NYC Journal

[Calzone]

My left leg is perhaps a little less swollen, or maybe just the same.

Tomorrow a CT scan of my pelvis and torso.

Friday, hopefully the cathera gets removed.

Anyways, I’m glad to have an old geezer hematologist. This guy kinda saved my life.

Cal

 

[Phil_F_NM]

Cal, you may notice that with a blood thinner some extra experiences, none of them pleasant, but also not serious, just irritating. If you are on LMW Heparin, your dosage will be less monitored in the clinic; if you're on warfarin (which is literally rat poison) you'll be heading in to a clinic regularly, I did mine weekly, to get your INR checked. You need to either perfectly regulate the amount of dark leafy greens and cruciferous vegetables you consume every single day, or cut them out altogether. If you choose the eating route, then miss a day, your INR can spike and you can be at risk for a spontaneous bleed. I chose to cut them out altogether because I was in grad school and wasn't necessarily eating a salad or broccoli, etc every day, it was just simpler that way. See if you can get a nutritionist consult. That diet restriction is one thing. Another is that you will notice bleeding from any thin skin: cracked lips, cuticles, your nose, literally any scrape, pimples/ingrown hairs, and rectal bleeding. That last one is always a shocker. Since I wear hearing aids, I clean my ear canals daily with cotton swabs and my ear bled once, which I was ordered to go to the ER for. Finally, the thrombolytics can cause wicked heartburn and GERD. If they haven't already, get your primary or your hemo to give you a prescription for a PPI to reduce reflux, or you simply won't want to eat. Before I got my PPI when I was on warfarin, I felt like I had a stomach full of wet peat moss and acid, so I wound up not eating at all. You can't afford that right now.
Drink a lot of water and electrolytes, maybe even cheat on food regularly to keep your weight up, eat some "unhealthy" comfort food. If you can hack one of those killer lasagnas, that might be good, but again, find a low acid jarred sauce (Rao's makes sensitive marinara) and keep the grease level low, so you can set yourself up for success with food. It's better to gain some pudge and live longer than to leave a trim looking corpse. After this is done, you'll just have another challenge to tackle, which is a good thing for you.

Phil

 

[Calzone]

The size of my scrotum would fill a 36 D-cup.

I have bull-balls. I told my surgeon about the swelling, and I was told some swelling is normal. This I would not say this is some swelling. This as they say is more than a handful.

So I am now part monster.

A scrotum larger than an orange that is like a petite grapefruit is no lie about a 36 D-cup.

No pain or discomfort.

Scary looking. Had to show “Maggie” and show off my version of a boob-bounce.

Maggie told me to put it away. Very-obscene.

Cal

 

[Calzone]

Phil,

At the surgical hospital I got Heparin injections.

Now I’m on Eliquis DVT-PE which seems very specific to my clot and condition. Stomach bleeding is one of the listed side effects.

This is just another, “Oh-well…”

Cal

 

[Calzone]

I did a search, not unusual for the scrotum to swell to the side of a large orange or grapefruit after a radical prostatectomy.

You know how I hate “extra-medium…”

I guess you have to see it to believe it. Kinda crazy…

Cal

 

[Calzone]

It is a week from my surgery, and my hemoglobin, and other levels are remarkably already halfway back to my trended levels that are my normal.

On these charts of trends you can see the bottom spike that was the day of the surgery. Pretty much things are normalizing rapidly.

I learned that the abnormality denoted on the CAT-scan on my lymph nodes does not make any sense when contrasted with/against the prostate Cancer specific specialized PET-scan. No way to go from the highly definitive PET-scan that was an all clear in the chest and lung area, to suddenly have a broadcasted metasticised disease develop in basically a month.

A B-Cell Lymphoma would/could explain the results seen on the CAT-scan, and know that basically CAD can be defined as a slow growing B-Cell Lymphoma. I have been diagnosed as having CAD since I was 49, I am now 67. In two more years I will have been confirmed with CAD for 20 years.

Because I have the ability to reproduce red blood cells efficiently and rapidly, I avoid serious anemias, weakness, and fatigue that generally are the symptoms of CAD. I basically am asymptomatic.

Don’t know how long I have been living with this disease. We don’t know how I got it. It is “idiopathic” meaning for no known reason. It is suggested it could be my body’s response to a childhood disease, or even a case of mononucleosis. So this is a disease I might have had for many-many decades, or even most of my adult life.

One ugly result though, my glucose level was elevated again, this time a bit higher. I have that pre-diabetes range now consistently now that I’m locked down at home and forced to not exercise, I can put a positive spin on this knowing that I have to do daily exercise to prevent developing diabetes. A warning and not a death sentence.

Pretty much I’m right at the threshold, but at this level it is so easy to regain glucose tolerance with just the smallest amount of daily exercise. Like I said, a long walk, a bike ride, some yard work or gardening. Nothing crazy…

My old geezer hematologist revealed to me he has another CAD patient who is suffering very badly with the cold that is going on now.

Cal

 

[Calzone]

Somehow I’m able to eat as long as it’s at least 3 hours before my scan of my pelvis and torso.

I got up at 4:30 and my cut-steel oats should be cooked in a few minutes. An apple, dried cherries, wheat germ, raisins and some nuts mixed in. The cherries and raisins are blood boosters “Nurse Betty” bought me.

I got weighed yesterday dressed without my big watch, keys, wallet, wearing my slippers. 75 Kg or 165. About 8 pounds of bloating is believable, or about a gallon of fluid.

Took my morning double dose of Eliquis and all these vitamins recommended by my PCP.

So a great amount of fortification is happening to optimize an old man. Pretty much I am being dosed with about 3 times the daily recommended dose of Folic Acid between the multi-vitamin and the additional B-Complex.

I’m high maintenance…

Cal

 

[Calzone]

11:15 appointment for a 12:30 scan. A Barium Sulfate smoothie had to be consumed an hour before. This is the same digestive system contrast agent used for a colonoscopy but in a more palatable form.

My veins are fatigued from all the IV needles.

My “grapefruit” grew even bigger overnight.

The kids are sick, but their dad still was able to drive me to my appointment.

Cal

 

[Phil_F_NM]

I think we should pull together a collection of grapefruit images in honor of Cal's ball bag.
"Pompelmo" is a great name. Could be a cheeky coffee table book.
Phil

 

[pyeh]

Pink grapefruit of course.

 

[DownUnder]

I think we should pull together a collection of grapefruit images in honor of Cal's ball bag.
"Pompelmo" is a great name. Could be a cheeky coffee table book.
Phil

Anybody on statins should be wary of grapefruit. The real thing, not images of. Google it or ask your GP. Not recommended.

Pomelo (aka jerk Bali = Balinese orange also aka - pompelmo?) may be passable. Alas for me, I don't like eating it.

Pineapple, maybe. Wonderful for the Hawaiian state economy...

Pedantic alert here, but that's me.

PS Grin and bear it all, Cal. It will all come to pass eventually. Life will go back to as you like it.

 

[Calzone]

Guys,

Having the sway of a 36D is an interesting experience and feeling.

The feel though is softer and more gushy than any breast I have known, also seems to have more heft: water is more dense than fat. Breast implants are kinda firm…

When sitting if I lean forward I kinda crush myself, so I sprawl in a vulgar manner with my legs spread and parted.

The 165 pound weigh in suggests that I somehow am carrying literally about a gallon of water in my pelvis and torso. Water weighs about 8 pounds a gallon.

Don’t forget that my some lymph nodes were removed. Theses remove excess fluid.

The CT scan shows some 9 cm long pocket where fluid has collected, but otherwise unremarkable.

I think my bust size has maxed out. Looks rude and vulgar: perhaps half man: half bull.

My grandson yesterday gave me his “Ducky” to comfort me. Pure love.

It seems like my mono-breast inhibits my guitar practicing. My breast limits the amount I can lean forward, and I can’t hold the guitar in my lap.

Today, “Maggie’s” sister will take us to my surgeon’s office for our appointment.

So having to depend on others, the loss of independence, and the vulnerability that Maggie and I are experiencing is what eventually will happen in the future, hopefully many decades from now. This amount of dependency is difficult to live with, especially since Maggie tends to go into frenzied responses and get crazy.

They say that 75 is the average age that driving is given up. My hope is I will be driving when I’m 85 or even 90…

So hopefully I will get the cathera taken out today, and life will normalize a bit. My ankle seems less swollen.

Been hard to fully wake up, then there is the slide where fatigue sets in. I remain in a foggy twilight…

Cal

 

[Calzone]

Seems like I consistently wake at 4:00 AM after 6-7 hours sleep.

Takes a while to fully wake, then the rest of the day is a long fade, with at times naps or nodding out.

Anyways, a pattern is established, and has been consistent.

Cal

 

[Calzone]

My hope is the gallon of water I’m carrying goes away soon. I’m a bit incapacitated by what I would call bloating.

Not sure if this excess fluid needs to be drained.

Meanwhile I have a PhD woman doing all this second guessing, asking questions, and because of anxiety is unable to listen to any response to her questions.

Pretty hard to relax under these conditions. I carry a lot of this “baggage” that is not helpful.

I tried to address the question of why yesterday’s CT scan was in Scarsdale. When I suggested that it was because it was last minute and urgent that it was just because of convenience because of last minute scheduling. This was a reasonable answer and response, but it was not taken that way.

So lots of complicated “woman-factor.” Trying to stay calm and relaxed is hard to do when there is a frenzied woman who can’t respond appropriately.

BTW I’m not a licensed or trained therapist…

Cal

 

[Calzone]

The cathera has been removed, and upon arriving home I already wet my pants.

Pretty much the checklist of bad things to expect has happened, except pain.

The gallon bloating was deemed normal. Now my surgeon is my primary urologist.

I have some bladder control, but cough, sneeze, or fart, and pretty much anything can happen. The next 3-4 days will not be indicative of my incontenance condition. I can start doing lower pelvic floor exercises.

I’m a mess. LOL.

I was told it will take a few weeks for the gallon to drain. At this point my penis is like a turtle’s head withdrawn into it’s shell. My tip emerges like a nipple on a breast.

4-6 weeks things should be much improved.

Cal

 

[robert blu]

I think you must be patient Cal, time will help you.

 

[Calzone]

I’m finding that almost anything can trigger a release. Trying to sit on a toilet with anything in the bladder is a mistake. Best to empty the bladder first when standing.

What was stated 2-3 times is don’t really count the next 3-4 days. Then 4-6 weeks minimum required. Pretty much I have almost no control.

Don’t forget the cathera tube kept my bladder splinter from closing for 9 days.

I’m a hot mess… LOL.

Looks like coffee irritates the bladder so I need to give it up for a while. Oh-well.

Stockpiled this disposable underwear. Also have to make a toilet paper bib for my penis dribble.

So I expect perhaps after being reamed open for 9 days it might take 3 days for things to tighten up.

My left ankle returned to normal today. No swelling prevalent.

Going through rolls of toilet paper like tissues. I just moved two 12-packes from basement storage into the two bathrooms for consumption. I happen to have two coupons for $1.00 off Scott products to replenish my stockpiles.

Cal

 

[Calzone]

My bladder capacity is vastly diminished. Very little is needed to collect before I heed or need to go. Control s very limited.

Managed to go twice standing up. Need a penis bib to contain dribble. Too easy to loose containment and let loose.

This is no time to cut back on liquids…

Cal

 

[Calzone]

Understand that the cathera has a fork in the tubing with a valve because the cathera after inserted has a bladder of its own.

So what I’m saying is a cathera is mucho evil. My poor bladder…

My surgeon is a rock-star in what he does. Uber specialized.

It seems reasonable that it may take 3-4 days for things to somewhat normalize.

Cal

 

[Calzone]

I managed my third clean pee, where I didn’t make a mess. This time the volume was maybe 3-4 ounces which is vast compared the the previous two.

I guess some muscle memory is at play. I feel a bit more in control.

My stomach though is churning. The grand daughter was over our house with an upset stomach that her brother had the day before. I have the acid reflux happening. A bucket remains nearby.

I just tuned on the heating on my vest. No pain, but a lot of annoying things happening.

Cal