Busy Week

A lot of appointments during the week of Sept 11-15. Several were bounced into this week to free up time to go to the lake for longer periods.

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Monday September 10th

It’s up early to get blood work done at St. Boniface for an afternoon meeting with the oncologist. The guy taking blood was a student and I think he was a little nervous as his hands were shaking as he labeled the tubes. Thankfully he was steady as he inserted the needle. Things were good until the last tube when the flow stopped. He called over the senior technician who fished around with the needle a bit and got the flow going to finish the collection.

In the afternoon I saw Kelly, the clinic nurse, Dr. Moltzan and the new assistant to Dr. Moltzan. We reviewed my recent medical history and the blood work was “acceptable”, counts are still on the low side but generally my immune system is not too bad. There will be a PET scan on October 17th and a review meeting shortly after that to get the news on the suspected arm pit lymphoma and the effectiveness of the radiation. The Grastofil injections have stopped but the IVIG infusions will continue for six treatments. The next is on October 5th.

For those of you like me who like numbers and charts here you go.

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Tuesday September 11th

Going to the dentist is not exactly a “Journey” item but the Journey has caused several delays in getting this dental work so here we are squeezing this appointment in with the other more medical items. Hope you don’t mind. 😊

8am for the dental implant that takes exactly one hour as promised along with the mega-payment $$$. Recovery is easy with no complications and a check up to remove the stitches in two weeks.

Later in the morning we’re heading over to St. Boniface to meet with the colorectal surgeon. We’re in the car minutes away from our pre-paid parking spot behind 400 Tache and his assistant calls to cancel the appointment. He has been delayed in surgery and can’t make it. We re-route to Costco for some shopping and then back home. He calls later in the day and we discuss things but it’s a little pointless without a physical exam. We send pictures and don’t hear back. We will schedule another appointment.

The evening and night is consumed by the prep for tomorrow’s activity. This keeps me close to the washroom.

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Wednesday September 12th

It’s capsule endoscopy day one, 8am at the HSC. I swallow the pill camera, get the recording gear strapped on and leave.

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Thursday September 13th

I’m back at HSC for 8am just to return the equipment. And no, I don’t have to return the pill camera . 🤣

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Friday September 14th

We see my GI guy for the first time in person. We’ve had several phone calls and even started the Stelara drug all without physical contact. It seems strange to me but he’s not concerned and this I guess is the new “normal”. He reviews my case to date and then I ask several questions and the responses all seem to start with “Well, that’s a good question.”. “

“Do I have Crohn’s?”. “We’ll, that’s a good question.”.
“How will I know if Stelara is working?”. “We’ll, that’s a good question.”.

There seem to be quite a few unknows and vagaries in my situation from a diagnosis and treatment perspective. However, the pain is under good control and the perianal wound and infections are improving so perhaps the Stelara is working, it’s a good question.

So, that was my medical week. For the next while I don’t have too many appointments so we’re going to enjoy some normal times at the lake.