The Trip is On

Monday turned out to be a very good day.  I did my knee exercises, then drove to Rob’s office to get my blood drawn to see if I would be able to go on my trip.  I then drove out to play nine holes of golf with Craig Waggaman.  We were put on the back nine so that took away any advantage I had with being familiar with the course since I almost never am able to play the back (which I wouldn’t mind doing more).  Anyway, Craig gives me 9 shots, one a hole and on the first hole Craig hits two very solid shots from the senior tees and then hits a wedge into the hole from about 45 yards for an eagle.  Wow! He wins the hole and has a one shot lead.  Craig plays very well, eventually shooting a 38, but I shoot a 44, even with moving my tee back on 14 on.  We had some lunch and then we headed off.  It was a lot of fun.  Next I take a quick nap and meet Claire for a second lunch at Nagoya.  She was doing very well and then we headed over to Kate’s to water the flowers so Claire can see the procedure Kate wants followed.  Then I came home and got the good news from Rob and Ghosheh that my blood level was stable and my kidney number was a little better.  The trip is on.  Then I needed a very long nap and I got up at almost 7.  I did some errands and then went and did my bike ride but I was still pretty tired so I only rode about 25 minutes.  I headed home and realized that I am not leaving till Wednesday so I actually have an extra day (I would have preferred to get going on Tuesday but it will have to wait.  My rash was bothering me some so I put some cream on and that helped.

Roller Coaster

Saturday was a reasonable day with knee exercises, weights for my left arm, some stretching, and picking up the remaining supplies for the trip.  I eventually drove out to Walker Creek at the White Gate bridge and caught 3 small fish.  I then headed over to tech and rode my bike for a solid 40 minutes up 10 ramps.  I went to bed around 12.

Sunday found me waking up at 3:30 very worried about the trip.  I read some stuff online about withdrawing from Cellcept and it sounds pretty scary.  I got up and wrote to UVA but I don’t really expect a response untiI Monday.  I have been off the Cellcept for three days and fortunately I was only on it for a little less than two weeks so the withdrawal should be pretty easy, I hope.  I took a full valium and got up in time to call Rob at 8 (he was going to call Ghosheh and get back to me, but it’s after 5 and I haven’t heard from him).  I also called Dave last night at 11 his time but he didn’t return my call.  I then showered and treated myself with the cream and that felt much better.  I watched Spain and Russia play but I had to leave at 11:15 to head to Mass.  I felt good when I got there but just as Mass started a guy with a cough sat right in front of me and I had to sit in the Narthex part of the time.  It totally ruined the experience.

Some Tough Moments

Thursday was an okay day with knee exercises, some piano and singing, and then doing a bunch of errands.  I checked my mail at Radford, got the meds at Walmart, and picked up some other supplies.  I went for my 40 minute bike ride at Tech and that felt good.  I stayed up till 12 but I awoke at 3:30 very anxious and almost decided to cancel the trip but after 2 halves of valium, I calmed down, got to sleep.

Friday found me waking up at 8:30 and I felt much better so I am going to try to tough it out.  Rob texted to tell me not to worry about the last couple days, and later he called and said that my blood level was down a pint, and he thought it might be the Cellcept so he might take me off it.  He said he was going to talk to Dr. Kalantari next week.  Kalantari’s colleague emailed me that the only alternative to the Cellcept is Cyclosporin (not exactly) and that has more side effects.  I did my knee exercises and then later I took a walk over at Tech for 25 minutes.

Is There Any Hope Left

Wednesday was a very strange and it may be the day that I decided to end my journey.   I awoke feeling even more anxious and at one point I started to cry.  I was also very tired feeling and I knew it was the cellcept.  I have no reason right now to be very anxious or unreasonably tired.  It was getting more and more like last summer when I was so very tired and so very anxious.  Despite remaining tired I decided to go play golf and amazingly, I played incredibly well and shot a 40.  I then decided to nap and I think I did drift off, then I drove out to David’s place and caught 3 nice bass, then coming back I was partially run off the road by a small gray car.  I called the police but I doubt anything will come of it.  Then I called Rob and I was hysterical about what the cellcept was doing to me, that it was just like last summer and I do think the cellcept and perhaps the high dose of prednisone back then, contributed to my selling the hollow at such a low price.  It was during this time that Rob put me on Zoloft but that was a total failure.  I told Rob that I won’t go through that hell again and that I would rather die.  I think I am sincere about that.  I called Dr. Ghosheh about the situation and also wrote to Dr. Kalantari.  If they can’t do something for me I don’t see much hope of continuing on.  I’ve suffered for 18 months and that is enough.

Package Mailed to Colorado

Monday was a decent day, but I awoke being a little anxious and somewhat tired.  I did my knee exercises, played some piano, then went off to mail my box of fishing gear and clothes.  That cost almost 50 dollars but I think it makes sense so I don’t have to carry much stuff out to Colorado and back.  I called Ghosheh and he said it was okay for me to stay on 2 cellcepts until I got back from my tripnapped a little then later I went out to play golf and shot a 45.  After that I had a Southwest salad at McDonald’s and then off to VT for a 40 minute bike ride. 

Tuesday started off the same, feeling a little anxious and tired, but I did my knee exercises, played some piano and sang, then showered and put on the cream.  My itching is definitely getting better.  I also did some straightening around the apartment, and I had to lie down a couple of times but I wasn’t able to nap.   

One Very Good Day

Saturday turned out to be a very good day.  I was a little hyper in the morning, not able to nap at all, but I did my piano work, my knee exercises, my weights, my blog, and I did some wash.  Then I went out to play nine holes of golf and shot a 43.  Then it was time to go fishing at my new spot, and I tried my waders out and they worked fine though I caught only one small on my fly rod.  I was using my pack rod (meant for a 7 weight line) with a 4 weight line and it didn’t cast very well.  The biggest thing was that David was coughing and I may have caught something from him.  That will really stress me out.  After the fishing I drove to VT and did my bike ride of almost 40

Sunday I woke up very dry in the mouth (am I getting sick?) and not very productive.  I did my knee exercises then I showered with the new shampoo and put on the cream.  Then it was off to Mass and that went pretty well and I know some of the songs and responses.  Then I went off to first register for the second year of my warranty on my new phone, then a nap under the trees near Home Depot, then searching for regular boot waders (my stocking foot and boot waders were pretty tough to get on and off) and I did find a decent pair for 60 dollars but because they were used a bit I got 20 percent off so that was a good break.  I am going to send them out to New Mexico with my other fishing gear and my tevas and some clothing so I won’t have so much to carry on the train.   I’ve gotten most of the gear together and I will finish packing it later.  I hope to get my bike ride in later but I may have to push to do that. 

Catchup

This will be a big catchup, all the way to Saturday morning.  The train ride back started okay, but toward evening I started having an itch on my back.  I thought it might be bed bugs and the car attendant said it was possible but he also said that it might be the detergent they use to clean the cars.  Anyway, it got worse and when I got home it was a real problem.  Rob had me go to see Dr. Johnson in Narrows and he did a biopsy but I didn’t hear until I went to see Rob on Wednesday for a shot to calm the itching and it turned out I had ringworm.  It certainly didn’t look like ringworm but that’s what the biopsy said.  So I had to undergo treatment for ringworm, taking some pills and some cream and washing my hair with Nizoral.  I felt better on Friday and pretty good this morning.  I must have gotten it when I was wearing my tevas when Roberta and I were kayaking.  I went to UVA on Tuesday to see Dr. Kalantari and he was very sociable and very smart.  The drive up and back wasn’t too bad and on the way back I got off at the exit for North Creek and drove up to the top of the mountain and rode my bike around MM 99 for 40 minutes.  Even though I was itching some, I really enjoyed the views and the exercise was great.  I rode my bike yesterday all around the Tech campus and I hope to ride later.  Saturday morning was very productive with knee exercises, doing two loads of was, straightening up around the apartment, signing up for Mychart at UVA, playing some piano and singing.  However, I couldn’t nap, which may be because of the Cellcept of the Terbinafine tablets for the ringworm (which can affect your sleep).   Yesterday was a very hard morning, full of self doubt.  I was very uncomfortable and I ended up taking half a valium twice to calm myself and help me sleep a bit.  Dave called and I was very down but he cheered me up and later I went for my bike ride, mentioned above.