October 4, 2014 An Anxious Day

Last Thursday, 9 days ago Leland went for his bone scan. We knew we would not get the results until at least Wednesday, but surely by Thursday. Thursday came and went with me carrying a phone everywhere, even out into the garden to harvest where we were working to clean it out and harvest the last of the tomatoes.

When I called the clinic this morning the girl who is the "gate-keeper" tried to tell me scans are not discussed until the next visit.  I informed her that was incorrect, and I wanted to speak with someone who could help me, not leave another message which might not be answered until Monday.  One just has to get assertive in the capacity of a patient advocate.   I hope I was nice but firm; at least that was my intent.  Anyway, long story short, I finally got to speak with a live person, who told me Leland's scan had been discussed in the team meeting and would be again today, and Dr. Sweet would call today by the "9 O'clock hour"  9 came and went, 10, 11 and 11:45.  I called again, very anxious with my imagination working overtime.  Another promise Dr. Sweet would call.  I extracted a promise it would be TODAY; she promised me it would be.

Around 12:30 Dr. Sweet called, and told me the Bone Scan looks really good! The bone lesions are regressing (Yes!!) the Kidney Nephrosis has resolved (YES!) and there are no lesions in his right hip and leg which have been giving him pain. ( Yes!)  There are two small very faint new lesions in his upper right arm, and they want him to have his PSA done earlier than usual to check on that., but she said they are just very pleased with his progress.

Leland had to take the truck into The Dalles this morning to have some work done on it, and was gone all day. We had had a new steering mechanism put in-very expensive- and it did not work properly, when he took it in to have it checked they determined the part was defective, so at least we did not have to pay again, which was a relief. It was just as well he was gone because I was not very good company waiting for that phone call!

After imagining the worst all morning, I felt much better, and very grateful. Leland usually works outdoors a lot during the summer months, and is stronger by the end of summer.  Last summer of course was very different, but this summer he has done a lot outdoors and accomplished a lot.  However, rather than getting stronger, he has less endurance than he had at the beginning, and back pain which he has not had before.  Now, just a little bending over causes pain, and he tires more easily than 2 or 3 months ago. We have been concerned about this, which was one of the reasons I was so anxious this morning. 

I think perhaps the weakness is the price he is having to  pay for the Zytiga and Lupron.  Fatigue is one of the side effects of Lupron and muscle weakness is one that comes with Zytiga. So we will have to adjust our expectations accordingly, and he will have to pace himself more gently. Perhaps we will just have to hire out some of the jobs he does. Otherwise, he feels well, just needs to rest more.

We have a pleasant weekend ahead, Jerri and Leslie are here, staying with Del and Chuck.  We are invited there for Sabbath dinner, and they will all come over here for Sunday brunch. We always love spending time with family and getting caught up on each other's lives. 

Our next appointment with the clinic is the 15th, and I will post again after that. 

The above picture is one of the projects Leland worked on this summer, just after we finished putting in the bark dust. I don't seem to be able to control where it gets placed.