Follow up: Medical

It's been a busy couple of months, with routine follow up exams and "deferred maintenance," i.e., exams and tests that were overdue.

First, the latest: My primary care physician was wildly thrilled with the results she shared with me today. My osteopenia is completely reversed; in two years I've made up the equivalent of 15 years of bone loss, without drugs! My lab report was the best it's been in probably a couple of years: my total and ldl cholesterol are almost back down to where I want them, my triglycerides are down and my Vitamin D, while still considered low, was at least measurable.

Also today: The sinus infection is better but far from gone. My doctor changed the antibiotic that her partner prescribed last week, and extended it. This one might let me keep food in my system.

The broken toe seems to have improved. I went without the sandals yesterday without experiencing pain today. That's a first.

Then there was the oncology appointment on Tuesday. Not so good.... The bad numbers are now 35% higher than they were in April, when she told me that, if they didn't come down by July, we'd need to "consider more aggressive treatment." They went up 50% in seven weeks, after showing improvement between April and June.

Of course, that seven weeks corresponded to the stress and fatigue of the apartment remodel and the sinus infection, all of which raise my WBC count. I need to go back in four to six weeks to see if the increase was transient.

I did discuss with her what the chemo would entail: one treatment, in her office, every three weeks for six treatments. I would need a ride to the treatments: I would be given the same anti-nausea drug I took before the procedure on my neck, and it knocks me out. I would be immuno-compromised during the entire four months: prophylactic antibiotics, limited contact with outsiders, not even any raw produce!

My primary doctor, however, is not as concerned as you might expect. We know that the increased WBC is due to more than just the leukemia.

The remodel is done; it's no longer hanging over me. I've made my decision and signed a new lease. I was able to install my laptop back in my port replicator (aka docking station) just hours before I saw my oncologist. That has been a huge relief. I'm taking the time to figure out how I want to organize things in the new kitchen cabinets. It's taking longer than if I just hid the mess, but I'm already experiencing benefits from some of the changes.

I'm returning to New York next week with the blessings of both doctors. It was during my first trip to New York that my WBC count actually dropped 10%. I've changed my plans for one of the meetings I have planned from a formal presentation to a more casual discussion of some options available to the group.

This will work.