LIVING WITH MCL

And what a year it was. So many things happened in 2008, it's hard to know where to begin. First and foremost was the free fall in stocks, the near collapse of the worlds financial markets, the rise and fall of oil and gasoline prices, and of course there was the election of Barack Obama as the next president of the United States. My faith in the American public was finally restored. Everything else pales in comparison, even the fact Edie and I made it through 2008 not much worse for wear than we started the year, but there was at least one thing of note. Edie did have an autologous transplant in October, but so far she seems to be recovering fine. She still suffers from persistent neuropathy, resulting from the Velcade she was taking for her Multiple Myeloma, but this month she was approved for Social Security Disability so that has helped. Edie no longer has to endure the unendurable anymore by trying to work. But it seems there is always a downside to everything. Now

I actually wrote this post earlier in the week, but not wanting to spoil everyone's Christmas/Chanukah totally, I decided to hold it until today. [Plus it's freaking cold outside, so I had some time on my hands.] I know I'm probably not the only one, but I don't like this time of year. I'm not sure why I dislike this time of year so much. Heck, I don't even know when I started disliking it so, because at one time I actually remember enjoying it, plus Edie loves this time of year. It might have started when I was diagnosed with MCL, or maybe it started when one of my close riding buddies, who helped start our bike club [which has now gone its separate way], died of pancreatic cancer a couple of years before my diagnosis with MCL.

I just received the results from today's blood work, and I'm happy to report my blood glucose is within the normal [average] range at 94 mg/dL. And that was a non fasting result. It seems I forgot I was supposed to fast for the test. I'd like to report the reduction was because I was able to lose the 10 pounds I committed myself to last month , but while I did have some initial success, trying to lose weight this time of year, is proving to be more daunting than I expected. Fortunately I was successful in eliminating 90% of the sweets from my diet, which I think was the contributing factor to the normal blood glucose reading. My lymphocyte count did jump to above 100 thou/cumm again, but that's still basically the same, even slightly lower, than it was last December, despite fluctuating greatly over the past 12 months. [At those levels, there is a lot of error that can occur when interpreting the results, so that kind of fluctuation is not surprising.] Plus my hemoglobi...

Of course I also hate the cold, wind, fog, etc. but today it happens to be raining, so I'm hating the rain. You wouldn't know that if you were looking at the Live Mega Doppler 7000 HD, courtesy of the local ABC news channel . In fact, you wouldn't think it was raining hardly at all. At least you wouldn't think it was raining as hard as it is, but trust me when I say, it is raining outside, and raining rather heavily, for Southern California that is. So here I sit with

I actually thought I was feeling good enough to go for a ride this morning, but after checking the thermometer outside the house, those thoughts quickly disappeared. It was 37°F outside the house, and 39°F at the airport. (We live in our own little micro climate close by a large park, where the temperature is always a few degrees colder than the surrounding area.) 40°F is my cut off point, below which I won't go out on the bike. That's just way too cold, especially when you consider I'm generating a 20 mph wind when I ride, making it feel a lot colder. And this isn't even the

And winter doesn't even start for another 4 days. Two months ago, I came down with a cold, which kept me off the bike for over a week. It even kept me from visiting Edie when she was in the hospital recovering from her transplant. And now it seems I've contracted yet another cold. That's two colds within a two month period. I can't remember having experienced two colds in such a short period, or even more than one cold in an entire year that has caused me to feel as bad as these latest two. Plus this time, even Edie is sick, so now I'm beginning to wonder. Is this due to our

Edie received an unexpected large check today from the US Treasury, designated "SOC SEC FOR INS". The only explanation we can come up with is her application for Social Security Disability was approved, and this was just a retroactive amount since she became disabled. The strange part is there was no paperwork with the check, nor did we receive any notification her disability had been approved prior to today. Seems strange, we wouldn't have received an explanation prior to receiving a check, but maybe the government was just anxious to get some money into our hands so we could help the troubled retail sector. Or maybe it's just our share of the TARP funds, and everyone will be receiving a similar amount shortly :)

I guess I was a little premature when I switched from being a contrarian/pessimist to a contrarian/optimist . I should have known Republicans in the senate couldn't get past their partisan agenda , and do what's best for the entire country, instead of only what's in their own self interest. As I see it now, unless President Bush acts authoritatively, and helps the Big 3 automakers with money from the TARP fund, another large part of the US manufacturing base (which is what has made this country so great) will be disseminated, and we'll be headed for another great depression, which we may never emerge from. Whoever said there were worse things in life than having lymphoma or myeloma, sure knew what he was talking about.

For the longest time, I'd been thinking our economy was headed downward. Lately I was even thinking we were headed toward a great depression of sorts, but a comment by one of the retired, old timers in the bike club, while we were having coffee/tea after our ride, got me to thinking. He said, I'm sure glad I'm living on a fixed income. That's when it dawned on me, while so many people have condemned social security as a ponzi scheme , it may be the true savior of our economy. Sure things will likely worsen some for many in the next couple of months, but there is an abundance of retired individuals, having the protection of that social net, who will ultimately help cushion the blow, until the various proposed stimulus programs are implemented. Social security didn't exist in the 30's, and neither did unemployment compensation, and that contributed greatly to making the great depression 'great'. Plus the numerous stimulus package(s) that were introduced, a...

Several months ago I wrote about how American Express was unwilling to credit me the $45 annual membership fee on my Starwood Preferred Guest American Express card, knowing they would lose over $500 in merchant generated fees a year from me using that card. Eventually I did get the credit (plus an extra $50 for my troubles), but it took canceling the card, to finally catch the attention of someone at American Express who realized losing $500 per year wasn't worth gaining a measly $45 annual membership fee. Now just recently I experience a very similar problem with my cable internet provider (Charter Communications). When Charter wanted to raise my monthly fee to $69.98 per month, I balked, and got them to agree to a charge equivalent to Verizon FIOS service + $2 more ($44.98/month). I agreed to the extra $2 per month, because service was good, and it was worth $2 per month not having to switch providers. But the next month I received a bill for $47.64. Apparently because I didn...

Here it is almost 5 PM, and I'm not sure how much longer I can last without putting some substantial food into me. I rode pretty hard today, and all I've had since getting home is some left over meat loaf, an apple, about 6 sticks of celery (each stick is good for about 90 seconds), and one of those chocolate chip cookies that are always staring me in the face in the kitchen. I know, but I couldn't resist. Hey, I rode hard today, and I needed a sugar fix. Unfortunately not even that has quelled my desire to eat more at this moment. The worst part is, Edie is planning on baked chicken tonight, and that takes at least an hour, which right now is seeming like an eternity. This losing weight thing isn't getting any easier yet, but at least I'm getting closer to my goal. I've already lost one pound since last Sunday. :) I think I'll go make a salad now. That may encourage Edie to get dinner started.

When you love to eat, especially desserts, like I do, the absolute hardest thing in the world is to go without. Even limiting yourself is difficult, because you know, once you've had a little, it's so easy to rationalize having just that little bit more. I know, because I've been there and done that. When I was first diagnosed with mantle cell, I read an article by Dr. Arthur Robinson about diet and cancer , and decided the best way to combat my lymphoma, was to lose weight by decreasing my food intake, and increasing the amount of exercise I do. It was going to be my mission in life to prove Dr. Robinson correct, and exercise and starve my lymphoma to death. It was difficult, but I did a pretty good job accomplishing that task. I lost 30 pounds [attaining a weight of 147 pounds], and I was riding and feeling better than ever. But then a trip to France in 2003, to consult with a doctor there, as well as experience the Tour d'France in person, resulted in my gaining abo...

Last month when my oncologist said she was going to order additional tests that hadn't been performed for awhile, my only concern was with the PSA test. I had heard having an enlarged prostate typically produces a false positive, which then requires a very painful biopsy to confirm the diagnosis of prostrate cancer. Assuming Certain I had a large prostrate, because of frequent trips to the bathroom, seemingly mostly at night, I was fully expecting to see a high reading, and kept thinking about this painful test, and what to do about it. But NO, my PSA didn't turn out to be a problem at all. It was only .73 ng/mL, which based on everything I've been able to glean from the internet is a relatively low number. (The lab did not provide a reference range for my test.) So then what is causing those frequent trips to the bathroom at night, you might ask? Could it be the blood glucose level of 106 mg/dL, I reported in my previous post , may not be a lab error after all, especially...

Well this month my doctor ordered some additional tests, which haven't been checked in quite awhile, on top of my usual CBC and LDH . Now, I'm almost wishing she hadn't. Here I was cruising along quite happy, learning my hemoglobin remained stable at 12.6 g/dl, my lymphocyte count had dropped below 90 thou/cumm again, and my LDH had improved, from last months 160 IU/L reading, to 126 IU/L , that is, until I received my glucose results. Seeing a glucose reading of 106 mg/dl (reference range 70-99 mg/dl) was very disconcerting. Not even the stock market climbing almost 500 points could help. I emailed my oncologist, and she agreed to another glucose test next month, to confirm the reading. I'm hoping it was just a lab error.  I'd hate to think I may have the onset of diabetes. That's not a pleasant thought, especially on top of my MCL. Having to give up sweets won't be a problem, but the thought of having to give up wine is just unacceptable.

Edie and I have watched every Survivor from the start. It was the first reality show, and in my mind still remains the best. The producers just seem to have that knack for picking the most interesting participants, and are always able to create enough new twists and turns to peak your interest, and continue to watch year after year. Even after 17 seasons (twice a year for 8 years), when you think things can't get any better or more interesting, this latest season, Survivor Gabon , has done just that. This latest episode, when Sugar conspired with Bob, to make Randy think Bob had the hidden immunity idol, and then give it to Randy at Tribal Council to protect Randy from the near certainty of being voted out, has to go down in television history as the best absolute episode ever. There have always been people I disliked, and people that I like, but I can't think of any other single participant, not even Sue in the very first Survivor, who deserved being voted out more than R...

While progress has been made fighting the wild fires in southern California overnight, there is still the smell of smoke in the air, and the sky has that eerie look to it. But even with all the devastation around us, it did make for one spectacular sunset last night, and it's still a good excuse for not going on a bike ride this morning.

Well if you happen to be living on another planet, or are more interested in the goings on at the G20 economic summit in Washington, I thought I'd let you know, LA is on fire (well at least the areas immediately surrounding LA). I've never experienced anything quite like this during my 26 years living in California. The fires are so bad, the smell of smoke 45 miles to the north, and 30 miles to the east, is permeating the air, and the sky is heavily overcast from all the smoke and ash. Even worse, hundreds of homes are burning, numerous freeways are  closed, and the fires are threatening electrical power lines [and I think I even heard some electrical power plants] around LA. WOW! It's even difficult breathing outside, and we're a long way from the fires. I can't even imagine what it must be like closer to the fires. I doubt there'll be many people riding their bikes on the road for at least the next day or two. Although I wasn't planning on riding this wee...

This morning, as we were having coffee at the midpoint of our morning bike ride, a friend and long time riding buddy commented I just hope when Obama gets in, he doesn't screw up the economy too bad. SAY WHAT? As if the economy isn't screwed up enough already, after 8 years of George Bush, 6 years of a Republican congress, and a free market system left to run amok, he's worried Obama might screw things up more. (Sorry ....... I couldn't help myself. :) ) No matter what Obama does when he gets into office, has to be an improvement. I don't think it's possible to screw things up any more than they already are. There just isn't that much room left, if any, for things to get worse. But even with that said, I can see it now, as clearly as I can see LA from the top of Turnbull Canyon when the Santa Ana's are blowing, Sarah Palin and Rush Limbaugh calling for the impeachment of Obama, and blaming this whole economic mess on him and the Democratic congress. The...

There is no doubt our economy is in deep trouble. The stock market is still in turmoil, job layoffs are expanding, and our debt is soaring. There's no money left in the piggy bank (home equity) for consumers to use to fuel the economy, and nothing short of massive stimulus by the federal government, much like FDR in the 30’s, can bring us out of this morass. But in the wake of the latest request by the automotive industry for more money to help it survive, there is one thing our government can do immediately to help all business, especially the auto industry, and consumers alike, and that is to once and for all remove the burden of health care from the backs of US business. One of the biggest obstacles facing the US, as we attempt to drag ourselves out of this morass we're facing, is the non competitiveness of US industry, and the loss of a huge portion of our manufacturing base to low wage countries like, Mexico, China, India, etc, where businesses are not forced to bear the h...

The America I have fond memories of is back, and after what seems to have been an eternity of political campaigning, I can finally relax. As I write this post, Senator McCain is conceding defeat. I know there are likely more than a few people seething over the prospect of a democrat (not to mention a black democrat) as president of the United States, but I couldn't be happier. All I can say is, now is the time to get the politics out of government. It's time we move away from the policies of fear and divisiveness, which have so been a trademark of the past 8 years, and start thinking about what is in the best interest of the country, and not just what only serves our own individual self interest. And I can think of no better person able to accomplish that task, and guide this country through what is sure to be a tumultous few years than Barack Obama.