Jumping into the blender

With the whirl of the 2 posts that Fox started-his update, and his statement/plea to keep on posting- it almost has seemed off subject to share what I consider good news.

First:  I went through a tremendous and very black time earlier this summer after the death of my mother-in-law.  It wasn't just wearing myself out physically, mentally, and emotionally; I was the support person for my husband, kids, and grandkids.  When it was time for dealing with her death and then the estate, my husband was not equipped to deal with it and we could not trust his sister (numerous reasons), so it fell to me to be the go-to person for probate, attorney, banks, spread sheets, piles of bill paying, bank statements, etc. I finally came to the realization that I was the "physical presence and representation" of everything my husband did not want to deal with, i.e., impending death, death, memorial service, arrangements for interment, his sister, the attorney, the will.....you get the idea. I sat him down and explained what was going on and we came to a truce.  Cooperate with me and I'll do all the grunt work so you don't have to deal with your sister, but don't blame me for the situation your mom placed you in.  We are moving thru the probate process; I prepare the requested documentation, put it in front of him to sign and the attorney has a separate copy sent to his sister for her to sign on her page.  Works pretty well.

But this summer was a different story-Dx'd with major depression as a result of the above, and all of the little things that could have meant another recurrece of cancer gave me scary symptoms.  Weight loss (20 pounds), cough, muscle aches, fatigue, bad attitude, etc. Saw Dr's-oncology and PC-took regular meds and increased dosage on 2 of them.  Began to feel a bit better and also began to reparticipate in life events, which I had not wanted to do for months.

Second: saw PC two days ago.  My depression level has dropped to a 1, where it had been at a 10 on a 10 point scale.  I've kept the weight off because I want to, not because a surgery or illness has caused the yoyo effect, My cholesterol earned me a happy face on the lab results, my BP and all my one kidney functions are in range, thyroid is normal, Vit. D level is normal, and even my fasting blood glucose cooperated by being below 100.  My red and white cell counts were a little lower than range, but they were before I reached this age or status in life.  When I used to donate blood, sometimes my hematocrit was low.

Forging Ahead: Sometimes we don't have anything to add to a post; sometimes we've never been in the situation (I don't have much advice for a Stage 1, Lap surgery for a partial nephrectomy patient) -other than you lucky bas----.  I came to this board about 4 years ago after most all the major stuff of this era was over with...three invasive surgeries for cancer; a dislocated foot with three broken bones in the ankle/tib-fib; hand surgery to remove the tendon nodule caused by being on crutches with the ankle surgery; and hospitalization while on vacation in Mexico with acute bronchitis.  My Cancer Survivors Support Group tells me I'm not allowed to go on vacation again.

My college education turned me into a teacher for health and physical education and biological sciences.  Had I done my masters it would have been in research and/or public health.   So a bit like Fox, Nano, and others who came to this board with educational or career backgrounds that can help them, we continue to share what we can and when we can.

For those who are just beginning the fight, I know you've read this prior. Be your own advocate, research-research-research, get another opinion, eat a healthy diet, exercise, develop and share with your support system, get copies of your reports.  Be aware that if you can post on this board, you have the capability to look up any word, diagnosis, or comment in your reports that you don't understand. Believe some of it and disregard the advertising that comes with it.

If you're in the fight-and that is until the last breath, keep on fighting.  Thanks to you who have been able to be here in an era of IL2, Votrient, Nivolumab and other treatments.  You are pioneers.  Eight years ago, I was given the option of palliative surgery or 5-7 months to live.  There was no other treatment they could offer.  I chose surgey..."they got it all,", and I had 2 more surgeries.

And tomorrow, I'm going to my eight year old grand-daughter's 3rd grade volleyball game.  question? Why do they call it "volley"ball, when the only one who can get it over the net is occassionally the server?

If I don't get here next week, have a Happy Turkey Day.  My regrets for the nasty weather in Buffalo and all you others who may be snowed in.  That's why I like the Oregon coast; you can't shovel rain.

Luv and hugs,

Donna