My Health - Started 8/17/2017
 

Gonna keep a journal of how this all plays out. I'll add dates to all entries. Some of this is going to get very personal and maybe even gross, so everything will be in spoiler mode.

Click at your own risk.

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Appreciate it man. Being the dude, dad, husband, and provider, I'm already tossing plans around in my head. Hopefully it's just a tapeworm!

https://ajcarlisle.files.wordpress.c...en_yoh0_21.jpg

I'm very sorry to hear that you're having serious health issues like that Chula. That sounds grim and quite worrying. I just hope the CT scan brings some good news.

I like the tapeworm picture, btw - is that supposed to be Dune, do you think?

You seem pretty positive. Maybe a little too positive.

Your bowel movements are a good indicator of overall body function. If they're ever not normal, you should immediately see your doctor.

Yes, Dune.

My doc is aware of everything. That's why he's scheduling all of the tests. If the upcoming results prove negative (fingers crossed, knock on wood, amulet on, etc.) then I'll be off to the gastroenterologist.

I made the mistake of putting on a tank top yesterday. At one point I was in front of the mirror and lifted my arm and realized I have old woman upper arms. My biceps have shrunk so bad that I now have a flap of skin hanging on the other side. Jebus Christ. How embarrasing.

Nothing but long sleeves from here on out.

Sorry to hear about all that you are going through. Nothing but hope, love and prayers for you man.

Please tell Mike that carrots aren't elixirs.

Also, I'm not a religious person, but your in my thoughts Don. You'll get through whatever this is.

My thoughts are with you as well Chula. Hope it isn't the Big C.

8/23/2017

Had the full body CT (cat) Scan this morning. For those who have never had one, here's the drill.

First thing they do is hand you a pair of paper shorts. You go in a dressing room and take off your pants - because of the metal zipper - and put the shorts on. Then they seat you in the prep room where a nurse took my blood pressure (it was high but she said its' common because people are anxious about the test). She then inserts an IV needle and tapes it in place.

Next you go into the testing room and lie down on one of these.

http://static-cdn.sr.se/sida/images/...preset=article

The technician starts a saline drip into the IV needle and then has you raise both arms up over your head. Then the machine tells you to take a deep breath and hold it. Then the tube scans from just below the crotch to your chest. This step is repeated.

Then the tech tells you he's starting the agent (adding iodine into the IV). Within seconds you start to feel very warm inside. Started with my jaw, then my crotch, and within seconds, my entire body. Then they repeat the scan process 2 more times.

That's it. The lab will "read" the results and have a report over to my PCP before the end of the day. Now the waiting......

Crossing fingers for you.

I wish you the best of luck my friend,I will say a prayer :)

I'm all for celebrating but angel dust sounds a bit much.

My band listened to Pink Floyd's Animals right after it was released while tripping on AD.

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Yeah I'm good. Animals is less tedious than some Pink Floyd but I certainly wouldn't waste perfectly good drugs on it.

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CT CHEST ABDOMEN AND PELVIS WITH CONTRAST:

TECHNIQUE: Volume CT was performed using automated exposure control from the thoracic inlet to the symphysis pubis after the uneventful
administration of intravenous contrast. 5mm axial, coronal and sagittal images were visualized on PACS.

Contrast: 100cc of Omnipaque 350 was injected intravenously.

COMPARISON: CT 9/21/2015

FINDINGS:

Chest: There is no significant intrathoracic lymph node enlargement by CT criteria. The heart and great vessels are unremarkable. There is no pleural or pericardial abnormality. There is no lung mass or consolidation.

Abdomen: The liver is enlarged measuring 17.7 cm long. There is marked
hepatic steatosis. There is no focal lesion. The gallbladder, pancreas,
spleen and adrenal glands are unremarkable. The kidneys are normal in size
and contour. There is no renal mass or hydronephrosis. There is a 4 mm
right upper pole renal calculus. There are no enlarged lymph nodes in the
abdomen. There are mild atherosclerotic calcifications of the aorta.

Pelvis: There is no evidence of gastrointestinal obstruction. There is no focal bowel wall thickening. Prostate gland is mildly enlarged. Seminal
vesicles are symmetric. There are no enlarged lymph nodes in the pelvis or groin.

IMPRESSION:
No evidence of malignancy.


This exam was performed at: Sharp Rees-Stealy Mira Mesa

So you're just a closet anorexic?

:clap:

Got my appetite completely back. Think I'm even gaining back some muscle mass. The enlarged liver is not good but adjustments to diet and getting off of my skinny ass and excercising should help.

I'm actually amazed my liver didn't check out years ago considering all of the crap I've filtered through it for the past 4+ decades.

(I'm looking right at you BAT)

I assure you I have never been in your liver.

Yeah you have a fatty liver but it's not too bad. Congrats on the clean bill of health. The liver is pretty resilient and good at healing itself for the most part.

awesome Chula, glad to hear the good news.

Glad your relatively healthy ma dude. Now go get a bike and start pedallin.

Echo the last few messages.

Great news, Chula!! Now you, your family and even us at MB can relax...
Congratulations.

^ Yep, I recommend you use this thread to record your daily mileage on a bike, or post your medals, á la Bob.

When did you stop taking this medicine that caused the decreased appetite?

Been about 6 weeks now. I didn't stop, just went from 100mg back to the original 50mg I'd been taking before. All side affects are 100% gone.

My appetite is still on point. I'm not putting on any substantial weight but I've stopped losing. Funny thing is that based on my age, height, and weight, a number of online BMI calculators say I'm normal at 135. (my old weight of 165 put me on the upper end of normal).

Mike Update:

For about a year he's been working at his friend's bed and breakfast place in Three Rivers, CA which is southeast of San Fransisco - about a 5 hour drive from us if there's no traffic. He doesn't get paid but has free room and board and meals. He sounds happy which is really, really good.

He spent the weekend up in Oregon visiting his girlfriend. He just posted this. She's right behind him (awesome girl).

https://scontent.fsan1-2.fna.fbcdn.n...55&oe=5A304C5F

Talk about living life on your own terms. As much as I wish he'd gone the normal route (school, degree, great paying job, marriage, grandkids, etc.) can't help but admire the road he's chosen.

Isn't it illegal to not pay your employees?

There are probably some volunteer/non-profit/co-ownership clauses that they're good under.

Google Map Three Rivers, CA. They could have filmed Deliverance there.

So I guess Chula's son just smokes pot all day and doesn't bathe.

Aside from the bathing thing, I see no problem with that. Not why I posted it though. I was giving an example of a program where people work for only room and board, which is considered payment.

I know, which is awesome, but I'm me. That honestly sounds like something that... might be up my alley. But where do you get spending money? A second job would take the point out of it.

Friendship is your new spending money.

It's about the *experience* you consumerist swine

That was him 5 years ago. He finally got his hygiene **** together. When he's home my water bill goes up like $25 a month!

So I've gained 3 pounds as of this morning! Woot Woot! :tramp::tramp::tramp:

No wonder I'm broke. Thanks, *******.