Saturday, October 24, 2009

Oy and Oy and Oy!!

I have been absent (again) due to the various medical events that seem to roll into me like a strong wave. Recovering is harder each time. It was almost comedic.
Restarting Gemcitobin 3 weeks ago was accomplished by commitment, obviously(!), and was dependent on regaining the weight I had lost. Well, I got up to 157.5 lbs and restarted it along with a new drug (for me), Tarceva. I was sick a few times the first week and then after a short visit from my brother I went through 2 1/2 days of constant vomiting - not that I am accusing him of being so nauseating I couldn't help it - but his son had just gotten over a stomach bug several days before and we suspected it might have transferred to me in my weakened state. We stopped the Tarceva, too – in case that was cause, which we are now fairly certain of. Among other things, this is a public apology to my brother Rolf, and to Reece, too. Anyway, the very morning I recovered from that, I literally waterpicked my molar bridge out of my mouth! Bit of a panic. Went to see my great dentist, Dr. Verona (BI), and we decided to leave it out since my teeth have not met, even to say hello, in several months and I can not chew.
But as this was going on, my left shoulder sort of froze - intense pain ensued and still ensues each morning - luckily my mother bought a large moist heating pad, which has taken the edge off. Of course, it severely limits my movement.
Have I complained enough yet?! Through all this we finally got approved for Visiting Nurse Services and I have a home healthcare aid who is great! BUT, of course there is a 'but', the VNS administration is a bloody nightmare. They don't have enough nurses. They keep insisting that our insurance has to send approvals on everything, when we have a coordinator at the insurance company who keeps saying "no you don't" that our contract is different. So we tried for 3 weeks to get extra hours on Tuesday: the insurance said "yes" and VNS said "no we need insurance approval."
Next the VNS Social Worker shows up and says the insurer is cancelling our approval for home health care!!! Of course she is talking out of the wrong end of her body.
So it has been an eventful 3 weeks and I am still weak, underweight, frustrated, and starting to argue with everyone - now via Proloquo a software voice for me to type with because I can't speak clearly enough. So forgive me if I vent "F F F F F F F!!!!!!" That's better. At least the software has a good, RP British accent (mine is Public School British, but it is close enough that my friends find it comforting.
On a good note, I took a walk with a good friend yesterday - here in NYC it was 70 degrees - to the park's entrance 4 blocks away. Good company, lovely weather, a little walk. It was a great day!