The Battle With Cancer Begins

@ wrote:
Awesome Dave great to hear and nice to see you push the Doctor for more answers to your questions!! ;)
 
Daniel

It was awesome of the Doc to take that much time and REALLY go into the questions.  Many would not be willing to do that 😞

@ wrote:

@ wrote:
Awesome Dave great to hear and nice to see you push the Doctor for more answers to your questions!! ;)
 
Daniel

It was awesome of the Doc to take that much time and REALLY go into the questions.  Many would not be willing to do that :(

These days you have to be your own Advocate and demand the information your entitled to!

I am glad the doctor was able to give you the time and explain everything in a lot more detail, it all helps to put your mind at ease.
And also congratulations on still being in remission.

Great and wonderful news, Dave...and long may it remain that way...:D

"So everything is the same and looking good..." That's powerfully GREAT news, Dave! Kudos to your doctor for realizing how important it is to answer questions. (Another doctor at a famous cancer hospital refused to answer a simple question. His work is brilliant but morale is low in his department.) Any Oncologist who values the human spirit is a keeper!

Great news!  Thanks for keeping us in the loop.  RR

Hello ProTruckDriver!
 
Thank you for the great news and hope you keep going strong!
 
Always prayers..
 
Take Care!:D

Hello Webrooters. It’s been awhile since I last updated this thread. Last Monday I saw my Oncologist for tests. Good news, No Change. My blood work is the same and hopefully it will remain that way. He did notice that my antibodies were very low. This is normal for people with leukemia since there resistances for infections are very low and easy to get bruised. Healing takes about 2 to 3 times the time to heal than a normal person. About a year ago I noticed that both of my legs had a slight swelling to them. In December while moving chairs I bruised both of my chins. My right leg took a little over a month to heal but the left leg got infected. I went to the Family Doctor for antibiotics. That cleared up most of the infection but it came back very bad. My left leg from the knee down was a bright fire engine red. I made an unscheduled visit to the Oncologist for blood work. To make a long story short, I have been seeing Doctors every month since December. The swelling has gotten worse, especially in the left leg. In April I seen a Vascular Doctor. I had to take a CT Scan of the abdomen and also an Ultra Sound of both legs. They found no blocked arteries or veins. The CT Scan showed an enlarged Spleen and Liver which I already knew I had (comes from the leukemia). I also seen a Cardiologist that changed my blood pressure medication. I was taking Lotrel for about 10+ years. He took me off of that because that causes swelling in legs. So it looks like the Lotrel caught up with me getting older and with Leukemia. He put me on new BP Meds and it’s getting some time to get use to them. The Vascular Doctor had me try compression socks. I wear them for 1 or 2 hours and they have to come off. I still have swelling in the legs but they are getting a lot better.

Now for the Real Good News. I was diagnosed with an Enlarged Heart 20+ years ago. Just about the same time I started snoring and losing my breath more while sleeping. About 10 year ago I had to go in for Carpel Tunnel Surgery on both hands. The Doctor asked if I had sleep apnea and I stated no. Then I asked him why. He stated that they take extra precautions while you’re under anesthesia. Then I told him yea, I think I do have it. I’ve been on a VPAP machine ever since and sleep like a baby. When I seen the Cardiologist with the edema in both legs he also took some tests of the heart. One was a Echocardiogram. I went back to see him for the results. All Normal. I asked about the Enlarged Heart. I have a Normal Heart, thanks to the VPAP Machine! @ and @ keep with the program on the CPAP.
 
Now for the Bad News: When I went to see the Cardiologist I made the mistake of having my Wife with me. LOL. He asked if I do much sitting now with the edema. Well my wife answered him yes, sitting using the computer. The Doc told me to stay off for awhile and do more walking. My wife is seeing to that order by the Doctor. That's one of the reasons I haven't been around lately. Have to make the wife happy.
 

Oh Thank you so much for that update as I'm sure we've all have been very concerned about you. Yes make the Wife and Doctor happy by walking and by not being idle. Your health is far more important to us then anything else. Nice to see you Dave! Take it easy by walking..lol 😉

Thank you for the update Dave.
It is good to see you again even though it may not be for long, remember the words of she who must be obeyed ;)
I am sure you can play it both ways, you exercise for so long and then have a while on the computer, just don't overdo it, especially as things seem to have settled a little bit.

Well, Dave
 
On balance I would say that tends towards the positive, which is great news.  But as you say...big mistake taking the Good Lady with you as you were bound to be found out...;)
 
If we miss you a bit more than usual then we know why...your Good Lady will have locked down the computer and is not letting have access.:@
 
I think that it is time to get a tablet (if you do not already have one) and lock yourself in the washroon/loo for extended periods...;)
 
Seriously, good new that we are all pleased to hear and long may that continue.
 
Regards, Baldrick

Baldrick wrote: I think that it is time to get a tablet (if you do not already have one) and lock yourself in the washroon/loo for extended periods...;)

That's a good idea.

Your good news is worth celebrating! Thank you for sharing it...know what you mean about compression socks but sometimes it's the thing that finally works...also, facinated and joyous that your VPAP made such a difference!! (Love my CPAP.)

Awesome to here Dave @ that's very good news indeed and yes you have to walk like all of us and Glad the VPAP is helping you and I can't sleep without my CPAP now after 7 years it keeps my O2 sats in range 95 to 99% and not near 85% which is not good for the heart, I'm very happy for you buddy!
 
Daniel 😃

Glad to hear your test results are good!

Hello Webrooters. Last week I went to my semiannual check up at my Oncologist. Not too good of news this time around. The blood work showed that I now have "Agammaglobulinemia" which is a condition of the blood, either congenital or acquired, in which there is near or complete absence of gamma globulin and a failure of the body to form antibodies, resulting in a frequent occurrence of infectious disease. So I guess the first time I get sick I'll be going into the hospital to get antibodies by IV which I hear takes all day. Hopefully I won't get sick, but I know I'll need the antibodies sooner or later. Other than that the rest of the blood work has not changed, which is good news.

@ wrote:
Hello Webrooters. Last week I went to my semiannual check up at my Oncologist. Not too good of news this time around. The blood work showed that I now have "Agammaglobulinemia" which is a condition of the blood, either congenital or acquired, in which there is near or complete absence of gamma globulin and a failure of the body to form antibodies, resulting in a frequent occurrence of infectious disease. So I guess the first time I get sick I'll be going into the hospital to get antibodies by IV which I hear takes all day. Hopefully I won't get sick, but I know I'll need the antibodies sooner or later. Other than that the rest of the blood work has not changed, which is good news.

Thank you for the update ProTruckDriver.
It is not the news we would have wanted but as I have just seen on one site "Treatment with IVIG or SCIG has greatly improved the health of those who have agammaglobulinemia. " I know that without those treatments infections can be extremely serious but at least you know that is a treatment that will improve your chances. Just don't hang around if you do get sick, get yourself straight in for treatment.
I wish you all the best and hope that you are in pretty good health over the Christmas period.

Hi Dave. ?
 
Well again I am so sorry to hear of your struggles with your health. Dang..can't you catch a break? Hang in there because you do have family and friends that love you and will give you strength to handle this and we are here on this Community to cheer you on to be positive and hoping for the best ..Sorry Dave I am not to good at this knowing what the right thing to say on here. I just really feel for you because you are such an awesome guy!
 
Thanks for letting us know and at least your other blood tests were the same. Thats a plus...;)
 
Take it easy and take care..
 
 

Hi Dave
 
A fervent prayer for you not to get sick, especailly at this time of the year, and that if you have the misfortune to then that the treatment works.
 
Hang in there, we are all rootiing for you, mate.
 
Regards, Baldrick

Dave,
can't say a lot that will actually help you but if there's anything I can do for you somehow nudge me . Deal ?
Now take care of yourself please. Hope things get better one day

My regards and best wishes Webroot friend.

@ wrote:
Hello Webrooters. Last week I went to my semiannual check up at my Oncologist. Not too good of news this time around. The blood work showed that I now have "Agammaglobulinemia" which is a condition of the blood, either congenital or acquired, in which there is near or complete absence of gamma globulin and a failure of the body to form antibodies, resulting in a frequent occurrence of infectious disease. So I guess the first time I get sick I'll be going into the hospital to get antibodies by IV which I hear takes all day. Hopefully I won't get sick, but I know I'll need the antibodies sooner or later. Other than that the rest of the blood work has not changed, which is good news.

Hi Dave sorry to hear about the added issue to your Health and hope you don't get sick and end up in the Hospital. But keep up your Spirits and we all are always thinking of you so take care of yourself and the family!
 
Let me tell the Community about us when the Community first opened almost 4 years ago! It was just Dave and I for the most part for the first year and was quite quiet so we Greeted new ones and helped them the best we could with the Webroot Staff like @ @ @ and @@ then we grew and we have so many helpers and it's nice and active now with many new Friends way to many to mention!@everyone
 
Take Care Buddy,
 
Daniel ;)
 
http://lastlemon.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/VM8927.gif
 
 

We're pullin' for ya, ?!

I am so sorry to hear that Dave! I really hope that you stay healthy this winter and that if anything does happen you get taken care of quickly. You've been doing such a great job of fighting this, and I know you can keep beating it despite the new challenges. You are awesome!

Hello Webrooters,
 
I had my 6 month visit to the Oncologist yesterday and the results are good. No change in the blood work.The leukemia is stable at this point. Hopefully it will stay like that. A person with leukemia (CLL) either remains stable or gets worst, never better without the help of chemotherapy. The Doctor said that the results of the blood work in the last few years, I'm a long way away from chemotherapy. About 7 months ago my family doctor did blood work on me and found that I was Vitamin D3 deficient. For the past 7 months I've been taking Vitamin D3 pills and it has made a remarkable change in the way I heal and feel with leukemia. I'm feeling better than usual which is good.
Thank you Webroot Family for your Support. 😃