Another week, another doctor's visit, scan, etc - Kudos this week to the radiology department of Community North Hospital, Indianapolis & Dr. Logie

First off- I again want to thank everyone online for their patience, understanding, and forbearance while I'm off line. I understand what's going on with me... I've seen it in my dear Tess for years... pain has a way of short circuiting the brain.

So...

Yes, I had the follow up with the oncologist on Tuesday. It went entirely as expected. He referred me to an endocrinologist who specializes in disorders affecting the bones. I see that doctor on the 27th.

Out of due dilligence, he also ordered two follow up scans- an MRI on my right humerus bone and another full body bone density scan.

I had the MRI yesterday, and I gotta tell ya... if we made terrorist suspects go through this sort of thing, the ACLU would be raising holy havoc! It lasted two hours. If you've never had an MRI, its like being locked inside a really narrow cement mixer while someone bangs on it with a hammer.

Kudos and thanks to the Radiology Department at Community North Hospital, Indianapolis. My techs were Brad and Ricky, and they were tops! Brad even remembered me from my MRI in December. They were proficient, attentive, compassionate... and not just to me, but to my mother and Tess.

The attending radiology doctor did well by us too, but I didn't catch his name. There was some uncertainty about where to focus the scan, and he was able to look at my previous scans and the doctor's orders so that they were able to get the scans most relevant and useful.

We've been told to expect the results back by tomorrow, which is commendable as well.

Everyone else we interacted with there- from the valets to the greeters, were good as well.

So... why did I get that scan? I can only speculate. I know there were irregularities in previous scans all over my body. That they focused on this spot must be that it was especially troubling.

Gotta give props to my oncologist / hematologist - Dr. Keith Logie - He ordered the scans himself instead of punting it over to the orthopedic surgeon.

He also answered some other questions I had which he could well have punted on.

His office staff were all great as well... I hope I never have to see them again, but anyone who does have need would be blessed indeed to have such compassionate and capable people as those at the Central Indiana Cancer Center- Fishers.

Next stop then the endocrinologist on the 27th... and down the line, probably an episode on Mystery Diagnosis or House. (Can't take credit for either joke- friends suggested them.)

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Other developments with me and Tess

• Pain levels slowly ebbing,
• Range of motion continues to increase.
• Based on Dr. Logie's advice though, I am going to take the heavy lifting stuff easy- after I shoveled snow from my wheel chair last week, rib cage with "hot spots" got sore, so 20 pound limit.
• Tess is over her chicken pox.
• I told her she'd better not come down with scurvy or leprosy before my next doctor's visit!

The Indiana Orthopeadic Center & Dr. Sieber have done wonders for me - Post-op visit and general kudos

I had my post-operative visit with my orthopedic surgeon yesterday. It was a long but very pleasant visit, as indeed they all have been. The folks at the Indiana Orthopeedic Center have all been wonderful. I've been trying to take down names of people so I can write specific letters of commendation and thank-yous, but if you're somebody who works there, and you've worked with the tall black haired guy who's always working on a rug, I'm talking about you!

( We stopped at the dollar store after the visit and I bought two packs of thank-you cards, but I think I'm going to need more.)

The surgeon who worked such wonders for me is Dr. Jon Sieber He placed a 14 inch by 1/4th inch titanium rod in my femur. Its quite impressive. The ends of this device which anchor in my bone have heads like a dry wall anchor. I wish I'd asked him the precise name of the device, or for permission to take a picture of my x-ray, etc.

I went there on crutches and the receptionist smiled and said "This is a surprise"

When I asked her why she explained that it was surprising and nice to see me not in a wheel chair.

Of course they took x-rays... many, since I'm as lengthy of stature as I am of speech. The nurse was very pleasant too, and she surprised me when she said "I wish all my patients were as cooperative & understanding as you." Now, I don't think of myself as a particularly patient person, nor especially nice. I do at least my share of griping, but not at people who are helping heal me! I heard similar comments in the hospital. I'm glad my health care team appreciated my attitude, but I don't get why people would grouse at them for doing their jobs when their job is fixing you! Its not like they wake up in the morning and say "Oh goody, I get to torture that freak who's always working on the rugs." Sure, some of the x-ray positions hurt, the IV and CO2 meter in the hospital were hassles but... anyway, as above, that's why I make it a point to write thank-yous... they don't get NEARLY enough appreciation!

As for my situation, the etiology remains a mystery, but the doctor is pleased with the progress of my healing and my activity.

I'll be on crutches and off driving for a month. He wants me to say at partial load bearing the next two weeks, and work towards full load bearing and being off crutches by the time I see him in a month.

Tomorrow I see the oncologist- though I have no idea why...

• the biopsy of my femur marrow came back totally clean,
• had blood tests for all possible cancer markers, and they were all clean
• Every square centimeter of my body has been scanned at least once, some as many as half a dozen times by at least two different methods (x-ray, MRI, CT, ultrasound, & dye contast bone density.)

I believe there is still some concern about osteopenia or osteoporosis. Cancer was explored as a possible etiology and has been ruled out by the extensive battery of tests. So perhaps the oncologist will want to explore other disorders which though not cancer could still be responsible for my bone having disintegrated and broken?

Tess seems to be done breaking out with new pox, and my mother bounced back from her fever/stomach problems.

Thanks for all the love, prayers, concern, support.

Tess update: 3 white spots on back of her throat- cause for alarm?

Took pictures of them so she could see them, could upload one later if anyone thinks they'd be able to tell us something from them... right now just killing time waiting for my shopping ride.

CHICKENPOX: Online diagnostic tools?

Tess has had a fever of 101 since Sunday, and yesterday broke out in... something.

Since I can't drive to the drug store or take her to a clinic, we'd like to know what we're dealing with before we beg a ride from family or friends.

Thanks!