Review of my Journey so far -> ⓊⓟⒹⒶⓉⒺ May 1/2023

[CRguy]

Thanks homie !!!

I intend to embody " takes a lickin' and it keeps on tickin'..." Timex style
OR .... Energizer Bunny style ! ... keepin' with the Easter bunny theme here

Cheers
CRguy

[Bob_Weiss]

I joined in April 2010 and for 5+ years I consulted this site almost daily, and occasionally posted. The active members here at that time are mostly gone; either cured or no longer alive. I remember them fondly- Brownbagger, Starbucks, numerous others. I still check this site every few months, and offer suggestions when I have something to contribute.

[CRguy]

...AND my friend, sometimes just "being here" to offer support is enough

Harmony
CR

[CRguy]

Just a brief follow up here :

pretty normal echocardiogram in March... tech said I had a very photogenic heart
Saw Cardiac honcho in May and he was happy, so is now playing around with statins etc.
... we'll see.

routine monitoring bloods all pretty normal, so seeing family Doc Friday
to review lab / echo reports and schedule my 3 year colonoscopy for the fall.

so far ... so good
will keep y'all posted

Cheers on the Journey
CRguy

[Ron50]

CR your situation is a good reminder to all cancer sufferers that there is a whole book full of stuff trying to kill us. It is not just cancer we have to worry about. I have just spent two days in hospital, I have been under the control of a senior cardiologist for over four years. I remember an oncologist telling me that the moment you have colorectal chemo you should be considered as stage 1 heart failure. It is that cardio toxic.. I suffer over 11000 premature atrial and ventricular premature ectopics a day. two years ago I was in hospital with acute vertigo. Two ecg"s recorded atrial flutter consistent with atrial fib. On Thursday I went to my normal family medicine clinic for my regular INR test. I have been on warfarin since my atrial flutter dx. I was not feeling well so they carried out some obs. My BP was 179/60. They did blood tests. I went home (at my insistence ) Two hours later I got the call to go to hospital immediately I had troponin (the heart attack enzyme) in my blood. They did 5 more blood tests whilst I was in er. Only one @ 11 was under the <15 limit for safe levels of troponin. The highest was 27. Based on the lack of substantial evidence on the several ecgs they sent me home with no treatment and no suggested follow up. I asked about the troponin and received the usual 'who knows ''reply. Not Happy, Ron. Ps All the best to you CR, Ron.

[NHMike]

CR your situation is a good reminder to all cancer sufferers that there is a whole book full of stuff trying to kill us. It is not just cancer we have to worry about. I have just spent two days in hospital, I have been under the control of a senior cardiologist for over four years. I remember an oncologist telling me that the moment you have colorectal chemo you should be considered as stage 1 heart failure. It is that cardio toxic.. I suffer over 11000 premature atrial and ventricular premature ectopics a day. two years ago I was in hospital with acute vertigo. Two ecg"s recorded atrial flutter consistent with atrial fib. On Thursday I went to my normal family medicine clinic for my regular INR test. I have been on warfarin since my atrial flutter dx. I was not feeling well so they carried out some obs. My BP was 179/60. They did blood tests. I went home (at my insistence ) Two hours later I got the call to go to hospital immediately I had troponin (the heart attack enzyme) in my blood. They did 5 more blood tests whilst I was in er. Only one @ 11 was under the <15 limit for safe levels of troponin. The highest was 27. Based on the lack of substantial evidence on the several ecgs they sent me home with no treatment and no suggested follow up. I asked about the troponin and received the usual 'who knows ''reply. Not Happy, Ron. Ps All the best to you CR, Ron.

I was in the ER for dehydration a year ago. I lost the sensation of thirst with the reversal.

I bought an HRM watch afterwards to keep an eye on heart health and have worked on diet an exercise to improve heart health. But yes, challenges continue to pop up.

I'm probably dehydrated right now. Everything runs through me right now. I can't seem to drink anything without a trip to the toilet.

So yes, we're a bit damaged in order to save our lives.

[CRguy]

Based on the lack of substantial evidence on the several ecgs they sent me home with no treatment and no suggested follow up. I asked about the troponin and received the usual 'who knows ''reply. Not Happy, Ron. Ps All the best to you CR, Ron.

You've been through the wringer again Ron.
Keep pushing those Docs to get to the bottom of things

Best wishes buddy
Cheers and Harmony
CRguy

[CRguy]

So yes, we're a bit damaged in order to save our lives.

So true Mike, what you and Ron talk about is just some of our
" keepin' on ... KEEPING ON ! "

Cheers
CRguy

[CRguy]

Just some blood tests lately = all good so far
Waiting on Doc appt and upcoming scoping in October
SO ....
will give a full update after that and set up my
" DO try this yourself at home kids ... " homemade follow up monitoring, for later in the year !!

Cheers ALL !
The Journey continues
one step ... ahead of the other

Harmony
CRguy

[CRguy]

So my regular annual check up is now complete.

All things seem in order and the pathology report on the single small polyp removed
from my Oct c-scope is classed as :
tubular adenoma, negative for high grade dysplasia = pathology speak for benign !
CEA, CA19-9, PSA all normal.

I have other routine mini blood panels in December and we have set up the
follow up abdominal ultrasound with chest / abd / pelvic xrays to follow in spring 2020.
Other imaging or testing to be determined as required.

THAT is my surveillance plan so far.

One step at at time
one post at a time

Cheers and Harmony to ALL on the Journey
CRguy

[ANDRETEXAS]

CONGRATULATIONS !!

[CRguy]

Cheers to that, buddy !!!!

Have a 3 year callback for scopin'
and just keeping on .... KEEPIN' ON until then
keeping it real as best I can

Harmony
CRguy

[CRguy]

Just to keep things current here :

had a follow up EMG done with signs of improvement for the ulnar nerve syndrome. Interesting in and of itself because they are also monitoring the prior neuropathy from oxaliplatin AND according to the tests, nerve conduction is near normal even though I still have mild sensory deficit in the 4th and 5th fingers of each hand.

I have booked my "homemade" follow up monitoring imaging and more blood tests for just before Christmas this year
and my follow up monitoring consult with my GP early in the new year once all the reports are back to her.

SO... just keeping on KEEPIN" ON !!!!!

Cheers and best wishes to all on the Journey
and Happy Thanksgiving to all homies south of '49 tomorrow !
CRguy

[CRguy]

SO as far as Dec blood tests go I am in a stable range of instabilities

I am battling high fasting blood glucose with a stable high normal HgbA1c
the more statins I take, the worse the glucose control parameters ( a well known side effect of the more potent statins )
having modified my statin dose now, I have at least controlled the whole lipid profile into a VERY acceptable range
... without driving the glucose numbers outta the park

other enzymes etc. are all ticking along in a very flat curve profile
= CRguy is good with the bloods !!!!

Booked my homemade follow up imaging and had it done on the 23rd. instead of waiting until the new year.
Abdominal ultrasound, chest-abdomen-pelvic xrays ( as opposed to contrast CT, to limit radiation and used as a surveillance mode quick look )
I am stretching the imaging intervals out each time as dictated by the results.

These reports will be at my family Doc for our next appointment in early 2020
SO ..... I will update things further based on that meeting.

SO far ... So good
Cheers to all on the Journey
Harmony
CRguy

[MetastaticEquilibria]

What does “Homemade imaging” mean?
Are you using your own equipment?