I just got back for mass and breakfast. I went to my favorite restaurant this morning, but the waitress that I always have didn't know me at all. I had to finally tell her how she would remember me and she finally did. That's as bad as Margo not knowing who I was in a picture after I cut my beard and hair. I do look in the mirror each day and try to remember what I look like with hair and a beard. My beard is starting to come back, but it sure doesn't look like it once did. The last time I had to wait for a beard to grow back was 1971 when I shave it to get a job. When the guy saw me with my beard cut off he told me I looked better with a beard, so it's OK to grow it again. When I joined the Research Institute of America a year later I had a beard and when I went to the first National meeting I tried to get into the meeting room but the National sales manager stopped me because he said no one with RIA had a beard. I then pointed to my regional manager and he came over and got me in the door. He then told my regional manager that I had to shave my beard. We then had a big discussion and I said that if I was not successful in the first six months that I would shave it off. As it turned out I was back at the home office in five months,in the training class that is usually after a person is with the company for at least a year. The same National Sales Manager greeted me at the meeting room door and said that I still needed to shave my beard. Until the man was let go two years later, he always told me to shave that damn beard. The man that replaced him grew a beard and mustache then became the president of RIA. So that's why I have always kept my beard and mustache. I never did get to be President of RIA however. I thought I was going to be, but then I got that call, and that ended that.
Enough of that, I have been working with my left arm as much as possible. I'm trying to us it the way I normally do. Brushing my teeth is quite a chore. It is very difficult with the bandage on to get my elbow to bend all the way to make it easy to maneuver. It's the same when I try to use it to eat. I can get it most of the way up to my mouth, but it just isn't quite the same. I tried to open a jar of pickles yesterday but no luck. I just can apply any pressure without it starting to hurt. There are things that I can do that make it seem that it OK, but then other things just can't be done. My blood sugar is getting much better. I'm not using any insulin any more. I have to be very careful, but it is working. I cooked Sharon and me a steak and mashed potatoes the other night. That was the first time for some time we had that. I took Sammy and we went to the Essen House yesterday morning for the buffet. We went to surprise Sharon, but she left early and we actually passed her on the way. We still went and had breakfast anyway. Sammy had a cinnamon roll and some bacon and I had eggs and sausage and bacon. It was good to get out and see all the regulars at the restaurant on Saturday morning.
We finally sold the tanning bed after we heard about the Cancer scare if someone under thirty used it regularly. Apparently the people that bought it didn't care or didn't read about the study. I would never get in anything that closed me in like that thing anyway. I remember a James Bond film when they locked someone in a steam tub one time. You'll never get me in anything like that.
My big day is going to be watching the final round of the PGA, my money is still on Tiger. I know I'm stepping out on a limb, but I love to take chances as you all know. If I feel the urge, I might also go to the gym. I didn't go yesterday and I should have. I still lost two more lbs and am now down to 242lbs. I feel a little light headed the past two days, but I think it's just from not getting enough exercise or something. I don't have it when I work out, but I get head rushes when I get up from sitting and watching TV etc. I'm also not sleeping too well because I like to sleep on my left side and I can't get my left arm under my head the way I normally sleep. I try to do it braced with pillows and sticking up, but it wakes me up when I move at night and try to put it under my head. I'm sure it will be OK when I get the bandages off.
That's all for today.
Tom
Sunday, August 16, 2009
Friday, August 14, 2009
Aug 14th Friday
I have been ask to put a picture of my scar on the blog. I can't look at it yet myself because I think I might faint. It's one thing to have the pain in the arm, it's quite another to see what is causeing the pain. I like going through life not knowing some things. For those who don't like this kind of thing, turn your head, because this is ugly.
If you can't tell, that runs from my shoulder to the underside of my elbow. What you can't see is how screwed my arm is. I'm not sure how much of the muscle they had to take, but I have a very large indentation where the muscle used to be.
I pray each day that the feeling and the ability to use the arm will return soon. Most of the surgery pain has gone, now it's just the pain that is their when I try to use it in certain ways.
I'm on my way to the gym, so the rest of my body will be in better shape than my arm.
More tomorrow.
Tom
Thursday, August 13, 2009
Aug 13th. Thursday
I'm sorry for not keeping up with my blog, but I have been trying to get back into some sort of normal routine and it has been rough. I've decided to get back to the gym for at least 30 minutes each day. They have a rowing type of machine that I can use my legs and my arms. My left arm can't take the exercises yet but everything else is working out. My blood pressure today was 111/62 so I was very pleased. My weight is holding at 244 and I still want to loose another 40lbs. I have not been that thin since 10 grade. Going into the tenth grade I weighed 200 when I signed up for football. I think I was 10 to 15 lbs bigger by the time the season was over. I just remember hitting that 200lbs level for football.
I'm still having problems with my blood sugar. In the hospital they said there was not much I could do about it until I got back to some sort of normalcy. They said the surgery makes your body produce too much sugar to try to make you heal. I'm still having to use insulin to try to keep it below 200
I have been sleeping very well. I say my prayers at night and I have not even gotten to Darrin before I fall asleep. I pray in order of age, me first of course then Sharon etc. I have cut my pain medicine down to two a day. I took one last night at 8pm and then again one at about 11pm. during the day I can get used to the pain, but at night it will keep me awake. I still have to get up during the night because I'm drinking a lot of water each day. Since I can now go to the bathroom much better than before, I can use a bottle by my bed and not have to wake up to pee.
We have been blessed these last few weeks even if this surgery is not considered a blessing. My brother David was called back to work after being off for 8 months. My daughter Cate has started her new job after having it canceled once. She got her first sale last week. We are now talking to Sharon's relatives for the first time in over three years. The Essen House just had a great week with all the reunion people coming in to eat. The biggest thing that happened was that we got four new people to move into the Manor House. We now have 26 residents. We picked up ten residents in two and a half months. We also found out another facility may be closing in the area and we could pick up as many as 25 new residents. We have 52 rooms and that would be great to fill them all. Keep praying, is my motto. The good Lord has been listening.
Thats all for now folks!!!
Tom
I'm still having problems with my blood sugar. In the hospital they said there was not much I could do about it until I got back to some sort of normalcy. They said the surgery makes your body produce too much sugar to try to make you heal. I'm still having to use insulin to try to keep it below 200
I have been sleeping very well. I say my prayers at night and I have not even gotten to Darrin before I fall asleep. I pray in order of age, me first of course then Sharon etc. I have cut my pain medicine down to two a day. I took one last night at 8pm and then again one at about 11pm. during the day I can get used to the pain, but at night it will keep me awake. I still have to get up during the night because I'm drinking a lot of water each day. Since I can now go to the bathroom much better than before, I can use a bottle by my bed and not have to wake up to pee.
We have been blessed these last few weeks even if this surgery is not considered a blessing. My brother David was called back to work after being off for 8 months. My daughter Cate has started her new job after having it canceled once. She got her first sale last week. We are now talking to Sharon's relatives for the first time in over three years. The Essen House just had a great week with all the reunion people coming in to eat. The biggest thing that happened was that we got four new people to move into the Manor House. We now have 26 residents. We picked up ten residents in two and a half months. We also found out another facility may be closing in the area and we could pick up as many as 25 new residents. We have 52 rooms and that would be great to fill them all. Keep praying, is my motto. The good Lord has been listening.
Thats all for now folks!!!
Tom
Tuesday, August 11, 2009
AUG 11 TUESDAY
I CAN TYPE A LITTLE WITH BOTH HANDS NOW. I CAN'T DO IT FOR LONG, SO HEAR IT GOES.
THE DAY OF THE OPERATION, WE ARRIVE AT 5:30AM AT THE HOSPITAL AND THERE ARE ALL KINDS OF PEOPLE WAITING TO HAVE OPERATIONS. IT'S LIKE, GET IN LINE DUDE.
ONCE IN THE SURGERY PREP ROOM I MET MY FIRST "DR???" AS IT TURNS OUT HE IS AN INTERN FROM GUESS WHERE "COLLEGE OF ST. GEORGE" THAT'S IN GRANADA. SHARON AS HIM WHY HE WENT THERE, I SAID, THAT'S THE ONLY PLACE HE COULD GET IN. HE LAUGHED AND SAID THAT'S ABOUT RIGHT. HE THEN PROCEEDED TO TRY TO STICK ME FOR AN I.V. NO LUCK ON THE FIRST STICK, AND YOU GOT TO KNOW WHAT I TOLD HIM ON THE SECOND SECOND BAD ATTEMPT. GET OUT OF HERE, GET YOUR F++++++ BOSS IN HERE. WHEN HE DID ARRIVE HE EXPLAINED THEY ONLY ATTEMPT ONCE. I THEN TOLD HIM TO STICK MY PORT. HE SAID HE WOULD IN THE OPERATING ROOM.
SO NOW I'M IN THE OPERATING ROOM AND THEY ASK ME IF I WANT A NERVE BLOCK. I HAD TOLD THEM BEFORE THAT I DID, BUT THEY ALWAYS ASK TWICE I GUESS IN CASE YOU CHANGE YOUR MIND. THE NEXT THING I KNOW THERE IS SOMEONE AT MY NECK WITH A NEEDLE TRYING TO FIND MY NERVES. HE TRIES TWO OR THREE DIFFERENT TIME AND HAS MY ARM JUMPING, BUT CAN'T SEEM TO FIND THE THIRD NERVE. THE SURGEON FINALLY SAYS SOMETHING TOO HIM AND HE STOPS. I THEN HEAR THE OTHER DR. ASK IF ANYONE KNOWS HOW TO STICK A PORT. NO ONE ANSWERS, SO HE FINALLY TELLS SOMEONE TO GO GET SOME NURSE. IT DIDN'T TAKE LONG A LADY'S VOICE SAYS, OK I'M GOING TO STICK YOU SO TAKE A DEEP BREATH AND IT WILL BE GOOD NIGHT.
THE NEXT THING I REMEMBER IS WAKING UP IN RECOVERY. THE SURGEON IS ASK ME HOW I FEEL AND I SAYING I HURT REAL BAD IN MY LEFT ARM. HE ASKS ME TO MOVE MY LEFT HAND BUT THE ONLY THING I COULD MOVE WAS MY THUMB. HE SAYS THAT'S NOT GOOD, HE THEN SHOWS ANOTHER DR. THAT I CAN STILL MOVE MY THUMB. APPARENTLY THEY DIDN'T EVER GET THE THIRD NERVE DEADENED. SO HE SAYS WE WILL HAVE TO GIVE HIM PAIN MEDICATION FOR THAT SITUATION. I NOW KNOW WHAT THAT SITUATION MEANS. A CERTAIN PART OF MY LEFT ARM HURTS LIKE HELL. PART IS NUMB, AND I CAN'T EVEN TOUCH MY SKIN AT THAT POINT, IT HURTS SO MUCH. AS YOU ALL KNOW MY SAYING "THEY PRACTICE MEDICINE, AND IF YOU LET THEM, THEY WILL PRACTICE ON YOU". WELL GUESS WHAT, AT A TEACHING HOSPITAL, THAT IS WHAT HAPPENS.
OH YEA,, WHEN THEY TRIED TO PUT IN A CATHETER, THEY DIDN'T FOLLOW THE URETHRA. THEY MADE THEIR OWN PATH. ONCE THEY SAW THE BLOOD, THEY HAD TO CALL IN ANOTHER EXPERT TO SOLVE THAT LITTLE PROBLEM. GUESS WHO GOT TO WEAR THAT LITTLE PLEASURE FOR THE NEXT WEEK. THE ONLY GOOD THING THAT CAME OUT OF THAT EXPERIENCE WAS THAT I GOT TO MEET A NEIGHBOR I HAD NEVER MET, HE WAS THE DR. THAT TOOK IT OUT, AND I HAVE THE BEST STREAM I'VE HAD IN YEARS.
I AM FEELING MUCH BETTER, I'M ONLY TAKING PAIN MEDICATION AT NIGHT AND I'VE STARTED TO GO TO THE BATH ROOM AGAIN. HAY, THIS IS ABOUT GETTING BETTER, SO IF YOU DON'T LIKE TO HEAR ABOUT THE CREATURE COMFORTS, DON'T READ THIS PART. I'M GETTING BETTER ONE PART AT A TIME. IT'S ALL GOT TO WORK OR YOU ARE NOT BETTER. THANKS AGAIN FOR THE PRAYERS.
TOM
THE DAY OF THE OPERATION, WE ARRIVE AT 5:30AM AT THE HOSPITAL AND THERE ARE ALL KINDS OF PEOPLE WAITING TO HAVE OPERATIONS. IT'S LIKE, GET IN LINE DUDE.
ONCE IN THE SURGERY PREP ROOM I MET MY FIRST "DR???" AS IT TURNS OUT HE IS AN INTERN FROM GUESS WHERE "COLLEGE OF ST. GEORGE" THAT'S IN GRANADA. SHARON AS HIM WHY HE WENT THERE, I SAID, THAT'S THE ONLY PLACE HE COULD GET IN. HE LAUGHED AND SAID THAT'S ABOUT RIGHT. HE THEN PROCEEDED TO TRY TO STICK ME FOR AN I.V. NO LUCK ON THE FIRST STICK, AND YOU GOT TO KNOW WHAT I TOLD HIM ON THE SECOND SECOND BAD ATTEMPT. GET OUT OF HERE, GET YOUR F++++++ BOSS IN HERE. WHEN HE DID ARRIVE HE EXPLAINED THEY ONLY ATTEMPT ONCE. I THEN TOLD HIM TO STICK MY PORT. HE SAID HE WOULD IN THE OPERATING ROOM.
SO NOW I'M IN THE OPERATING ROOM AND THEY ASK ME IF I WANT A NERVE BLOCK. I HAD TOLD THEM BEFORE THAT I DID, BUT THEY ALWAYS ASK TWICE I GUESS IN CASE YOU CHANGE YOUR MIND. THE NEXT THING I KNOW THERE IS SOMEONE AT MY NECK WITH A NEEDLE TRYING TO FIND MY NERVES. HE TRIES TWO OR THREE DIFFERENT TIME AND HAS MY ARM JUMPING, BUT CAN'T SEEM TO FIND THE THIRD NERVE. THE SURGEON FINALLY SAYS SOMETHING TOO HIM AND HE STOPS. I THEN HEAR THE OTHER DR. ASK IF ANYONE KNOWS HOW TO STICK A PORT. NO ONE ANSWERS, SO HE FINALLY TELLS SOMEONE TO GO GET SOME NURSE. IT DIDN'T TAKE LONG A LADY'S VOICE SAYS, OK I'M GOING TO STICK YOU SO TAKE A DEEP BREATH AND IT WILL BE GOOD NIGHT.
THE NEXT THING I REMEMBER IS WAKING UP IN RECOVERY. THE SURGEON IS ASK ME HOW I FEEL AND I SAYING I HURT REAL BAD IN MY LEFT ARM. HE ASKS ME TO MOVE MY LEFT HAND BUT THE ONLY THING I COULD MOVE WAS MY THUMB. HE SAYS THAT'S NOT GOOD, HE THEN SHOWS ANOTHER DR. THAT I CAN STILL MOVE MY THUMB. APPARENTLY THEY DIDN'T EVER GET THE THIRD NERVE DEADENED. SO HE SAYS WE WILL HAVE TO GIVE HIM PAIN MEDICATION FOR THAT SITUATION. I NOW KNOW WHAT THAT SITUATION MEANS. A CERTAIN PART OF MY LEFT ARM HURTS LIKE HELL. PART IS NUMB, AND I CAN'T EVEN TOUCH MY SKIN AT THAT POINT, IT HURTS SO MUCH. AS YOU ALL KNOW MY SAYING "THEY PRACTICE MEDICINE, AND IF YOU LET THEM, THEY WILL PRACTICE ON YOU". WELL GUESS WHAT, AT A TEACHING HOSPITAL, THAT IS WHAT HAPPENS.
OH YEA,, WHEN THEY TRIED TO PUT IN A CATHETER, THEY DIDN'T FOLLOW THE URETHRA. THEY MADE THEIR OWN PATH. ONCE THEY SAW THE BLOOD, THEY HAD TO CALL IN ANOTHER EXPERT TO SOLVE THAT LITTLE PROBLEM. GUESS WHO GOT TO WEAR THAT LITTLE PLEASURE FOR THE NEXT WEEK. THE ONLY GOOD THING THAT CAME OUT OF THAT EXPERIENCE WAS THAT I GOT TO MEET A NEIGHBOR I HAD NEVER MET, HE WAS THE DR. THAT TOOK IT OUT, AND I HAVE THE BEST STREAM I'VE HAD IN YEARS.
I AM FEELING MUCH BETTER, I'M ONLY TAKING PAIN MEDICATION AT NIGHT AND I'VE STARTED TO GO TO THE BATH ROOM AGAIN. HAY, THIS IS ABOUT GETTING BETTER, SO IF YOU DON'T LIKE TO HEAR ABOUT THE CREATURE COMFORTS, DON'T READ THIS PART. I'M GETTING BETTER ONE PART AT A TIME. IT'S ALL GOT TO WORK OR YOU ARE NOT BETTER. THANKS AGAIN FOR THE PRAYERS.
TOM
Friday, August 7, 2009
Friday Aug 7th.
I'M ALIVE, AND HAVE NO CANCER AROUND THE TUMOR AREA. THEY DID A SCAN ON THE TISSUE AROUND THE TUMOR AREA AND IT CAME BACK NEGATIVE. THAT'S A GREAT THING. NOW I HAVE TO SEE THE SURGEON IN TWO WEEKS AND DR. RUSHING IN A MONTH. I MIGHT STILL NEED RADIATION. I'LL KNOW IN A MONTH. I CAN ONLY TYPE WITH ONE HAND SO IT WILL BE A WHILE BEFORE I CAN TELL THE ENTIRE STORY. THERE WERE SOME BBIIGG SCREW UPS. STAY TUNED !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
TOM
TOM
Sunday, August 2, 2009
Aug. 2nd. Sunday Day before surgery
On Friday I didn't think I would want to blog any more, but I guess this thing has become a part of me and when things happen or I think of something I want to share it. For those who are viewing this but are not Catholic, this might not be of interest to you.
At mass this morning I just happened to sit next to a nun who I had seen before, but did not know. When we were to turn and introduce ourselves to each other, I asked her to pray for me tomorrow because I was going to be operated on. She said she would be happy too. At the end of the mass she leaned over and told me I should ask the priest to give me the blessing of the sick. It's not the same as the last rights, but it is an anointing of oil and a total dispensation of your sins. My sister Margo had told me about it, but I went to the rectory one day and the Indian priest didn't seem to know what I was talking about. Well somehow the Good Lord had me sit next to the nun that knew what to have me do. So if any of you think the Lord doesn't work in mysterious ways, I had to differ with you, but I do. I feel so much better already, and positive about what will happen tomorrow. What ever happens, I'll be prepared. I still want the prayers from you guys, but I know I have done what I can do. Also, Margo, thanks for your prayer for someone who is going to be operated on. It includes the prayer for the Dr's and the medical team.
Sharon and I will be staying at the University Inn tonight and we must check in at 5:30am tomorrow. The operation will start at 7:30am and should last about 4 to 41/2 hours. We'll keep you up to date.
I will personally try to get back to this as soon as I can type.
Tom
At mass this morning I just happened to sit next to a nun who I had seen before, but did not know. When we were to turn and introduce ourselves to each other, I asked her to pray for me tomorrow because I was going to be operated on. She said she would be happy too. At the end of the mass she leaned over and told me I should ask the priest to give me the blessing of the sick. It's not the same as the last rights, but it is an anointing of oil and a total dispensation of your sins. My sister Margo had told me about it, but I went to the rectory one day and the Indian priest didn't seem to know what I was talking about. Well somehow the Good Lord had me sit next to the nun that knew what to have me do. So if any of you think the Lord doesn't work in mysterious ways, I had to differ with you, but I do. I feel so much better already, and positive about what will happen tomorrow. What ever happens, I'll be prepared. I still want the prayers from you guys, but I know I have done what I can do. Also, Margo, thanks for your prayer for someone who is going to be operated on. It includes the prayer for the Dr's and the medical team.
Sharon and I will be staying at the University Inn tonight and we must check in at 5:30am tomorrow. The operation will start at 7:30am and should last about 4 to 41/2 hours. We'll keep you up to date.
I will personally try to get back to this as soon as I can type.
Tom
Saturday, August 1, 2009
Aug. 1st. Saturday
I have been ask by some viewers to see what my arm looks like before surgery. Sharon also thinks it's a good idea to have some picture evidence. It aint pretty folks. It went from a 15 in. bicep when we first saw the Dr. to a 17 in. bicep just before surgery. The chemo killed a little bit of it, but it is still growing so they need to take it before it spreads all over my arm. 
Hopefully Monday they will take this out and all will be well. It's in the hands of the Lord and his skilled professionals. Keep up the prayers.
Thank again for your concern over the last couple of months.
Tom
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