Ready for Round #2

Today we visited the doctors office for a final check-up and for the doctors final approval before starting the chemotherapy tomorrow. Dr. Feldman said that all is a "GO." They did have us swing by the hearing doctor to check to see how the ringing in my ears was affecting my hearing. She did say that there is a drop off in the high-pitched noises which she said translates that I probably have a decrease in hearing if there is alot of background noise or in a room with poor acoustics. Dr. Feldman said that it would continue to be monitored along with my kidney function which at this point remains his main concern. Although my kidney function is now back to my baseline of 1.5, it is elevated to begin with so they will be keeping a close watch on it and he also said that they would be giving me more fluids this go round than last time. That means a lot of trips to the bathroom if you are me. When your getting a 1000mg of saline dripped into you at a rate of 500/mg per hour it doesn't take me long to have to break the seal, if you know what I mean.

While grabbing a bite for dinner tonight we had another celebrity siting: Howard Stern. We were down in the neighborhood of Chelsea and he walked right by where we were sitting having dinner.

Yesterday was an uneventful day where we stayed around the Hope Lodge. Jamie was able to do our laundry, so I've got clean clothes heading into the hospital. While I'm there I don't like to wear their gowns. It makes me feel like I'm in the hospital and should feel sick. I typically wear my shorts or sweatpants while I'm there. I'm comfortable like I would be at home. I was able to finish my second book since we have been here. This is the most I have read since I was in college. I read the book Marley and Me. A very good book, which some of the crazy antics reminded me of Roy back home but also of both of my brothers dogs: Rocky and Smokey (both of which are Labs). It is somewhat of a modern-day "Old Yeller". It was interesting in that the guy who wrote the book lives outside of Allentown, PA which is less than an hours drive from our home in Pottstown. I am glad that Jamie gave me some alone time in the room to finish the last 20 pages of the book, I'm a softy and it brings a tear to your eye reading the end of the book (you'll know what I mean if you've read the book or watched the movie).

Well, that's it for here from the Hope Lodge, next blog will be from Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center. Later.