After a week in bed with headaches, I finally got an MRI on 9/29.  It made me feel a lot better - not because it was a cure - but it showed that nothing big and nasty was growing in my head.  In fact, the tumors looked smaller, so whatever was making me feel bad was something else. 

We were going to the Cleveland Clinic Foundation next week anyway, so we mailed the films Express to them (big mistake).  By Wednesday, the films had still not arrived.  They arrived after our appointment Thursday.  But we did have a report from Dayton that confirmed the tumors had shrunk from the treatments by about 50% and so it did not change our treatment plan.  I had also brought the films on CD, or so I had thought, but I had only brought the case and I had left the CD at home.  So why so sick?  The nurse at CCF found that I had thrush.  No wonder since I’ve been on steroids for many months and my immune system has been suppressed all that time. 

After just one day of the thrush medicine I felt much better.  I started waking up at 4 in the morning again and no headaches.  Even 9 milligrams of Melatonin couldn’t keep me down.  I am tapering the steroids from 16 mg/day to 12 mg/day (starting last week 2 mg - 2 mg).  I also started the chemotherapy last Friday, a five day regiment, three pills per night and then the rest of the month off. 

I was tired and it was rough on my digestion system but it was not a big deal overall and now the first round is done.  Five more rounds to go over the next 6 months…  Plan is to do another MRI after the second round.

Speaking of drugs, I also started taking Celebrex.  It inhibits the arterial growth and therefore could reduce tumor re-growth.  Dr. Renneker from California told us to ask about it at CCF and they agreed to use it as an adjunct with the chemo. 

It hit me that with my forty dollar co-pay we could spend more on my medicines than on food per month.  Wednesday I’m going to see Dr. Simkins - the seizure specialist and lay all my drugs on the table and say, “let’s talk…”

Otherwise, mentally I’m doing well.  Physically, I’m having some difficulty walking. My left knee and hip are weaker than they were two or three weeks ago, making my balance and day to day movement more challenging. 

We got a puppy four weeks ago and its taking me all that time to accept her.  Shayna is a Golden Retriever, a very sweet and loveable dog.  I was really not ready for a puppy at this time, but she has really grown on me. 

So that’s the news for now….

With love, hope and light!

Dan
http://katzstein.com
http://life.katzstein.com