Some Quick Updates

Monday I saw my family doctor, primarily about my bruised tailbone and my potentially enlarged thyroid.

The doctor concluded that my tailbone was bruised, but not fractured. He asked me if it hurt when I went to the bathroom. It doesn't. He said it would if it was cracked. Then he asked me to stand up. He said that it definitely wasn't fractured considering how quickly I was able to stand up.

So it will take awhile to completely heal but it could have been worse. He told me that bruised tailbones don't heal very quickly, so I should just be patient with it.

Sounds good to me.

Then he checked out my thyroid gland. He could definitely feel it but it wasn't outrageously big or anything. He told me that he didn't know if it was visible because it was enlarged, or if it's just sticking out because I'm so skinny now.

He set me up for an ultrasound this morning to check it out. If it is enlarged it will be some more blood tests and off to another specialist.

The doctor told me that he wished he had my hair, focusing for a moment on his balding cranium which he compared to a "monk."

Then we quickly switched back to a re-read of my latest CT scan which he recently received. He told me that the one "object" in my remaining kidney looked like a fatty tumor, non-cancerous, but something to watch.

I suggested that possibly I go visit the urologist who removed my right kidney to discuss it. He agreed. I'll be looking to make that appointment next week. I always remember my urologist telling me that if anything pops up in my remaining kidney that they'll stick a needle in there and freeze it.

Besides that we discussed my situation with my oncologist a bit more. He is still very skeptical about the chance of me switching between oncologists within the same medical group. But I still mean to pursue that option. I meet with the director of the group on October 17th.

Yesterday I didn't make it to the specialist in Philly. I rescheduled for later this month. Barbie took ill Monday night and through the day Tuesday. I didn't want to leave her behind, and I didn't want to leave her here alone.

Barb rarely feels under the weather so she spooked me a little. But I couldn't tell that she was starting to come around Tuesday evening, and I believe she's a bit more improved this morning.

The good thing was that I actually got to take care of Barb for once. Typically those roles are reversed and she's taking care of me. At least I got to work off some of my debt to her. I have a long way to go though towards equally everything that she has done for me.

I actually got her to drink two cups of hot tea with a spoonful of honey, instead of her typical coffee which she drinks throughout the day.

It felt good to be on the side of helping for a change, rather than the one who needs help.