetite. Maybe we can all get together for lunch? Okay, bad joke.
Do you have the same number? We’d love to call and a chat a bit. You can call an end if it gets too tiring.
Please count us in on your group of supporters. We love you and will talk soon.
Sam
May 19, 2021 @ 8:45 am
YES! I have the same phone number.
YES! I would love you coming over here to visit in Tacoma. We have abundant parking and a guest bedroom too!
YES! It may not be a bad idea to pool our thoughts about back pain & appetite loss. I think they are related.
YES! I’m thrilled you are going to witness & participate in my amusing ride through this part of life!
YAY!!!