Diary of a Network Geek

The trials and tribulations of a Certified Novell Engineer who's been stranded in Houston, Texas.

4/11/2007

Medical Proceedures

Filed under: Criticism, Marginalia, and Notes,Deep Thoughts,Life, the Universe, and Everything,News and Current Events,Personal Archive — Posted by the Network Geek during the Hour of the Horse which is around lunchtime or 12:17 pm for you boring, normal people.
The moon is Waning Gibbous

I’ve learned more about medical procedures in the past week than I have in the past 38 years.

I have been poked and probed and punctured and scaned so many times in the past several weeks that I think they can build a full-scale replica of me. I’ve lost count of how many times they’ve taken blood from me. The worst was the bone marrow biopsy they did on both hips.
Now, you have to understand, I have a really high tolerance for pain. I mean, really high. I passed several kidney stones before hitting the nine millimeter stone that took me down and I’m told that passing kidney stones is comparable to childbirth. So, when I tell you that the bone marrow biopsy hurt, you can count on the fact that it HURT. Oddly, it wasn’t when they punched the hole into the back of my pelvis, but when they stuck the flexible needle into the bone and drew out the liquid bone marrow that hurt. And, the worst part was that, after doing it on one side, I had to just grit my teeth and know they were going to do it again on the other side. That part was the worst. Knowing how it was going to feel and just having to lay still while they did it. Blech!

The rest of this whole process, though, hasn’t been that bad. Chemo has been easier for me than I would have expected. It turns out that my father, who had colon cancer several years ago, also had virtually no effects of chemotherapy. Must be that hardy, Mid-Western stock that we’re so proud of, eh? Naturally, I’m tired. Apparently, the chemo attacking my body does that. So, too, the whole being stuck in the hospital.  Now, that may change a bit as things go on, but, so far, it’s been okay.
There’s more to say, naturally, but, frankly, I’m tired and the angle that I’m working at with my laptop is rather inconvenient and uncomfortable, so I’m done with my update today.  When I get home, I’ll write more.

7 Comments

  1. Glad to hear you are strong and fighting. You are a brave man. In my thoughts and prayers.

    Comment by Alison — 4/11/2007 @ 1:14 pm

  2. you really are a strong guy – can’t wait till you get let loose again 🙂

    Comment by Peter the brit — 4/11/2007 @ 3:11 pm

  3. Thank you for the update. I have been worrying about you. I’m glad to hear the chemo isn’t as bad as it could have been. I’m giving you an ether hug now, as I tell you to take care of yourself now and your only job right now is to get better. Hope to hear from you soon.

    Comment by Cheri — 4/11/2007 @ 5:54 pm

  4. We are all praying for you! I’m glad to hear that you’re taking it better than expected so far — I pray that it stays that way! In the mean time, Google “Whiners Guide to Chemotherapy” for a little chuckle!

    Comment by Ethel — 4/11/2007 @ 9:05 pm

  5. Jim, You are in my prayers.Take care.Carol Kemper

    Comment by Carol — 4/12/2007 @ 9:13 pm

  6. Jim, As I lay in bed last night, having a hard time going to
    sleep, thinking of how tired and exhausted you sounded on the
    phone….I thought WWJD or what would Jim do ? and the answer
    became very clear…go to sleep!…so I did…duhhh! You are
    in my prayers and thoughts and you might be surprized to how many
    others are praying for you as well.

    Comment by Charley — 4/13/2007 @ 9:48 am

  7. Keep it up Jim.

    Comment by Ian — 4/13/2007 @ 3:10 pm

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