My Health - Started 8/17/2017

Chula Vista · 08-17-2017, 08:15 PM

Gonna keep a journal of how this all plays out. I'll add dates to all entries. Some of this is going to get very personal and maybe even gross, so everything will be in spoiler mode.

Click at your own risk.

Spoiler for 8/17/2017:

Zhanteimi · 08-17-2017, 08:37 PM

.

Chula Vista · 08-17-2017, 09:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mord

I sincerely hope for all the best for you, Don.

Appreciate it man. Being the dude, dad, husband, and provider, I'm already tossing plans around in my head. Hopefully it's just a tapeworm!

Lisnaholic · 08-17-2017, 09:42 PM

I'm very sorry to hear that you're having serious health issues like that Chula. That sounds grim and quite worrying. I just hope the CT scan brings some good news.

I like the tapeworm picture, btw - is that supposed to be Dune, do you think?

Wpnfire · 08-17-2017, 10:39 PM

You seem pretty positive. Maybe a little too positive.

Your bowel movements are a good indicator of overall body function. If they're ever not normal, you should immediately see your doctor.

Chula Vista · 08-17-2017, 11:13 PM

Yes, Dune.

My doc is aware of everything. That's why he's scheduling all of the tests. If the upcoming results prove negative (fingers crossed, knock on wood, amulet on, etc.) then I'll be off to the gastroenterologist.

I made the mistake of putting on a tank top yesterday. At one point I was in front of the mirror and lifted my arm and realized I have old woman upper arms. My biceps have shrunk so bad that I now have a flap of skin hanging on the other side. Jebus Christ. How embarrasing.

Nothing but long sleeves from here on out.

The Identity Matrix · 08-17-2017, 11:30 PM

Sorry to hear about all that you are going through. Nothing but hope, love and prayers for you man.

**Exo** · 08-18-2017, 09:10 AM

Please tell Mike that carrots aren't elixirs.

Also, I'm not a religious person, but your in my thoughts Don. You'll get through whatever this is.

djchameleon · 08-18-2017, 01:59 PM

My thoughts are with you as well Chula. Hope it isn't the Big C.

Chula Vista · 08-23-2017, 01:54 PM

8/23/2017

Had the full body CT (cat) Scan this morning. For those who have never had one, here's the drill.

First thing they do is hand you a pair of paper shorts. You go in a dressing room and take off your pants - because of the metal zipper - and put the shorts on. Then they seat you in the prep room where a nurse took my blood pressure (it was high but she said its' common because people are anxious about the test). She then inserts an IV needle and tapes it in place.

Next you go into the testing room and lie down on one of these.

The technician starts a saline drip into the IV needle and then has you raise both arms up over your head. Then the machine tells you to take a deep breath and hold it. Then the tube scans from just below the crotch to your chest. This step is repeated.

Then the tech tells you he's starting the agent (adding iodine into the IV). Within seconds you start to feel very warm inside. Started with my jaw, then my crotch, and within seconds, my entire body. Then they repeat the scan process 2 more times.

That's it. The lab will "read" the results and have a report over to my PCP before the end of the day. Now the waiting......

08-17-2017, 08:15 PM	#1 (permalink)
Chula Vista Toasted Poster Join Date: Oct 2014 Location: SoCal by way of Boston Posts: 11,332	My Health - Started 8/17/2017 Gonna keep a journal of how this all plays out. I'll add dates to all entries. Some of this is going to get very personal and maybe even gross, so everything will be in spoiler mode. Click at your own risk. Spoiler for 8/17/2017: So as many of you know I've lost a ridiculous amount of weight in the last two months. Normally, (I'm 5'-9") I'd hover between 165 and 170. I lost my appetite because of a med issue, but once the med issue was fixed I still wasn't eating anywhere near normal. Finally make a doc appt. Fully clothed and with shoes on I weighed 133 on their scale. That's 1/5th of my body - gone. My doc was shocked. I've been eating a bit better the last week but stil can't put on any weight. I have a full body CT scan next Wednesday. In the past 3 days I've gotten calls reffering me to a urologist and a prostate specialist. I'm on Sharp which has an awesome website where you have access to everything that's in their system. They took 6 viles of blood during that last visit and the results suck. Hemoglobin way too low. White blood cell count too low. Liver enzymes way too high. PSA number too high. Etc. All signs point to the dreaded C word at this point. My doc says the most likely culprits based on what he's seen so far would be liver, prostate, or pancreas. Mike says that as long as I start drinking carrot juice I'll be just fine. God love that kid. Both Linda and Sherri want 100% full disclosure. Linda is taking a day off - we can't afford it - to go with me for the CT scan. Spoiler for Now the gross part: I'm throwing up way too much and haven't had a decent crap in 2 months. A lot of days it's just..... kinda like brown prune juice???? I warned you. __________________ “The fact that we live at the bottom of a deep gravity well, on the surface of a gas covered planet going around a nuclear fireball 90 million miles away and think this to be normal is obviously some indication of how skewed our perspective tends to be.” Last edited by Chula Vista; 08-17-2017 at 11:37 PM.

08-17-2017, 08:37 PM	#2 (permalink)
Zhanteimi Mord Join Date: Oct 2014 Location: Tokyo Posts: 4,873	. __________________ Zhanteimi LetsTalkMusic Last edited by Zhanteimi; 05-01-2018 at 05:27 PM.

08-17-2017, 09:42 PM	#4 (permalink)
Lisnaholic ...here to hear... Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: He lives on Love Street Posts: 4,444	I'm very sorry to hear that you're having serious health issues like that Chula. That sounds grim and quite worrying. I just hope the CT scan brings some good news. I like the tapeworm picture, btw - is that supposed to be Dune, do you think? __________________ "Am I enjoying this moment? I know of it and perhaps that is enough." - Sybille Bedford, 1953

08-17-2017, 10:39 PM	#5 (permalink)
Wpnfire Dragon Join Date: Jan 2014 Location: Kansas, United States Posts: 2,744	You seem pretty positive. Maybe a little too positive. Your bowel movements are a good indicator of overall body function. If they're ever not normal, you should immediately see your doctor. __________________ Last.FM My RYM Ratings *My Glitchwave Beta Profile*

08-17-2017, 11:13 PM	#6 (permalink)
Chula Vista Toasted Poster Join Date: Oct 2014 Location: SoCal by way of Boston Posts: 11,332	Yes, Dune. My doc is aware of everything. That's why he's scheduling all of the tests. If the upcoming results prove negative (fingers crossed, knock on wood, amulet on, etc.) then I'll be off to the gastroenterologist. I made the mistake of putting on a tank top yesterday. At one point I was in front of the mirror and lifted my arm and realized I have old woman upper arms. My biceps have shrunk so bad that I now have a flap of skin hanging on the other side. Jebus Christ. How embarrasing. Nothing but long sleeves from here on out. __________________ “The fact that we live at the bottom of a deep gravity well, on the surface of a gas covered planet going around a nuclear fireball 90 million miles away and think this to be normal is obviously some indication of how skewed our perspective tends to be.”

08-18-2017, 09:10 AM	#8 (permalink)
Exo All day jazz and biscuits Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: NJ Posts: 7,354	Please tell Mike that carrots aren't elixirs. Also, I'm not a religious person, but your in my thoughts Don. You'll get through whatever this is. __________________ LastFM SUPREME POO BAH MODERATOR EXTRAORDINAIRE

08-23-2017, 01:54 PM	#10 (permalink)
Chula Vista Toasted Poster Join Date: Oct 2014 Location: SoCal by way of Boston Posts: 11,332	8/23/2017 Had the full body CT (cat) Scan this morning. For those who have never had one, here's the drill. First thing they do is hand you a pair of paper shorts. You go in a dressing room and take off your pants - because of the metal zipper - and put the shorts on. Then they seat you in the prep room where a nurse took my blood pressure (it was high but she said its' common because people are anxious about the test). She then inserts an IV needle and tapes it in place. Next you go into the testing room and lie down on one of these. The technician starts a saline drip into the IV needle and then has you raise both arms up over your head. Then the machine tells you to take a deep breath and hold it. Then the tube scans from just below the crotch to your chest. This step is repeated. Then the tech tells you he's starting the agent (adding iodine into the IV). Within seconds you start to feel very warm inside. Started with my jaw, then my crotch, and within seconds, my entire body. Then they repeat the scan process 2 more times. That's it. The lab will "read" the results and have a report over to my PCP before the end of the day. Now the waiting...... __________________ “The fact that we live at the bottom of a deep gravity well, on the surface of a gas covered planet going around a nuclear fireball 90 million miles away and think this to be normal is obviously some indication of how skewed our perspective tends to be.” Last edited by Chula Vista; 08-23-2017 at 02:21 PM.