still no definitive news

It is Monday evening and I am waiting for a call from Rob. It may not answer what I have but it should clarify things a little. I should absolutely know what I have by tomorrow when the results of the renal biopsy are due. I hope it is not lupus, or at least that it is the easier to treat kind. I called Dr. Trividi but she didn’t return my call yet. I did get a low pressure shower head and I picked up some needed supplies. I had a cup of onion soup and a baguette at Panera, where I have finished my lumosity training and am working on my blog. I did my knee exercises, my weights and yoga, rode the stationary bike and I practiced all my piano pieces. My blood is 4 pints low and that has Rob worried. I talked with Rosemary and she did not offer to take away another course but that may happen when I get the final diagnosis. I talked to Gyorgyi and she is on the way back home, still recovering from her bad cold. I am going to have a salad when I watch the National Championship game. It was still too cold to go for a walk, but tomorrow should be warmer and I hope to go for a stroll tomorrow. Cathy is doing better but teaching is a real struggle, particularly since she can’t eat anything all day.

a snow day in the hollow and getting out today

It is Sunday and I am in Greens watching the Packers / Giants game. It was brutal out last night and this morning but I stayed at the house yesterday, clearing the road and taking a 25 minute hike toward the afternoon. I did some straightening out around the house and my yoga and my knee exercises along with 40 minutes of bike riding. I also practiced almost all my pieces. This morning was just too cold to even go out. I did my yoga, knee exercises and for the first time since the biopsy, my weights. I rode the bike for 40 minutes and practiced all my pieces. I also kept straightening out the house, even sweeping the floors. I read the Toyota book and figured out how to get into 4 wheel drive low, which may come in handy. Tomorrow I may know all the results and I am scared but not panicked. I tried to call Gyorgyi but her box was full so I’m not sure if she got home yet.

Lupus?

Another big dip in the roller coaster. It is Friday and when I finally got in touch with Dr. Pant, he told me the preliminary result indicated that I either had a fairly mild condition easily treatable or lupus. He wanted me to get a blood test today and though it was originally supposed to be just for lupus, Valerie had to stick me twice and she ended up taking 5 tubes of blood. I should know the results (of the biopsy and the blood work) on Monday or Tuesday. I did my first workout today since the biopsy and then rode my bike for 40 minutes. Both felt good but I was pretty tired after and I ended up taking a nap. I then drove into town for dinner and to get some supplies and I should be heading home soon.

waiting

Thursday started out slow since it was hard to get up and when I finally did I didn’t get much done around the house. I took a nap then got up and played piano then took another, shorter nap. Eventually my blog entries will be one word: napping. Anyway I was going to go see Mr. Hamrick the welder but he was busy so I drove to East Coasters and Matt helped me reverse part of the bike rack so I was able to use the unbroken piece. He was very helpful and I tipped him nicely. Then I had lunch with Claire and that was very good and we had a very good chat about things. I had been told that I wouldn’t know anything until next week so I was kind of in an easy going mood so I headed over to Dick’s to get the short socks to help my swelling legs and surprisingly they had 4 pairs of long johns in so I bought them. Then it was off to my office—for a nap of course—and then I decided to try to get my tiles working and that was another disaster and when I finally got off the computer (and they are going to send me another replacement set of tiles that work with my phone’s operating system) I missed Dr. Pant’s call. He wanted me to call back and I won’t be able to talk to him until tomorrow so that upset me. I assume he doesn’t have any results but I am uneasy about why he wanted to talk to me. I called Rob but he hasn’t called back so I don’t think there is much I can do right now. Cathy’s having a tough time getting back to teaching and that worries me. I wish she could quit but I don’t think that is possible right now. I ran into my kayak friend and had a nice chat with her. She isn’t too busy right now and I’m glad.

the renal biopsy is over and wasn't too painful

Well, it is Wednesday night and I am watching Duke clobber GT. The really good news is that the renal biopsy wasn’t very painful so my week of terror is finished (I was expecting something in the 8-10 range but the worst it got was a 2. They did numb me a lot and they gave me a lot of pain medicine so that may have helped). I still haven’t taken any pain meds but I am very, very tired. I drove home from the Comfort Inn and took a long nap, then went for a walk up to the orchard, then walked home and needed to take a two hour nap when I returned. When I got up I played piano for 20 minutes and then needed a half hour nap before I had enough energy to get going. I contacted Rosemary and she and I will chat after I find out the results of my biopsy and what the treatment plan will be.

less than 15 hours

It is Monday evening and less than 15 hours to go for my renal biopsy. I will be so glad when it is over. I had a reasonable day, having to drive only a little less than 300 miles, stopping to ride my bike at a community college outside of Knoxville, napping, playing nine holes at clear creek near Abingdon, getting my oil changed near Marion and getting to my office for another nap before it got dark. I talked to Gabes and he was sympathetic and I promised to call him tomorrow. I have gotten a lot of support from my friends and that has been very important, especially from Maddie Gallo. She has been very kind and concerned and it moved me. I am certainly not looking forward to tomorrow but it has to happen and I will take either 1 and ½ or 2 5 mg valium to calm me down. Claire is set to meet me at 1, if that’s when I can leave.

almost home

It is New Year’s day and I guess it is an accomplishment that I am still here. That is certainly histrionic but with how low I feel it is not inaccurate. Another day of driving in the rain, although I did get off I-20 and go biking in the light rain for a half hour and that really helped. I ended up napping twice (driving in the rain is really tiring) and made it to Athens, Tennessee. I did my exercises and I am watching the Detroit / Green Bay game at Applebees. I did my lumosity training and am going to post my blog.