Tag Archives: health

A Little Health Update (Spoiler: I’m Still Kicking)

11 Thursday Dec 2025

Posted by in Cancer, Leukemia

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I haven’t posted about my health in a while, so here’s your semi-regular episode of “What’s My Body Doing Now?”

First up, the oncology report: still no detectable blast cells for about eight months. 🎉 I’m not throwing a party just yet, because last time I got excited, my labs basically said, “Surprise!” and did their own thing. But for now, we’ll call it a win.

Iron levels? Yeah… those are still on strike. I’ve officially been diagnosed with chronic anemia, which explains why I’m always freezing and walking around the house like it’s January in Alaska. I’ve had so many iron infusions I’m pretty sure I’m 3% metal at this point. Waiting on Marvel to call.

And then there’s the potassium situation. Apparently my potassium levels have been creeping up. My oncologist thinks it’s tied to the kidney failure. Meanwhile, I barely eat any high-potassium foods, so my best guess is that my body is just freelancing at this point.

Skin cancer update: I had a melanoma spot and another bonus cancer removed from my left arm a little over a month ago. They left some lovely scars, which I now refer to as battle wounds because that sounds way cooler than “my dermatologist wanted a closer look.”

Now they’ve moved on to my back. I had a spot removed Tuesday that they think might also be melanoma. We’ll know more when the biopsy comes back, but let me tell you… back pain is a whole different universe. I slept approximately 12 minutes that night because I couldn’t get comfortable. Tylenol and I are in a committed relationship now.

Anyway, that’s the latest episode. Thanks for tuning in. Same time next month for whatever plot twist my body decides to add next. 😅

Life Updates: Weight Loss, Clyde, and Cold Mornings on the River

19 Sunday Oct 2025

Posted by in bariatric-surgery, Cancer, Diabetic, diet, Fishing, Kayaking, Leukemia, Nature, Pets, Weight Loss

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I know—it’s been a minute since I’ve posted anything. Honestly, I don’t even remember what I wrote about last time, so forgive me if I repeat myself a bit.

My weight loss journey has finally leveled out—or at least I think it has. My original goal was 190 pounds, but I’ve actually surpassed that by almost 20. I weighed in this morning at 174 pounds and have been hovering there for several weeks now. That’s over a hundred pounds lost in total, which is still hard for me to wrap my head around sometimes. I’m pretty happy with where I’m at.

I don’t regret having the surgery one bit—if anything, I just wish I’d been able to do it sooner. That said, there are a few side effects I could do without. I get these hunger pains unlike anything I’ve ever felt before—sharp, deep aches around my stomach area that only fade after I eat. And since they removed my inflamed gallbladder during surgery, well, let’s just say I have to stay close to a restroom after meals. What goes in tends to come out quickly, and sometimes with little to no warning. Sometimes it’s 30 minutes, sometimes hours later—but when the tummy starts to rumble, it’s a do-or-die situation. I’ll let your imagination fill in the rest.

On a more personal note, my old buddy Clyde is still hanging in there. He’ll be 21 in January if he makes it that long. About a month ago, we found out he has a tumor on his liver. We don’t know if it’s cancerous, but because of his age, surgery isn’t an option. All we can do now is keep him comfortable and make sure his final days are filled with love. The vet couldn’t give us a timeframe, so we’re just taking things day by day. It’s tough to think about, and we’re trying to prepare ourselves mentally—but that’s easier said than done.

I’m still getting out on the river for some kayak fishing about once a week. I love it, but those 4 a.m. wake-up calls are brutal. I usually try to be on the water by sunrise to make the most of the day, and I’m typically done around 2 p.m. That’s a long stretch to be sitting in a kayak, but it’s peaceful out there.

As the temperatures drop, though, I’m not sure how much longer I’ll be able to keep it up. I’m chronically anemic and stay cold most of the time. Anything below 76 degrees is jacket weather for me. In fact, my thermostat is set at 76, and I still wear a jacket indoors most days. I have a trip planned for this Thursday, but the forecast says 43 degrees in the morning. I can bundle up, but once it warms up, I’ll have to stash my jacket somewhere—and space is limited in a kayak. The front compartment is out of reach when I’m seated, so it’s always a bit of a puzzle.

But hey, that’s life. I’ll enjoy it while I can—cold mornings, creaky joints, and all.

I’m also going to try to stay more active on here, share a bit more often, and hopefully regain some of my old followers—and maybe even find a few new ones along the way.

Feel free to ask me anything about my gastric bypass journey, my buddy Clyde, or my fishing trips. I’d love to share what I’ve learned and experienced. And if you’ve gone through weight loss surgery, have a special pet, or just want to chat about your own hobbies, I’d really enjoy hearing about them too.

Three Month Post Surgery Update

25 Thursday Jul 2024

Posted by in bariatric-surgery, Diabetic, diet, Disability, Weight Loss

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It’s now been three months since my gastric bypass. Since April, I’ve lost 35 pounds. Since the first picture was taken in 2003, 135 pounds. I’m now on 7.5mg of Mounjaro which has been a big help in losing weight. It’s also been a big help with controlling my blood sugar. My sugar still spikes but it comes down without having to take any insulin. I go to my GP in two weeks and I’ll do the blood work to see how good it’s been. I haven’t had a soda in three months, or sweets in four months and to be honest, I don’t really miss either one.

I’m still in my boot and I hope, according to my orthopedic doctor, in three months I’ll be able to get rid of it and go to a regular shoe with special inserts. There will be a list of do’s and don’ts that I’ll have to follow and I will follow that list to a T.

Update: Post-op Day 20

14 Tuesday May 2024

Posted by in bariatric-surgery

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On the day of my surgery, I weighed 260 lbs on my bathroom scales. That number is off because of my leg cast. This morning, after a cast change, I weighed 253.8. Nearly 7 pounds gone. But, on the day I started my diet in preparation for this surgery, I weighed 291 pounds. That would be 38 pounds gone. I’m happy so far with the weight loss.

Four of the five incisions have nearly healed. The one above my belly button still has the glue and looks rough. I’m assured by the doctor that everything looks good. I have an appointment with my surgeon’s coworker next week as my surgeon is on maternity leave. There are a couple of things that I need to discuss with him. The most important item is my iron levels have dropped dangerously low. I’m taking iron supplements so I’m waiting for my oncologist to call with an appointment for an iron infusion.

Although my iron level is low, I don’t regret having the surgery at all. The weight is coming off and I haven’t seen these numbers in several years. I haven’t had a soda or tea in three weeks, nor do I miss them. I was drinking six to eight Diet Dr. Peppers in a day. I replaced them with Sprite Zero after I realized the sodium content was lower in the Sprites. But still, I drank way too many sodas in a day.

I’m still waiting on my Crow Boot. I went to the orthopedic doctor yesterday hoping it had come in. I was told next week maybe. They put me in another cast and not a Moon Cast. Meaning I can see my toes now. By the time my Crow Boot comes in it will be four months in a cast. It has been a nightmare! I’ve mastered going down the stairs but coming back up sucks. Lately, I’ve been crawling up them. I don’t get out of breath nearly as bad doing the crawl. I don’t go anywhere I don’t have to go to. Well, I went to Bible study this past Saturday but that was just to get out of the house for a little while. My wife is not the best driver I’ve seen. She acts like a sixteen-year-old being behind the wheel for the first time. She over-corrects every move she makes. She literally scares me to death. She will make a fifteen-minute drive last over an hour because she doesn’t do interstates. Don’t get me wrong, I love my wife I just can’t handle her driving. She’s an excellent caregiver and I tell her that nearly every day. In fact, when I do get my Crow Boot, I’m taking her to the beach or to the mountains for a few days to show her my appreciation.

Update: Post-Op Day 6

30 Tuesday Apr 2024

Posted by in bariatric-surgery, Weight Loss

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The day of the surgery started off on a bad foot and it didn’t end there. First of all, I was told to be at the hospital at 5am with a surgery time of 9am. At 5am it’s dark and my wife can’t see to drive in the dark so I asked if we could move the surgery time to a later time. 7am was the latest that I could get there and still have the surgery. We arrived at 6:30am and were told that I was way early and my surgery wasn’t scheduled until 1pm. There was nothing to do but wait.

A little after noon, I was finally called back. My wife and I were sent to a pre-op room where they tried three times before they were able to start an IV. I was asked several questions regarding my meds and my health. I was given a gown and told to undress and slip on the hospital gown. I was allowed to say my goodbyes to my wife and was rolled out of that room into the surgery room where I met at least three more nurses who introduced themselves and I don’t remember anything after that.

I was awakened by one of my nurses yelling my name telling me to wake up. I remember them saying that my oxygen was low and they were trying to get my bi-pap working. They were having a hard time because the had the hose hooked up backwards. In my drunken state, I had to try to tell them they had it hooked up wrong. Why they didn’t put me on oxygen I’ll never know.

One of the things I had asked the surgeon to look at while she was in my belly was a hernia. She informed me that her main goal was to do the gastric bypass and if she had time she would look at it. Well, that changed. Once she got into my belly, she found that my gallbladder was about to explode. It was full of inflammation and was bleeding. It was surprising that I hadn’t had any symptoms. The first step was to remove my gallbladder. With the gallbladder removed she noticed that my stomach had risen up into my esophagus. She then had to fix the stomach issue. Once she did that she fixed the hernia then she proceeded to do the gastric bypass. The surgeon told my wife that I was one sick puppy.

During surgery, they had to run a tube down my throat. I’m still coughing from that. My incisions are still a little sore, all five of them. I’m still in the liquid stage of my diet and I should start to be able to eat pureed food on Thursday. I’m so looking forward to that. I can’t tell if I’m losing weight because of the cast. I just had a new one put on yesterday and it feels heavier than the others. The orthopedic doctor fitted me with a Crow Boot yesterday so hopefully, I’ll graduate from a cast in a couple of weeks to a month. At least in a Crow Boot I’ll be able to walk some and climb stairs better than I am now.

Update: April 2nd

02 Tuesday Apr 2024

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It’s been a while I know.  A lot has been going on so hold on to your hat.

Monday, April 1st marks the 10th week that I’ve either been in a splint or a cast.  This is my third hard cast since I was put in one.  I have a problem with either the cast getting wet, broke or both.  I’ve had several x-rays and I’ve been told each time that my foot is healing but has a long way to go.  My foot is still swollen a little and it looks like a lizard with all that dead skin just hanging there.  I did speak to the doctor and if everything continues as it has, I should be able to be put in a Crow Boot in about two months.  At least with a Crow Boot I should be able to walk on it some.

It’s like I’m a prisoner in my own home.  I live in a split foyer home.  When you walk in the front door you must either go up or go downstairs.  Seven of them to be exact. Going downstairs is not a problem.  I simply grab ahold of the banister and the handrail and hop down the stairs.  Going up is another issue. Right now, the solution is to use a walker with the front legs adjusted to the step above and hop up the stairs.  I’m exhausted by the time I make it up the stairs.  This is the reason I don’t go anywhere other than for doctor appointments. 

My gastric bypass surgery has been approved and my surgery is scheduled for the 17th of April.  I have to start my liver shrink diet on the 10th and my 2-day liquid diet starts on the 15th. If I told you th.at I wasn’t worried I’d be lying.  There’s a lot to consider even after the surgery. Just my doctors and my immediate family know about it.  None of my friends or even my parents don’t know about it. The reason?  I have a couple of family members that have had this surgery and they are bigger now than before they had the surgery.  Simply put, they gave up on themselves.  I have a point to make.  I’ll eventually tell them after I lose about 100 lbs.

Another reason I’m doing the surgery is my health.  If everything goes well, I will no longer be a diabetic and I will no longer have to use a Bipap machine to sleep.  The money I’ll save no longer using insulin will more than pay for the vitamins that I’ll have to take.

Stay tuned for updates after the surgery.

January 28th A Huge Setback

28 Sunday Jan 2024

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I’ve had neuropathy in both of my feet for several years. I can stump my toe and never know it.  It is a blessing and a curse.  I’ve had blisters on my toes and feet so bad that it would take months to heal. The bad part is that I never knew I had these blisters until it was too late.  I have tried to check my feet several times a day since then.  I wasn’t too surprised when they told me that I had broken a bone in my foot as well as having several fractures on the top of my foot.  The scary part is that I don’t know how I did it.

Two weeks ago, I woke up to get ready to go to church and noticed my right foot had swelled badly. I first thought of gout.  I treated my foot for gout for a couple of days and when it didn’t get any better, I made an appointment to see a doctor.

The doctor took X-rays and took bloodwork. The doctor told me that I had osteomyelitis, an infection in the bones of my foot, and that I needed to go straight to the ER.  Fortunately, I live on the way to my hospital, so I stopped and packed a bag grabbed my wife, and went to the ER. Nine hours later I was finally seen by a doctor. A CAT scan and more bloodwork were performed.  I was seen by no less than five different doctors, and all speculated the same thing. It all depended on a scheduled MRI that didn’t happen for another two days.  Yes, I was finally admitted and had to wait until an MRI was performed.

I had an orthopedic surgeon come see me and he was the only one who offered another scenario.  All the other doctors were saying the only way to stop the infection was to amputate my leg. The orthopedic surgeon suggested that I had Charcot Midfoot, a rare occurrence that diabetics with severe neuropathy can get.  Basically, it makes your bones brittle and if not treated can cause amputation of a limb or two. If the MRI showed infection that would mean several months of heavy antibiotics with the possibility of amputation of my foot to start off with.  If the MRI showed no infection, my foot would be put in a splint and I could go home and schedule an appointment with an orthopedic surgeon for follow-up appointments.

At approximately 11 am I was wheeled off for my MRI.  At approximately 2 pm I was told that there was no infection, and I was cleared to go home once my foot was put in a brace. At that time I was told that transport had been called and should be there within the hour. At 8:15 pm the transport finally arrived but not after my daughter called the hospital and complained.

Once home there had to be several changes.  A knee scooter, a shower stool, and a toilet rail had to be ordered to make my life a little easier.  I’ll be laid up for at least six weeks, maybe longer.  I’ve called and left a message with one of the doctors.  Hopefully, they’ll call me tomorrow to set up a follow-up appointment.  I’ve also got several other doctors to call tomorrow to reschedule appointments.  Oh, one other thing.  I live in a house with stairs leading to my living area.  I’ll have to call the fire department to get me in and out of my house.  This should be fun.

Step One Complete

07 Thursday Dec 2023

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I spoke with the Bariatric surgeon on Monday and discussed my options. We both concluded that the gastric bypass was the way to go. She was a young doctor and my wife questioned her ability. I think she was just jealous of her looks. We talked about the class that I am going to have to take and the three visits I have to have with my general practitioner. Those will all have to be scheduled. I think I’m going to wait until the first of the year to start this because of the temptations with all the Christmas foods.

My next appointment was with my Gastrologist on the same day. I found out that my stomach ulcer had healed and I can now reduce the meds that I am taking. That’s good news because that was one of the concerns I had with the Bariatric surgery. I also found out that I had a Hiatal Hernia. This can also be taken care of during the Bariatric surgery.

The doctor visits will take three months. If I start in January, that would mean that the surgery would not be until April of next year. There is no mention of any amount of weight that has to be lost but there are several things that I have to do these three months. I have to keep a record of my meals, which I already have an app for that. I have to go to the gym or somehow show that I’m at least trying to exercise every day.

This is going to be a long drawn-out process but I’m ready for it. I’m tired of looking the way I do and feeling the way I do.

Welcome!!

04 Saturday Jun 2022

Posted by in Cancer

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It’s been a while since I’ve posted anything and I have probably lost several followers because of it. As I’ve stated several times throughout my time here, I really don’t post to gain followers. I post because this is a way that I can keep myself honest.

If you want to know about me just ask. I’ve posted enough about my health that I think most people turn me off the minute they see that I’ve posted something. I do feel encouraged that people do like a post though. Although they are few, I do like the comments that get posted on here. So far none have been out of line and I appreciate it.

I lead a pretty boring life so there’s nothing much to post about unless it’s my health. Having CML does make it a little challenging. Something is causing my breathing issues but we are not sure yet.

Stat tuned, I’ll have a story to tell about our flooring project that’s going on now.

3/29/2020 Update

29 Sunday Mar 2020

Posted by in Cycling, Diabetic, diet, Gym, Weight Loss

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How is everyone doing during the quarantine? I’m doing fine I guess.  I did something stupid the other day and I really hope that it doesn’t come back to bite me.  I’m expecting a house painter to come early next week to start painting my house.  In order to do the front, I had to get rid of my hedge bushes.

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They’ve been there for years and have grown quite big and tall. I took a chain saw to them which made for quick work and after the front was exposed I noticed a large hole that went underneath my front stoop.  I had to purchase some bags of dirt to fill it in before the painters showed up.  The stupid part is when I went to Lowes to purchase the dirt.  The place was packed.  It looked like they were going to have some sort of give-away.  I should have turned around then but I didn’t. When I went to check out the line was over twenty people long.  With my health the way it is, I should’ve turned around but instead, I stood in line with all those other people.  I won’t be doing that again.

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The house looks bare now but at least they’re cut down now.  The only thing I have to do now is pull up the stumps.  I’ll do that later on.  The grounds too wet to get in there with my truck and I don’t want to ruin my yard with ruts or worse get my truck stuck.

As of this morning, I’ve lost 9.2 pounds.  I’ve got to get back on my treadmill so I can lose the other five pounds so I can get on my bicycle.  Plus, with the virus going around and us being quarantined, I’m making more and more trips to the refrigerator which is not good.  I’ve still got this nagging cough which when I get out of breath makes it hard for me to breathe and I have a coughing fit.  I’ll either start back this evening or wait until Monday to start.

I have a doctor’s appointment come Wednesday.  I’m sort of excited about going.  I’ve been keeping up with my sugar and it’s down from 9.9 to 7.2.  I’ve already seen the medical test report.  So I’m pretty excited about that.  My triglycerides are high and I need to do something to get it lower.

I’m near to 400 followers now.  When I started this blog I never thought it would be this high.  I’m about to go through and delete a few because some I have found are nothing but spam and sex promo sites.  I have no idea how I got those followers.  Anyway, thanks for following me.

Stay home and stay safe everyone!!