Just a check in

Everything is so quiet and normal that I haven't had anything to say. Still
working to catch up on all the work I didn't do while I was sick.
Another Oncologist followup on Monday. This is the one between the PET
scans. Everything has been OK on that front.
A new one for my fellow throat cancer survivors to think about though. Two
weeks ago went for the annual physical that we middle aged men pretend to
hate so much (heck, my wife doesn't even get that personal any more) My TSH
number was high. That means hypothyroidism. Gotta take a synthroid every
day for the rest of my life. Mr. thyroid was right in ground zero for all
that radiation so I presume he took a hit. Oh, well, I have my teeth and
most of my saliva. And most of my sense of taste even if altered a lot. I
can't be too ungrateful.

For those who remember these things: My mother has recovered almost
completely from her near death experience in February and is keeping me
busy enough that I can't read the group as much as I used to. She is still
on oxygen, but other than that is full of piss and vinegar. Last night was
our weekly Mexican dinner where she does damage to a pitcher of
Margueritas.

Two weeks ago, my brother, Thom, succumbed to pneumonia that he developed in
the hospital during confinement for diverticulitis as a result of being
wheelchair bound for ALS. He had ALS for nearly ten years with a life
expectancy of five, so he did pretty well all things considered. For those
that don't know ALS or Lou Gehrig's disease, even the last three weeks of
it in the hospital make all that I have been through with the throat cancer
treatments seem like nothing at all.

Other than that, nothing new or exciting.

Glad to hear from you. Obviously your mother never had ovarian cancer. Sorry
to hear about your brother.
"

Chris Ness wrote:
> A new one for my fellow throat cancer survivors to think about though. Two
> weeks ago went for the annual physical that we middle aged men pretend to
> hate so much (heck, my wife doesn't even get that personal any more) My TSH
> number was high. That means hypothyroidism. Gotta take a synthroid every
> day for the rest of my life. Mr. thyroid was right in ground zero for all
> that radiation so I presume he took a hit. Oh, well, I have my teeth and
> most of my saliva. And most of my sense of taste even if altered a lot. I
> can't be too ungrateful.

Wow. I'd have never thought about the thyroid. I should have, because my
sister-in-law recently got hers killed for Graves' Disease; we had a cat
who had a hyperactive thyroid, too.

--
"...by March 2000, President Clinton informed Congress he could no longer
certify that 'North Korea is not seeking to develop or acquire the capability
to enrich uranium.'"
<http://www.pbs.org/newshour/bb/asia/northkorea/nuclear.html>

Chris Ness wrote:

> Everything is so quiet and normal that I haven't had anything to say. Still
> working to catch up on all the work I didn't do while I was sick.
> Another Oncologist followup on Monday. This is the one between the PET
> scans. Everything has been OK on that front.
> A new one for my fellow throat cancer survivors to think about though.<thyroid
> and saliva>
>
> For those who remember these things: My mother has recovered almost
> completely from her near death experience in February and is keeping me
> busy enough that I can't read the group as much as I used to. She is still
> on oxygen, but other than that is full of piss and vinegar. Last night was
> our weekly Mexican dinner where she does damage to a pitcher of
> Margueritas.
>
> Two weeks ago, my brother, Thom, succumbed to pneumonia that he developed in
> the hospital during confinement for diverticulitis as a result of being
> wheelchair bound for ALS. He had ALS for nearly ten years with a life
> expectancy of five, so he did pretty well all things considered. For those
> that don't know ALS or Lou Gehrig's disease, even the last three weeks of
> it in the hospital make all that I have been through with the throat cancer
> treatments seem like nothing at all.

Pleased to read that your mother's recovering, Chris.
Sorry to hear about your brother.
Thanks for the update. Please keep in touch, as you are able.
Best,
J

clifto wrote:

> Chris Ness wrote:
>
>>A new one for my fellow throat cancer survivors to think about though. Two
>>weeks ago went for the annual physical that we middle aged men pretend to
>>hate so much (heck, my wife doesn't even get that personal any more) My TSH
>>number was high. That means hypothyroidism. Gotta take a synthroid every
>>day for the rest of my life. Mr. thyroid was right in ground zero for all
>>that radiation so I presume he took a hit. Oh, well, I have my teeth and
>>most of my saliva. And most of my sense of taste even if altered a lot. I
>>can't be too ungrateful.
>
>
> Wow. I'd have never thought about the thyroid. I should have, because my
> sister-in-law recently got hers killed for Graves' Disease; we had a cat
> who had a hyperactive thyroid, too.
>
Hypoactive means slow. That's why he takes synthroid---to speed it up.
They told me I might get that, too. I have a white linear-rectangular
patch on my otherwise suntanned throat that appears to be right over
where my thyroid is. I think that was an attempt to protect it. From the
way I can't hold my weight, I don't think it happened. They will test
for it when I go back to Houston next month.

--
Janet Wilder
Bad spelling. Bad punctuation
Good Friends. Good Life

Chris Ness <mness215@comcast.net> wrote in
newsMKdnXcaqe5RFqbYnZ2dnUVZ_o2dnZ2d@comcast.com:

> Everything is so quiet and normal that I haven't had anything to say.
> Still working to catch up on all the work I didn't do while I was
> sick. Another Oncologist followup on Monday. This is the one between
> the PET scans. Everything has been OK on that front.
> A new one for my fellow throat cancer survivors to think about though.
> Two weeks ago went for the annual physical that we middle aged men
> pretend to hate so much (heck, my wife doesn't even get that personal
> any more) My TSH number was high. That means hypothyroidism. Gotta
> take a synthroid every day for the rest of my life. Mr. thyroid was
> right in ground zero for all that radiation so I presume he took a
> hit. Oh, well, I have my teeth and most of my saliva. And most of my
> sense of taste even if altered a lot. I can't be too ungrateful.
>
> For those who remember these things: My mother has recovered almost
> completely from her near death experience in February and is keeping
> me busy enough that I can't read the group as much as I used to. She
> is still on oxygen, but other than that is full of piss and vinegar.
> Last night was our weekly Mexican dinner where she does damage to a
> pitcher of Margueritas.
>
> Two weeks ago, my brother, Thom, succumbed to pneumonia that he
> developed in the hospital during confinement for diverticulitis as a
> result of being wheelchair bound for ALS. He had ALS for nearly ten
> years with a life expectancy of five, so he did pretty well all things
> considered. For those that don't know ALS or Lou Gehrig's disease,
> even the last three weeks of it in the hospital make all that I have
> been through with the throat cancer treatments seem like nothing at
> all.
>
> Other than that, nothing new or exciting.
>
Wow, Chris, I am so sorry about your brother. I didn't know of him or
his illness. I read Tuesdays with Morrie & know this is a heartbreaking
disease. Maybe the pneumonia was a blessing of sorts?

We know your disease & treatments were no walk in the park, but you went
through them with humor & dignity.

I'm glad your mother has recovered & is enjoying some good times.

See my other post to you below.

Hugs,
Fig

Janet Wilder wrote:
> clifto wrote:
>> Chris Ness wrote:
>>
>>>A new one for my fellow throat cancer survivors to think about though. Two
>>>weeks ago went for the annual physical that we middle aged men pretend to
>>>hate so much (heck, my wife doesn't even get that personal any more) My TSH
>>>number was high. That means hypothyroidism. Gotta take a synthroid every
>>>day for the rest of my life. Mr. thyroid was right in ground zero for all
>>>that radiation so I presume he took a hit. Oh, well, I have my teeth and
>>>most of my saliva. And most of my sense of taste even if altered a lot. I
>>>can't be too ungrateful.
>>
>>
>> Wow. I'd have never thought about the thyroid. I should have, because my
>> sister-in-law recently got hers killed for Graves' Disease; we had a cat
>> who had a hyperactive thyroid, too.
>>
> Hypoactive means slow. That's why he takes synthroid---to speed it up.

My bad, I didn't say that right. I should have thought to have mine checked
because I've been around thyroid problems, even if they were different
problems than those I might reasonably expect to see.

> They told me I might get that, too. I have a white linear-rectangular
> patch on my otherwise suntanned throat that appears to be right over
> where my thyroid is. I think that was an attempt to protect it. From the
> way I can't hold my weight, I don't think it happened. They will test
> for it when I go back to Houston next month.

Here's hopin'...

--
"...by March 2000, President Clinton informed Congress he could no longer
certify that 'North Korea is not seeking to develop or acquire the capability
to enrich uranium.'"
<http://www.pbs.org/newshour/bb/asia/northkorea/nuclear.html>

clifto wrote:
> Janet Wilder wrote:

>>They told me I might get that, too. I have a white linear-rectangular
>>patch on my otherwise suntanned throat that appears to be right over
>>where my thyroid is. I think that was an attempt to protect it. From the
>>way I can't hold my weight, I don't think it happened. They will test
>>for it when I go back to Houston next month.
>
>
> Here's hopin'...

Thanks.

Janet

--
Janet Wilder
Bad spelling. Bad punctuation
Good Friends. Good Life