Update on Dave....

[dbhost]

So plain and simple, for those that don't know, I have been fighting with trying to get a rather nasty case of ulcertative colitis under control. Doc at first before the biopsies were concerned it was colon cancer, I was losing a LOT of fluids and a good amount of blood including needing several infusions... For the most part, although not fully, that is at least getting under control.

Ever seen the ads for colitis meds where the person is always looking for a bathroom? No joke. I have considered selling my SUV and buying a van I can put a toilet in so I can pull over and take care of business if I can't get off the freeway and find a pit stop, and that is just for a quick jaunt into town...

But that is fewer and further between and every day it gets a little bit better. The medication is going slowly, but the inflamation was pretty severe...

So that is the good.

The bad. There are things they are seeing skeletal wise, in my feet and shoulders where they see deterioration, they think it COULD be metastatic disease, but for it to be metastatic, there has to be a primary cancer somewhere, and everywhere else checks out good, so that can't be it, or they missed something... Oncologist is still working on it...

My stamina is getting back up there, to the point that for the first time since I guess April, I have cleaned my BBQ pit, the old one, and replaced the rusted out grate, and am now doing a burn in on the new grate to get the manufacturing sealants / oils off of the grate so it doesn't get all nasty in the food...

Overall, and I probably SHOULD be concerned about the possibility of Cancer, but I'm not. Probably means I am an idiot, but there are other diseases of the bone, and my medical / injury history would explain the findings better than cancer, but we cannot rule it out for now.

No matter the outcome, I am going to keep chugging along until I no longer can...

What does that mean shop wise in the short term?

#1. My portable AC blows chunks. I have a friend that will help me move the 220 outlet for the HVAC, and install a mini split in the shop. So that is on the agenda.
#2. I need to replace my broken air circulator fans. I guess 15 years on a cheap Home Depot fan is as much as I can get before the motor croaks... On 2 of them. I am planning on ceiling mounting one of them as a booster for the AC. The other just goes around the shop where it is needed.
#3. Once the temps are more tolerable in the shop. Resume cleanup / organization. And resume refinishing the roller tool cabinet. Oh and this thing is too tall for a drill press cabinet / stand, by about 6". So back to the drawing board. I have a friend with an old, and I mean 20+ year old US general single wide cab that is the right height, may end up seeing if he would be willing to trade. He needs more drawers anyway... Either that, or I build a wooden drill cabinet and just sell my old Craftsman tool box...

I still need to make a new flipper cabinet for the 10" jointer. I have actually jointed and planed some Texas ash about 9" x 48 on this jointer, and with the extension wings, no problemo... This was from a neighbors tree, and was going to be used for a mantle slab. So 1.5" thick and live edged. I guess I never should have let them see me trying the jointer out in the driveway... Ooops...

I need to get some ethanol free gas and finish the setup / breakin procedure for my 2200w inverter generator. We are WELL into Hurricane season and I still have not done this. I must be an idiot...

So there you go. That is my update. Hope everyone is well, and for those that have been praying, thank you. And keep on going!

[Jim Frye]

Bummer big time. Still thinking about you and hoping for good. I had a blood anomaly a few years ago and the oncologist spent two years testing and reviewing things. Never came up with a diagnosis. Second opinion doc. stated he could find nothing and we forgot about it. New Primary Care Physician reviewed everything and came to the conclusion the original Oncologist was milking things (she put it professionally). Oddly enough, he's no longer with the living. Yes, the key thing is to press on with as much as you can. My Wife just finished two knee replacements and I'm on the road to them. X-rays show both of my knees are bone on bone and I' starting down the path with shots and exercise. The Orthopedic Surgeon says replacement is inevitable, just like my Wife's. It's a booger getting old. Hang in there Dave and keep the faith.

[leehljp]

Praying for you Dave.

[Dedpedal]

Hoping for the best possible outcome.

[cwsmith]

Hi Dave,

I hope you are continueing to improve over these past few weeks and you are feeling better. Just know that we are thinking of you and wish you the best.

CWS

[Turaj]

Dave,
Sorry to hear about all that you had and continue to go through. Hope it continues to get better and back to normal. Wish you all the best.

[dbhost]

Another quick update. Things are improving, slowly, however I am not 11 weeks into treatment and according to the nurse remission can take at least 30 weeks. I have been looking for a full size van so I have a... portable bathroom as it were, so I can handle the commute in the mean time...

[jabe]

My neighbor has the same problem for years, he's still working, and he suffers through the day. He's been to many specialists but, none has been successful with treating the problem. We don't have many options here in Hawaii so he might have to go to the continent for more expertise. Hope you have better luck than my neighbor. Don't give up, hope your quality of life improves. Praying for your recovery.

[dbhost]

Well, my full size van, complete with toilet is on its way from a broker in Florida. It's old and has a specialized AC system for the rear AC that I need to find someone to service for me as I am totally unfamiliar with this one... This is definately NOT what I call fun though... I am in the metro area of teh 4th largest city in the US, and just finding a GI doctor that can squeeze you in at all is a huge challenge. The main reason I had one see me so soon is I was referred to him by an oncologist to clear up if the cause of my symptoms might have been colon cancer, thank God it isn't. Apparently this is one of those specialities we do NOT have enough specialists working in. After going through what I have been through, I am left more concerned with the overall state of our medical system than anything else. Just getting someone that knows what you are dealing with to look at you is a much bigger challenge than I expected....

[Jim Frye]

Keep hanging in there. We're all pullin for ya.

[dbhost]

My neighbor has the same problem for years, he's still working, and he suffers through the day. He's been to many specialists but, none has been successful with treating the problem. We don't have many options here in Hawaii so he might have to go to the continent for more expertise. Hope you have better luck than my neighbor. Don't give up, hope your quality of life improves. Praying for your recovery.

No joke here but if your neighbor has any suggestions for symptom management please feel free to pass them along I could really use some relief here.

[Pappy]

Stay on top of the docs with the colitis. I lost my colon to ulcerative colitis 9 years ago. They caught it too late and my colon perforated. Luckily, I had been hospitalized in San Antonio to be where a colorectal surgeon was on staff. Dropped from 155 to 115 in the 6 months I had to deal with the bag. After the reconnect surgery it took forever to start gaining my weight back. Keeping it on is still a struggle.

[dbhost]

I jumped on it as soon as symptoms started, most notably blood where it shouldn't be. That was a real WTF moment... I am not in remission yet, but I am at the even with GasX have gas and bloating that is just insufferable. But yeah I am keeping up with it... Most folks know I am a big guy to begin with. When Debi passed last year, before the UC flared up I had lost 20lbs in 6 months. I have since lost another 75 in the 6 months after first symptoms... I am still big. I needed to lose a lot of weight but not this way. I am however a bit under halfway down to my goal weight so I am going to call that a win. My weight loss has slowed to a manageable 1.5 to 2lbs a week, and I can stop it if I force myself to eat too much, but that causes more bloating etc...

I am trying to find a way back not to normal as I don't believe that is an option for me any more, but back to more fully functional. I am going to try commuting / in office work at least one day next week, I have been WFH since this started, and honestly I have been so sick most of the time my concentration has been, if you will excuse the pun, in the toilet...

[jabe]

Sorry Dave, for not replying sooner but, my neighbor who has a similar problem controls it by his diet. He eats plain meat, hamburger, no seasoning, plain bread no butter, no fruits, no raw vegetables, no cooked vegetables. He just eat what works for him by trial and error yes, he is thin. He stays away from seasoning & spices on his food. His only weakness is potato chips but, he pays for it if he over indulges. Hope this helps, take care.