Daily Archives: November 23, 2022

Health

A Twilight Thought. Wednesday.

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Samain and the Decided Moon

 

I did it. Went right through that P.E.T. scan with no grandpop’s little helper. Proud of myself. The machine made it easier, but not a cinch. The good news was that I could see behind me and in front of me just a bit. A sure avenue of escape. That was all it took to calm my worried mind. Not worried about cancer but of walls closing in, heat taking me, unable to figure a way out. First time I’ve confronted my claustrophobia successfully. At 75. Still.

This new scan is 500 times clearer than the axumin scan according to the imaging tech. Thank god they don’t bill by increase in resolution.

I drove back through Deer Creek Canyon to remind myself of the Consolation of Deer Creek Canyon. When Dr. Eigner confirmed my diagnosis in May of 2015, I made the same drive and found the age and majesty of the Mountains helped me gain perspective. Put my Mayfly life up against those other beings who travel this World’s path, too.

The scan was on the campus of Sky Ridge Hospital where I had my prostatectomy in July of 2015. That was a left turn on Ridgeway Drive. A right turn on Ridgeway drive takes to you to Anova Cancer Care, the place where I had my 35 sessions of radiation back in 2019. A lot of memories. My cancer spot in Colorado.

Feels like a journey of a thousand miles. Where am I on that journey? No idea. One scan. One pill. One appointment at a time. No other way, really.

 

 

General

When will we ever learn?

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Samain and the Decided Moon

Wednesday gratefuls: Prostate cancer. P.E.T. Scans. Water up, dude. Dry brining the tenderloin roast. Thanksgiving. Kep. Fingerless gloves. Ruth in Colorado Springs. The Walmart shooting victims. The Walmart shooter. Creativity. Cool Nights. Reading. The Glass Bead Game. Movies. Seventh Seal. Poems. The Road Not Taken. Velveeta hair and clown tie. Jared Polis. Pete Buttegieg. Elizabeth Warren. Ukraine. All my friends and family.

Sparks of Joy and Awe: P.E.T. Scan

 

Yes. Today I have a P.E.T. scan. A special sort, like the axumin. Special in two ways. First, it will decide definitively whether I have bony metastases. Second, it will cost me over $1,100. My 20% share of the tracer plus a co-pay. I’m going into it with no sedative. It’s an open-sided machine and my head will only be enclosed for a brief period of time. I should be ok. Comfortable clothes, no metal. Worth the money to avoid general anesthetic. Though I didn’t have a choice. Have to drink lots of water.

Feeling a bit stressed. Thanksgiving. Claustrophobia. Cancer. But just a bit. The worst stress of the three is Thanksgiving. I don’t entertain very much. I want the tenderloin roast to come out well. My pie, too. This is a first try at the new family constellation after Jon’s death, too. Claustrophobia is a buzz kill in so many ways. But I can manage it for brief periods of time. Cancer. Well. To paraphrase my friend Judy, “This beast may kill me, but not today.”

 

Another session with Robin. Cleared the table for Thanksgiving in Kate’s old sewing room. Moved photographs out of that room. Got rid of a lot of boxes, trash. Which I took out to the road today for Shirley Waste Removal. This was the last session with her until the first of the year. She’s taking December off to be with family and see a bathroom remodel through. Going to go through the whole house with her. Making progress. Feels good. Winnowing. Pruning.

Got back the second bid for painting today. Surprising. It’s a thousand dollars less than the first one. And from Greg Lell. Whom I want to use anyhow. Doug has not called yet with his bid. I won’t decide until Marty comes and helps me choose paint colors. I may have her help me in positioning furniture, too.

 

Walmart employee kills 6. Chesapeake, Va. Walmart sells guns. I’m choosing to think right now that we’ll find our way out of this whole mess. Why? Not sure. A new feeling since the elections. Maybe it’s the chrysalis effect talked about by Phillip Slater. Thanks, Tom, for the book. More on this later.