Life Does Have a Purpose

14 Sunday Sep 2014

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Life has been busy and full of activities.  Work still sucks but I only have 3 yrs 11 months and 15 days left before I can retire at 55.  But who’s counting?

My health hasn’t changed much.  My eyesight has not improved much and I’m still taking ejections every month.  My CML is still not under control yet but I’m hopping that by my next doctor’s visit that will change.  When I was diagnosed my levels were at 138%.  At my last visit two months ago it had dropped to .73%.  0% is where it needs to be.  My next visit will be this Tuesday so I’m hopping for the best.

I turned 51 one month ago tomorrow.  For my birthday my son gave me two sets of tickets to a couple of Alabama games.  What is so special about this is that my son plays for the Million Dollar Band.  He is a senior this year and we have not been to a game with ticket prices being as high as they are we just couldn’t afford for the rest of the family to go.

My wife and one of my daughters went to a wedding while my parents, my other daughter and I went to the game.  Needless to say getting to our seats was an adventure within itself. Both my parents are in their early to mid 70’s.  The tickets we had were in the highest portion of the stadium that you could be.  I was really worried for my mom who has trouble walking long distances.  Once we finally made it to our seats we all had a great time watching the game as well as watching our son march on the field.  Couldn’t see him but I know he was down there somewhere.

As l’m going through the pictures of yesterday, I am reminded that life moves quickly.  It seems just like yesterday that my son and I was playing catch in our back yard.  Now I’m seeing him in full uniform marching in a college band.  Where does the time go.  I took a picture of my parents with my son and daughter.  As I’m sitting here in front of the computer editing the picture I realize that life does have a purpose.  My parents had a purpose raising me and now it’s my turn to raise my kids.  I think my parents did an outstanding job with me and I’m hopping I’m doing the same with my kids.  So far no arrest records have been made on either of my kids so apparently I’m doing a fair job.

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Bike Path or Road? A question for cyclist.

18 Wednesday Jun 2014

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I’m on vacation at Santa Rosa Beach in Florida. There is a popular strip called 30-A where there is all kinds of shops and of course nice places to stay. One thing they have here is a nice bike path. The problem is that everyone likes to use this path to either ride their cruisers on, walk their dogs, or just take a leisurely stroll. There is no room for road bikes.

Yesterday I started riding the bike path as it was designed for and I was constantly having to go around slower traffic so I decided to ride the road. There is a lot of vehicle traffic on 30-A so I’m constantly worried that I’ll get hit by a passing car. I obey all traffic rules by stopping at stop signs and at all crosswalks for pedestrians. But for some reason these Floridians do not accept road bikers on their roads especially since there is a bike path nearby. I don’t mean to pick on Floridians, I run across frustrated drivers everywhere.

What do you think guys? Should a road bike continue to ride on the road when there is a bike path nearby or continue to ride on the road?

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Looking for a stress free zone.

29 Thursday May 2014

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The last month has been one of those months where nothing seemed to go right.  The last few weeks has just topped it all off.  

I had to have laser treatments in both my eyes and boy let me tell you what an experience that was.  Before my first treatment the doctor told me that there was no words in the English dictionary that would describe just how bright the laser was.  He was right.  I’ve never experienced anything like that before and I hope I don’t have to go through that again any time soon.

All the doctors seem to agree that the CML was the cause of my vision problems and not the Gleevec.  I am now back on my medications.  Although, I do believe my vision is getting a little worse as the time passes.  I don’t go back to either of my doctors until mid July.  

The weather here has been nice enough to ride my bicycle and I’m really glad.  It’s really been nice to be able to get out and do some riding to get rid of some of this stress that I’ve been having to deal with.  My job has really got me to a point where I’m counting the days until I can retire; 4 years, 2 months and 15 days.  In the last nine days I’ve been able to ride seven of those days at at least twenty miles each day.  I’ll be traveling to Dothan, Alabama on the sixth of June to ride in the Tri States Ride on the seventh of June.  I’ll be riding the 45 mile loop.

A lot of changes at work within the past month.  The manager we had resigned and now we have a new manager.  He’s got a military background and is very strict on policies and procedures.  Right now I don’t know if I like him or not.  I’ll have to give him another week or so.

The last two weeks I’ve been repairing air conditioning units on the roof of a warehouse.  Fifteen units to be exact.  Most has had bad compressors and or bad condenser fan motors.  It’s been a real hot job and we’re finally beginning to see the light at the end of the tunnel.  However, rain has entered the equation and the lack of parts so we’ve had to put the repairs on hold until next week.  At least we’ll get a break for a couple of days.  

People keep asking me how I’m doing with my CML.  I’m doing good I guess.  Other than the eye problems and the leg cramps I’ve had no other symptoms of either the CML or the Gleevec.  I’m finally able to see some results of my bike riding plus the dehydration factor of being on the roof for two weeks has really helped out as well.  

Bumps In The Road

22 Tuesday Apr 2014

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It’s been way too long since I’ve posted anything. I’m still here and I’m still alive. As I’ve written before, I’ve been diagnosed with CML, Chronic Myloid Lukemia. I was on Gleevec for over a month when I started noticing my vision starting to get blurry. I thought my sugar was high or my blood pressure was up. My blood sugar was a little high but has been much worse and my blood pressure was normal. Over a period of two weeks my vision got so bad I couldn’t see the keys on my keyboard.  I looked up the side effects for Gleevec and there it was. Blurred vision was one of the side effects.   I called my oncologist and discussed it over the phone. He set me up to see an ophthalmologmists. I saw him and he sent me to a retina specialist.  All this to be diagnosed with peripheral diebetic neuropathy. The big question is what caused it?  Was it the diabetes?  Was it the Gleevec?  Or, was it the CML? 

I went to see Dr. Albert, the retina specialist and he gave me injections in both eyes to reduce the swelling and to stop the bleeders in my eyes. I have an appointment to go back in two weeks to start the laser treatments.  Since the injections I have noticed a small improvement in my eye sight. I have new glasses ordered so maybe I will be able to see more clearly once they come in. 

All the doctors seem to be in agreement that the CML caused the blurred vision and not the Gleevec or my diabetic condition. Although, the doctors aren’t going to rule out the diabetes as a contributing factor. All this time since the onset of my blurred vision I have been off the Gleevec for fear that it could be causing the vision issues. As of last night I started back. I feel much better about that. 

Day 30 All is Well

15 Saturday Mar 2014

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So far only minimal side effects with my Gleevec.  I feel a little fatigued but that can be related to a lot of other things such as staying up too late and the time change. i am also experiencing some bone pain in my right hip.  Again, this could be related to a number of other circumstances.  It’s not as bad today as I got a chance to ride another 20 miles this afternoon.  

I’ve got to get a hold on my dieting.  I got on my scales this morning and I’ve gained nearly all my weight back.  This is not good.  I am determined to do better.  I’ve got a meeting tomorrow at 1:30 pm so I’m planning on getting up early and doing a 20 mile loop.  That is if ‘it’s not raining.  

Day 23 Roller Coaster Ride For Sure

08 Saturday Mar 2014

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Last week was one wild emotional roller coaster ride.  The week started out trying to find out why I haven’t received my Gleevec.  To make a very long story short the nurse at the doctors office sent the script to the wrong place.  I had been told earlier that my co pay was going to be $75 for the prescription.  Well, they were wrong.  It wasn’t $75 but 75% and with my deductible being $1000 that meant that my script was going to be $1000.  One of the things that people are not aware of is that many drug manufacturers offer financial assistance. I called Gleevec and got approved for a drug card.  My script went from $1000 to $100 for the year.  Happy Dance.  I called the pharmacy and got everything ordered yesterday and the Gleevec arrived this morning.  

I got up real late this morning.  I’m on call this month and I don’t usually sleep well while on call.  When I got up my daughter told me that my meds came in and I started reading all the side effects that this med has.  It’s got a long list but hopefully I won’t have any of them.  I ate two pieces of toast with peanut butter with a glass of milk and afterwards took all my meds.  Thirty minutes later I got real dizzy so I went to the kitchen and had an early lunch.  The dizziness went away.

Later this afternoon I got the urge to get outside and enjoy the sunshine.  I hopped on my bicycle and got twenty miles in.  It really felt good to be outside after having to deal with all this weird winter weather we’ve been having.  Spring time is coming to the deep south, it’s just taking it’s sweet time.

Day 14

26 Wednesday Feb 2014

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On February 13th, I was diagnosed with CML, Chronic Myeloid Leukemia. Yesterday, after the bone marrow test last Monday, my doctor confirmed his diagnosis. Fortunately, this type of Leukemia is less aggressive than most that you hear about today and can be controlled by oral medications.

I don’t want to make light of this situation. It is still Leukemia and my family and I have a long road ahead of us. At least I hope so. There are still a lot of “IF’s” but I am confidant in my doctor with his decisions and most importantly I have faith that the good Lord will take good care me and my family.

Twenty years ago when someone who was diagnosed with CML, the life expectancy was only 3 to 5 years. Today, thanks to the advancement of medical technology, the survival rate went from 5 percent before the year 2000 to 95 percent today according the Leukemia Societies website.

Thanks to all who have said a prayer for me and my family and I would appreciate your continued thoughts and prayers at least until we get through the treatment phase. I feel that if it were not for your prayers this could have been a whole lot worse. Again, thanks for all your prayers.