:thumb::thumb::thumb::thumb::thumb:

You the man, Ed!

EDIT: Enjoying things that others see as tedious work is profoundly admirable to me with folks in your situation. It's inspiring.

I don't enjoy the work so much as I am relieved that I am able to do it again. Before my surgery, I was wondering if I would be able to mow again by mid-October. Cutting hedge branches with a lopper is not easy, either. That is tough wood! There were some easier ones, though, such as mulberry and something I have no clue what it is, but it has clusters of red berries on it. I am not going to do a taste test.

The pasture looks nice, like a putting green now. But, it has been raining like hell, so 5 days from now, I will be back out there on the mower.

It's been almost 8 weeks since we've had a rain :(

Even with that storm stretching all the way out to Dodge City tonight? It has been sounding like my house is stuck in a car wash!

Yeah. I'm north and west of Dodge and it started east of me. Glad you are getting rain though. Drought is no fun.

No drought here! We are past the normal yearly rainfall already. I am hoping that leads to a gorgeous autumn. I love me some autumn.

Hey, Ed. Did you have any reactions to the Avastin? I begin that on the 22nd.

I did not. The first time I had it, the nurse monitored me closely to see if I would have a reaction. All I got was a cramp in one toe, but I think that was from the crappy bed I was on. One thing about the Avastin, it made my nose bleed a lot. It would either flow or I'd have bloody goop up in there throughout the day and night. I hope they told you the side effects, particularly about bleeding more from cuts and all that good stuff.

Now I must survive until at least February 18th, because I just got 4 tickets to BLACK SABBATH on February 17th at the Sprint Center! :rockon:

Now that sounds like fun! You'll get there.

Yes. Not looking forward to it. Bleeding and watch any cuts that may not heal. Some sound fairly sever, but 2 doctors said the side effects are very uncommon.

The possible bowel and intestinal perforations scare me the most. I really don't want to take it, but what choice do I have?

I wonder if the Avastin played a part in me passing more blood in the crapper and also if that was why they took out more of my colon than I was initially told. Of course, to cover their asses, I would never get the truth if it was the case.

I also plan to return to Denmark and make a side trip to Scotland, so I should amend that to "I must survive until at least mid-June." If I try some haggis over there, that may be the end of me, though!

I has jealous. Would LOVE to go to Scotland.

Very convenient for them if that is the case.

For 300 dollars or less, I can take the flight from Aalborg to Amsterdam or London, then to Edinburgh. I am thinking of staying there for 3 nights, taking the train up to Loch Ness and staying there 3 nights, then back to Edinburgh to catch the plane back to Aalborg.

Spring or fall?

I usually go at the end of April or first of May and stay into June. I'd do the Scotland trip in May, first week most likely.

Livin' the dream.

Apparently I was literally on fire during a surgery and they didn't bother to tell me about it. It was noted in the surgical report, though, and my local doctor brought it to my attention several weeks later.

:eek: Holy shit! How did that happen? Lazer and oxygen?

We'll find out if God has a sense of humor... :D:D:D

It was oxygen leaking out into my chest cavity, as I understand it.

You might check to see if you have grounds for a lawsuit since they set you on fire. Maybe you can't get anything out of it, but I'd want to be sure. Damn.

Gives a whole new meaning to heartburn. :D

Nah. They gave me life so I'm not going to quibble about it.

On a separate occasion many years ago, I had the vena cava filter installed. Somehow it ended up in my right renal vein instead. There was a potential lawsuit there too, but I guess I'm not very quick to sue. In that case, the blood clot had cleared up and I wasn't dead, so it was kind of a case of no harm, no foul.

As I sit waiting for my CT scan, drinking my second helping of contrast in Crystal Light lemonade, it tastes just as hideous as I remembered. Feh! I just hope I get back home in time before the mudslides start.

good luck Ed

Ed your the man you will make it outta there no problem.

Leave the pant shitting for the KC Royals.

There isn't really any need for CYA, since the forms you sign consent to the surgeon doing whatever he feels is clinically indicated once he gets in there. (And this is a lot better than the alternatives if he couldn't do that)

I am glad there are still people out there who arent just looking for a quick payday anytime something doesn't go as expected.

Fire is uncommon but it does happen. You have pressurized oxygen and electrosurgery equipment being used. Even a momentary flash would have to be documented. It's a rare event and even among those events, harm is rare.

Yeah. My wife has worked in hospitals for a long time and I've heard a couple of horror stories, but they seem to be pretty rare. In my case, it must not have done too much damage.

The vena cava filter eventually caused my right kidney to atrophy to the point that it probably doesn't function much anymore, but luckily I have a spare. :)

The next time I get an attack of the runs, which should be any time now, should I say, "I just Cuetoed!" instead?

I didn't mean it as something going amiss. I meant it if there was negligence or incompetence involved. When I was in the hospital a month ago, I suffered the worst pain of my life when they moved me into the hospital bed. I screamed out loud, but never thought about calling a lawyer. Even when the nurse accidentally left the clamp on my leg after yanking out my catheter and I ended up nearly having my second circumcision, I wasn't thinking lawsuit. Band-aid, yes, but no lawsuit. If they had stuck the catheter up my ass and taped the clamp to my nutsack, then I'd be suing some asses off.

ROFLROFLROFLROFL

That would be the correct term yes.

Mmmmm...crystal light.

Said no one. Ever.

I never have bought the stuff, but is there a diet version? That stuff they made me drink sure tasted like it was diet.

I've had the fruit punch. It's pretty good, and I had no idea it was sugar free.

Crystal Light is diet. If it makes you feel any better, the stuff they made you drink 25 years ago was worse.

Blech. I drink water and sweet tea.

pnuemomediastinum?

No. That's a long word. I had to look it up.

In my case, they were doing a pneumonectomy.

I am about to head to the cancer center to see the liver doc and get results from my scan two days ago, and also to find out what direction my liver treatment will go. I am not sure if I will start with chemo again today, but if I do, it will be treatment number 20.

Best wishes, Ed. Prayed for you and Dave again last night, hopefully something good will come of it.

Good luck today, Lonewolf Ed.

Still praying for you.

Good luck, Brother. We are ALL praying for you.

Good luck big man.

20 rounds. That is incredible. Hopefully they think 19 is sufficient.

Thank you all so much. 19 treatments was for when I had both the colon and liver cancers. Now that they hacked out 9 inches of my colon, the liver is my only battle front, and my liver is what was originally diagnosed at stage IV from the primary colon cancer.

Hope all goes well today, Ed. The way you're handling all this is truly inspirational. Keep kicking butt!!!

Keep fighting, Ed!

Positive thoughts are always coming your way.

I got mixed news today. My liver tumors grew, but that was expected since I have not had chemo in 7 weeks. My lymph nodes have not gotten bigger and the doc said that was good news. I am going to start a new regimen of treatment next Tuesday, with Folfiri and Panitumumab. The possible side effects could get brutal: hair loss, rashes, the runs, nausea, swelling of ankle and feet, and I am to avoid alcohol. Son of a...! It's Octoberfest Season now! :cuss:

Focus on the good, Ed. We'll pray for the elimination of the bad. :thumb:

I just got a case of Hacker-Pschorr Marzen beer, so I will have to chill a few for tomorrow and the weekend, then it's off beer for a long time. Sigh...

http://www.realfarmacy.com/weird-for...t-anti-cancer/

Good luck.

Keep it up, and follow their recommendations to a T. Clinicians will tell you that your attitude matters and being radically committed to the fight matters. Keep battling!

:facepalm:

Whats one Octoberfest when your shooting for many more to come. Follow your Doctors and we all will look forward to stories of Eds many Octoberfest to come.

Ed, Dave and now Sacopoo our thoughts and prayers are with you guys.

She never said anything about this being over anytime soon. She did mention "extending my life" again, and I asked if I'd be here until the 18th of February, because if I died before then, I would be very angry. She looked puzzled and I said I scored 4 tickets to Black Sabbath on the 17th. I said there might be some THC showing up in my blood test after the show, because when Ozzy plays Sweet Leaf when it's just his solo act, the crowd lights up. At the last Sabbath show... it's going to be hazy in there and a contact high will be unavoidable! My doc looked worried when I said that. I didn't tell her I was planning on using the chainsaw today, too. There is just so much I can subject the poor woman to!

I enjoyed a few brews over the weekend, since I am starting my new treatment regimine today. I got the blood draw done already and am now waiting to see the nurse practitioner before going up to the treatment rooms. All the possible side effects show me that this could be a very rough couple of months. Hair loss, nausea, the runs, constipation (really, both??), swollen feet, rashes, no alcohol, and I am to avoid sunlight. Joy. The doc said only the hair on my head would fall off, so since I have a goatee, I might look like Ming the Merciless. :doh!:

Yuck. What are they giving you?

First round of Avastin for me tomorrow.

Just keep at it, man.

That sounds horrible. The runs and constipation?? I shudder at the thought...

Best wishes and good vibes sent your way.

Just shave that head now Ed. Start conditioning that dome with some wax and a buff. May as well get it over vs seeing clumps fall out. Every swinging dick in CP ought do same in support of you all. I am already there mine fell out naturally.

Stuff I can't spell or pronounce yet. One of them that just got started, the first thing I got was a dose of anti-runs stuff since the chemo could give me the trots almost instantly. So far, all is quiet on the southern front, though. I did prepare and bring spare undies today in case there is a mudslide.

Wal-Mart called and doesn't have one of the skin creams i need since I *will* be getting a lovely rash on my head,face, and/or chest. Once it fades away like chicken pox, I was told my fingernails are going to split along the sides and maybe my toenails as well.

If I get them both at once, it seems that would cancel each other out. If that is the case, bring on the constiruns!

Now THAT is 'glass half full'!!

Hrrrm... gettting cramps along my upper abdomen now. I had probably better head to the can to be safe instead of sorry. I might just need to burp, but since they told me I might get the runs right here, I don't care to roll those dice.

Geez makes losing the hair inconsequential sorta.

Yup. I also have to cover myself like a vampire if I venture out into the sun. I might get swollen feet and cracked, peeling skin on the soles. My appetite might take a serious hit, too, and that sucks because Feasting Season is soon upon us and I like to get my grub on in the autumn and winter. I'm talking hearty dishes that take anywhere from all day to 3 days to prepare.

:LOL: That sounds lovely.

Too late.

The muscles around my eyes are getting twitchy. I better tell the nurse. I might just be sleepy, but who knows with this stuff?

Good idea best to find out these things. Big Ed can't be flopping and twitching. Like the Big Stein episode of Seinfeld.

The eye muscles are still a bit twitchy. I am home, ate Chinese food, didn't need a raaalf bucket, and no need for immodium yet, either. I am slightly dizzy, though. I am sipping on a pint of cold water and have to get used to drinking 2 to 3 quarts of liquids (no beer, dammit) for the duration of this new treatment. On the plus side, my new treatments have not made my salivary glands go berserk when I bite into some food, like they did when I was on oxaliplatin. That was quite a shock when my mouth would react like I had the sourest lemon in there and whatever I had bitten into tasted normal.

Hey, Ed. Just letting you know I'm still following this and cheering for you. Keep grinding, man. Hope this round is as tolerable as possible. (And gets the job done.)

Thanks, I do appreciate it greatly!

Keep that inner Viking hacking away at that shit, Ed.

Best of luck to you with that. I hope it goes smoother than mine did and I didn't suffer with it.