LIVING WITH MCL

Cycling is a dangerous sport. I know, because I've had my share of accidents. Fortunately, the only thing I've ever broken was my wrist and thumb, about 25 years ago, but I have had my share of road rash along the way, and even a slight concussion in November of '05, which got me started on this blog. Since then I've been pretty lucky. I've had one or two close calls, but basically nothing [that I can remember]. Even the thought of an accident seldom enters my mind. That is, up until yesterday, when an accident occurred during the group ride. Saturdays is our normal pace line training loop (the Hammer Zone) around the streets of Seal Beach. It was a little unusual because we had caught the first [faster] group, and no one seemed to be pushing the pace. It was a nice comfortable 25 or 26 mph pace. There are a few spots where the pace always picks up regardless (usually around turns), so it's easiest if you move towards the front before those points, and then get ...

I was reminded recently of a quote by Eric Hoffer In times of change learners inherit the earth; while the learned find themselves beautifully equipped to deal with a world that no longer exists. Well what I want to know is, what happened to that world, and why can't I continue to live in it if I so desire?  I don't particularly like the changes that are occurring. Besides the fact the US is "going to hell in a hand basket" (which I won't get into here), work isn't nearly as enjoyable as it once was. Not that work was ever enjoyable, but since being purchased by PCC in October, things have changed in a way I'm not happy about. I can't put a finger on anything in particular, but the feeling is there, much like how the dynamics of the bike club I belong to have changed as well over the past few years. But worst of all, Edie's myeloma has reared its ugly head again, and I'm beginning to wonder, what's the point of anything any more? I...

It turns out, what I thought was the easiest BMB ever , has been anything but. I don't know what the doctor did, but these last few days have been down right miserable. At least there is no swelling in the area of the procedure, nor is there any pain to the touch, or even evidence of infection, but that doesn't change the fact something isn't right. It's been 3 full days since my BMB, and it's only now that I'm [barely] able to walk, without the aid of drugs. It's not been my policy to take drugs, but on Thursday morning around 1 AM, the pain was so unbearable, I relented, and took a Vicodin. Relief was almost instant, enabling me to get 3 hours of sleep, and even make it to work that morning. I probably shouldn't have gone to work, as I was still hurting a little, but the pain was tolerable, and there was some paper work I needed to finish. Plus it was pay day, so I decided to make the drive. I made it through the entire the day and evening (on that one...

That's a bone marrow biopsy (BMB) for the layman out there, and it wasn't nearly as horrific as I had expected. In fact, except for a little soreness right now (and getting worse with every passing moment), I would have to say it was uneventful. It helps to have a good strong doctor, and this was the first time I laid on my side, which may have helped. Now it's just a waiting game for the results expected by my next appointment at the beginning of June, but in the mean time results of my latest blood work were [somewhat] favorable. In addition to my hemoglobin increasing from 11.2 to 11.7 g/dL and my lymphocytes still showing a favorable trend (dropping to 76.6 thou/cumm), my iron has increased since starting to take an iron supplement. Test Result Ref Range IRON 31 35-140 mcg/dL TOTAL IRON BINDING CAPACITY 270.2 245-400 mcg/dL IRON SAT 12 15-50 % Although my iron and % saturation were still below normal, they were slightly improved ( note the different reference ranges fro...

It's been two weeks since I started taking an iron supplement, and one question people have been asking is Do I notice any difference? Well that's a difficult question to answer. Even if I thought I felt better, I would be hesitant to say yes, because I find it hard to believe taking an iron supplement for only two weeks could really have any effect. Then there is the obvious potential for a placebo effect. I want to think the iron is helping, so I rationalize that I'm feeling better. So I have been answering "no". In reality though, I do [sort of] feel better. I've already put in 300 miles on the bike this month, and while I feel tired, I don't feel any more tired than I have been feeling, and I rode really strong this weekend. At least that's my perception. Plus, I think I've been sleeping better, not getting up as often during the night as before, but then again, that could all just be a placebo effect. Oh well, hopefully I'll learn more sho...

Once upon a time, I was going along fine resigned in the knowledge my time on this earth is some what limited.  Even knowing I was anemic didn't seem to phase me. Except for some fatigue [possibly more depression related], I was still feeling reasonably well. At least as well as an anemic, 61 (soon to be 62) year old with a terminal illness could feel. So why in the world did I have to notice the word " hypochromia " on my latest blood test? It was on the two previous tests, and I didn't notice it. So why now? If I hadn't noticed it, I would still be merrily rolling along [pun intended] riding my bike 150 to 200 miles a week, drinking 4 to 5 cups of green tea a day, working 2 days a week, even planning some vacation or what not, with the sole intention of trying not to focus on anything negative. But now that I have, it's hard not to focus on the negative. Especially the colonoscopy, and likely endoscopy, needed to help determine the cause of the iron deficien...