Long overdue update

Where did the days go? A common lament these days, it would seem. I've been meaning to update - but something always happened to eat the time available.

All in all, good news all around.

THYROID CANCER
Arno had his Radioactive Iodine treatment in December. He was kept completely isolated in a room for two days and the third day his readings showed that his body did a good job and he could come home.

During his checkup in February we were told that the only absorption of the RAI was around the throat area. That means he is cancer-free and that nothing has spread elsewhere in his body. He has to have another scan and checkup in a few weeks.

His meds seem to be balanced enough and he hasn't complained of anything, but we have to keep watching it. Since he has no thyroid, he has to use medication to replace those hormones.

BRAIN TUMOUR

I saw the brain surgeon on April 18, after an MRI on April 9. He is quite happy with the healing. The picture on the right was taken with the cell phone off his screen, so not very clear,

About driving - that has to be seen! Need to make an appointment with the neurologist who saw me in the hospital and he has to complete the forms to apply for reinstatement of the licence. Then the MTO will take up to 30 days to review the file and decide if I'm to be allowed to drive again. On June 14, it will be a year and after that it will be much harder to try and get the licence back.

LYME DISEASE
In February we went to see Dr. McShane again. She concluded that my Lyme, Babesia and Bartonalla are all still active and on the go. But I didn't want to go the antibiotics road again and am using some alternative ideas, with the urging of a specialist, the support of another specialist and the knowledge of my family doctor.

OTHER STUFF
Some fun events have happened in the mean time!

One joyful occasion was to be part of the cast of a Murder Mystery production. The title: Sam's Last Safari. Poor Sam, the winner of a lottery after a spell by a witch doctor, took an entourage back to Africa. His aim was to bring back a pet lion ... but he ended up being eaten by one!

Much hilarity ensued and the cast had a ball.

There were some travels, wine tasting as usual in the Niagara region with a group of good friends, and lots of work being done. 

Alf Clausen

In December, we celebrated the 100th birthday of my good friend Carolyn's father. Same day as Frank Sinatra, nogal! What a party. Family came from near and far, even from overseas, to celebrate the auspicious occasion. Of course there were congratulations from Queen Elizabeth, and various officials, as well as on radio and TV. 

His grandson (40-ish himself) shared a film he made by interviewing granddad. Alf showed his daily exercises, which include weights, cycling while on his back on a yoga mat, and more. He keeps busy by dancing, dining, card and domino games with friends, walking, church, and reading every label of food he eats. What an example he is! 

We also had snow into April - even though our usual snowy month of February had nothing! My poor snowdrops were encased in ice during an ice storm as well. Such brave little blooms! Hopefully, the warmer weather is here to stay now. What would Canadians talk about, if not the weather??

Thank you for reading, whatever your reasons might be.

PRIVATE POST
If you have been given the password, you can access this post. It is not for public consumption, being of a rather sensitive nature. LINK

Another surgery

Here we are again - Feels like almost old hat by now!

Friend Joe picked us up around 6:30 am to bring to hospital for Arno's second surgery.  The full thyroid and para-thyroid will be removed today, exactly 2 months after the left side was removed.

Gentle pink clouds on the horizon as the sun rose to greet us.

Thank you for all the messages, phone calls, care and concern coming our way!

8:00 am our time
Things went very quickly this time!
Processed, IV in, blood work done, paperwork checked. Arno is now sitting in a chair, waiting for the anaesthetist, operating nurse and surgeon to come by. If all goes well and according to schedule, he should be wheeled in around 9 am. Surgery to take about 90 minutes. I'll be waiting in the area and update when there is news.

Update: 9 am our time (plus 6 hours in South Africa) 
I'm impressed! Right on time at 9am all three mentioned above came by to talk, check and take Arno to the theatre. Surgery should last about 90 minutes. I'm having a coffee and hash brown while waiting. The surgeon will come find me in the waiting room after surgery to update.

Update: 11:00 am   
No real update yet, since I'm still waiting for the surgeon to come out. Two hours now, but I know
people are checking in. Arno's blood pressure was again quite high before the start of surgery and he had a bad headache. Last time they also had trouble with the blood pressure. I'm sure that's all the delay is right now.

Update: 11:40 am
Just spoke to the surgeon. He said everything went well. He didn't see anything that looked like obvious cancer in the thyroid that was being removed today. They tried to save the para-thyroid so the calcium levels can be better controlled. Arno will stay the night and might go home late tomorrow if all goes well, or possibly Friday.

We have to go in to see the surgeon next week to get the stitch removed and the wound checked. At that time.,we'll also get a referral to see an Endocrinologist to determine next steps.

(www.hormone.org/contact-a-health-professional/endorcrinologyEndocrinology is the study of medicine that relates to the endocrine system, which is the system that controls hormones. An endocrinologist will deal with diseases that are caused by problems with hormones.)

11:50 am - Arno is now in recovery and might stay another hour before being moved to a room on the sixth floor. Depending on his recovery time and being awake, the next update might take an hour or two.

Update: 1:33 pm (7:33 pm in RSA) 
Arno is in his room, is talking and walking a bit. He is still only on clear fluids at this point. He is alone in an isolation room just because there are no other rooms available.

Fresh out of surgery

For those concerned about me: all good, thanks! Friend Sue is here and I'm under strict orders that she is in charge. I have no say .... 😀

Oh, the surgeon was quite taken aback when I asked for a spare nurse to take out my staples. Sort of a family deal. He then grinned and shook his head. Poor guy!

UPDATE FOR THOSE ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE WORLD

Theo stopped by the house to pick up Arno's laptop, since that can be switched onto the network and he can watch movies if he's awake during the night.
Updated pictures were sent so people can see the improvement a few hours, some rest and pain meds made. The human body is amazing!

Taken around 6:30 pm our time 

Small, tidy wound and thin draining tube

Doesn't he look a little brighter already?


Here's a bit showing the room, with the window looking out over the city to the right. He only has an IV going, and some oxygen to help, but the heart monitor will only be put on during the night. As soon as they are happy with his fluid intake, the IV will be removed too.


Below is a picture of the liquid meal the man had tonight. He felt he needed to share to get some sympathy ... Broth, milk, juice, tea and sorbet.

Hopefully in a few hours the nurse would allow him to enjoy some of the snack foods packed in his overnight bag.

All in all, a good day, although a tiring one!
Thanks again for all the help and support on many levels

~~~  This ends tonight's transmission ..... Field Guide end, September 16, 2015. ~~~ 

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