Sunday, June 11, 2006

GREAT NEWS!!!!!!!

I did not have a chance to write about it but a week ago friday my doctor emailed me back with fantastic news! My bones look great first of all and have not become brittle or damaged by the long course of steroids I took from July 2004-April 2005. YEAH!

The other great news is that my blood work came back looking great. My blood chemistry is back in the normal range for the most part which means I am still in remission and the Hodgkin's Lymphoma has not returned. I am a bit iron deficient which may be from the nose bleeds I was experiencing. I have been taking a supplement and trying to consume things with a higher iron content. I have been recommended to take a "slow release" iron supplement (an overdose of iron is not good for you either) and will get another blood test in 8 weeks.

I also had my thyroid checked as the condition runs in my genetics. I do get tested for it often and for now I seem to be free of the condition.

The news lifted my spirits and made for a great weekend. My mind was put at ease about that worry so that I could focus on my mission ahead: training for the marathon.

Hope you all are having a nice weekend! :o)

Friday, June 02, 2006

Still Here!!!!!

Hey TJ and anyone else reading!

I am still around. I have just been really busy since the Relay event. The Relay for Life went very well! We had a fantastic team! I was waiting to write about it until I got the digital photos from a friend.

After Relay I had a job meeting about possibly teaching online (telecommuting from home) in the future, 2 doctor appointments, a bathroom remodel project in which I am responsible for the painting scheme (which is proving to be more difficult to do now with my imbalance, uncoordinated hands, and lower tolerance for patience), and finally my Team in Training practice started this week in which I will walk a marathon in November to benefit the Leukimia and Lymphoma Society.

I did find out last week that my blood test in April revealed I am slightly anemic which caused a little bit of anxiety for a few days. My Hodgkin's disease began with a slight anemia and my grandfather is currently battling a blood cancer. Therefore, any type of abnormal readings make me a little uneasy. Once you have had cancer, the thought of recurrance is always in the back of your mind.

I have had some wounds that have healed nicely though so that is a good sign. After 3 pokes at the blood lab for another test, they were able to draw enough out of me for a more updated CBC (Complete Blood Count). I am anxiously awaiting those results this week along with the results of a bone density scan I had done on Tuesday.

I wrote a post yesterday morning but saved it as a draft and never published it. It was about my reflection of doing the Relay that occured to me when I saw a cancer patient at the medical center on Tuesday. I am happy and feel that I am doing good things. My life keeps me busy and I always strive to get the most out of it.

Okay. I need to get to bed as I have a big day tomorrow with many tasks that must be done. Saturday I have a training session very early in the morning in Seattle and after my training I plan to meet up with my signing friends at the annual Deaf and Deaf Blind picnic in West Seattle.

Have a great weekend and TJ thanks for letting me know somebody is reading.

- Beck :o)