NYC Journal

[Calzone]

Last night was rough. Went to bed around 7:30. My stomach was off, and it seemed like I caught the bug the granddaughter had Thursday.

Things were fine until about 1:30 when the die-A-REAR started. By then it seems I regained a good amount of bladder control, no uncontrolled gushing, but the elimination of pee then got followed with number two that was liquid.

So about 5 hours of getting up constantly. At this point I think I’m over the hump, but “Maggie” now appears to be ill with granddaughter disease.

So I lost a lot of liquids, and a conciliation is that I appear less bloated. The bloating can take many weeks or many months to go down, but pretty much granddaughter disease sped up the process. My scrotum is only the size of a navel orange now and there is less turtle head hiding happening.

Maggie thinks it remarkable that I’m no longer a gusher that can happen at any time. The swelling in my left leg is only a tad in the ankle.

I slept a lot, but I’m exhausted. Its 7:30 now.

Cal

 

[MrFujicaman]

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

Cal

We'll pass...

 

[Calzone]

The moment has passed. Not so big anymore. Bout the size of a navel orange now.

Spent most of the day sleeping. The only thing I ate was a steel-cut oatmeal breakfast. I’m having miso broth for dinner.

My pee is clear and my torso less bloated. Getting up out of bed is easier.

No energy for any guitar practice. Pretty much exhausted…

My bladder seems to have a low capacity.

Cal

 

[DownUnder]

The moment has passed. Not so big anymore. Bout the size of a navel orange now.

Spent most of the day sleeping. The only thing I ate was a steel-cut oatmeal breakfast. I’m having miso broth for dinner.

My pee is clear and my torso less bloated. Getting up out of bed is easier.

No energy for any guitar practice. Pretty much exhausted…

My bladder seems to have a low capacity.

Cal

Low capacity bladders are a given with us over-70 duffers. We have to learn to live with this.

I've been fortunate to so far (so he writes, hammering with his fists on wood) avoid problems with my prostate, for which I thank all the gods this planet has given us plus all those in the universe. However, if I make the mistake of drinking any more than say one glass of (insert your favourite potion here) after dinner, it will inevitably mean one or even several trips to the bathroom during the night.

My 'squirt' is still okay but there are days when I wonder where all the bottled juice I've imbibed the evening before has gone to. Obviously my liver must have a reservoir of a considerable size attached to it.

Pardon the bad pun, but at our age (60+ in your case, 70+++ in mine) we must adapt to "going with the flowing".

All will end up right in the, one hopes, not too long run. Just stay with it. I mean, what else can you do...

PS Steel-cut oats with added goodies for breakfast are fine, I often have the same. Only miso soup for dinner, well. Don't be too quick to cut out the carbs, they have their uses in maintaining good bowel health. A good basic diet includes a little of almost everything (here I will say from what you've written in the past, you are on the right track - just keep it going!)

 

[Calzone]

Its 2:30 AM, and I have hit sleep saturation.

I have gotten up every 20 minutes to a half hour to pee. My capacity is increasing.

My stomach is not 100%. Decided to let things settle a bit last night.

The kids put in an offer on a small house in Carmel, and their offer was taken. Today is a house inspection. Pretty much turn-key 1950’s cottage that was remodeled by a local contractor.

An ADU built and was spun off as a separate property, which dropped the taxes.

They need to install a fence to contain the kids, and “Maggie” thinks the location is too close to a main road.

Cal

 

[Calzone]

8:00 AM: I ended up siting on my couch in my guitar room and continued to nap on and off.

Had a ginger tea, and now it seems the intervals before waking have grown as well as my bladder capacity.

So visible improvements over short times I deem as rapid improvement. I think I did well by resting my digestive system after the very rough night.

All the rest is refreshing, if I can only keep it up…

The bloating is much reduced.

Cal

 

[Calzone]

I’m up and about now.

My stomach is settled, “Maggie” still has the burps.

The kids are doing the house inspection, we have the grandson who is on me like glue. This kid eats all my food. Made him two eggs and I had to cook a third for him.

Pretty much he is “Boss-Baby.”

Let’s see how my stamina holds out today. Practiced some guitar, not a lot.

Cal

 

[robert blu]

Cal says: "Practiced some guitar, not a lot."

I am sure even only a very short time with a guitar in your hands will help you to feel better !

 

[Calzone]

Still awake. LOL.

Definitely tomorrow some necessary shopping for food: Trader Joe’s; and CVS.

Seems like what I thought would be big scars is excess dried Crazy Glue that is flaking off.

Seems like I’m peeing less, or is this just better bladder control?

So life is a different struggle, but it is not bad.

Tomorrow I should call my insurance company. Medicare has a $2K deductible, but I paid into a part ”D” that I believe should have covered the $602.00 prescription for Eliquis. I also need approval for a refill.

The kids had to pay full asking price on their new house. Taxes are very low.

Cal

 

[Calzone]

These ICE raids might involve people who live in Peekskill. There are a lot of immigrants here.

Hardball is the game. Tough love and no compassion. This is what people voted for.

Expect worker shortages, wage inflation, and of course higher prices especially in food prices and construction.

Cal

 

[Calzone]

Somehow managed to stay awake with no naps.

The grandson was very tender with me.

The cottage that the kids secured was done right. Well insulated and HVAC is mini-splits with a basement wood stove.

There are some trees close to the house that should be removed.

Install a fence to secure the kids and it is a one-and-done.

Cal

 

[Calzone]

Wow, the providence of the Pulitzer Prize winning 1972 photo “Napalm Girl” was contested.

The alternative story is that the shot was taken by a “stringer” and an editor motivated by either guilt or racism decided to re-align the credit.

To me is the horrible dishonor of the photographer who was complicit and went along with taking credit for someone else’s work.

WOW, again…

Cal

 

[Calzone]

6:40 PM and I’m fading out. Some guitar practice…

Cal

 

[Calzone]

Its nearly 6:00 AM and I’ve been up for an hour.

Been sleeping my life away. Thinking of going back to bed.

Cal

 

[Yokosuka Mike]

Dude, hang in there.

Have you thought of writing poetry? Poetry always got me through my tough times.

Time is Time

Time has baptized me
Washed my sarcasm away
Left me living my life,
In a sunshiny day
Opened my eyes
To see a better way

Time is a tiller,
For my rudderless soul
Lifting me out,
Of a bottomless hole
Bringing me the peace
That I’d never knowed

Time cured what hurt
Reversed the bad medicine
Gave me the sign
To forgive all the sins
Left me to smile
And visit my friends

Time is time
Not the end

Mike

 

[DownUnder]

As Mike said - just hang in there, Cal. The bad parts of it will soon be history.

Above all else, remember The 3P Rule - positive thoughts generate positive vibes which turn into positive results. Buddhism 101...

 

[Calzone]

Mike,

Many thanks.

I did write poetry in the past. In my MFA I did a poetry class and pretty much got killed. I admit that I am not a poet.

What you wrote resonates.

Cal

 

[Calzone]

Everybody, I just write about the good, the bad, and the ugly.

That stomach virus was evil. Even last night my stomach was unsettled. Then after the die-A-rear constipation and gas.

The healing of the steak knife like stabbing, 5 of them, are healing nicely. Not so monstrous looking. I don’t think they will form keloid scars, and with time will fade.

I feel rested and well enough to venture out to do food shopping, and get gas.

Bedding down was the right thing to do. “Maggie’s” recovery from granddaughter disease also took time. This is likely the same virus that is headlined in the news. Mucho evil…

After dinner last night still had stomach growl and churning.

Today had soft boiled eggs and dry toast just to settle the stomach.

Anyways today I feel human.

Cal

 

[Calzone]

The pathology report came in: the good is that it seems on one side zero out of ten lymph-nodes testiest negative for Cancer; 6 out of ten lymph-nodes on the other side tested negative; and pretty much the Cancer is not considered metasitisised to other lymph-nodes.

Summery is that there are some other lymph-node irregularities, but because we saw my hematologist we know that my auto-immune disorder known as CAD (Cold Agglutinin Disease) is likely the source of the recorded irregularities. No real concern or danger here.

I have been diagnosed with CAD since age 49, now age 67, and likely I developed this condition from a childhood disease response or maybe undiagnosed mononucleosis.

They identified Cancer in the neck of my bladder and in the seminal vessels, and some entanglement with some surrounding nerves.

Hopefully just 4-6 weeks of radiation to kill the Cancer. Hopefully my bladder does not go south. Living with a bag verses having a bladder is a big quality of life issue…

So we await the call from my new primary urologist. My first urologist got supplanted by the urologist who became my robotic surgeon. My new primary urologist is also the Chief Of Urology for Westchester.

So radiation and Androgene Deprivation Therapy (Chemical Castration) are yet to come at some point.

UPDATE: Pretty much the Cancer on my bladder and seminal vessels was excised along with the Prostate and lymph-nodes. The way surgery goes it explores the margins and testing of tissues is performed a long the way.

I have to make an appointment for March 3rd. A PSA test after surgery becomes a highly accurate test. Pretty much should be a “ZERO.”

In the future certainly my Cancer is expected back, and at that time the radiation and ADT (hormone therapy) will be used to kill any grow back.

So with my CAD I have about a 5% or less chance of my CAD blowing up into a full blown lymphoma. Because of the underlying CAD any Lymphoma would take me out in a matter of months. Pretty much I am like a live grenade with the pin pulled. Been conscious of being like a walking time bomb for 18 years since age 49 when I was diagnosed with CAD.

So now I hold a second grenade in my other hand, and it too has it’s pin pulled.

Oh-well…

What I’m saying here is nothing really new here as far as attitude. Now I am aware of two conditions that can take me out at anytime.

Mucho glad I retired early…

Everybody, thanks for all the love and support.

As a stroke of luck, here in New York I am getting the state of the art best of the best of care. Things were caught just in time…

Again, divine intervention? There is a reason why I am not scared… There is some deeper meaning going on here…

Cal

 

[Calzone]

I wonder how our friend Joe is doing?

Cal