Clarence is upset.

Clarence, one of my swimming buddies from the pool, is upset because I haven’t posted to this blog for awhile.

I pointed out this was because everything was fine and there wasn’t anything to post about.  He wasn’t satisfied.  John agreed with him.  John said he checks the blog five or six times a day and was disappointed to find nothing new.

Five or six times a days?  I don’t think so.  He watches me swim laps for forty minutes every day and must notice I’m not at deaths’ door.  John exaggerates, sometimes even lies.

But peer pressure is irresistible, so I am posting.

I already mentioned that the results of my CAT scan showed no new cancer, which is obviously good news.  Since then we’ve met with Dr Ey, the oncologist, who says being cancer free after the one year from surgery CAT scan is major good news.  If the cancer is going to reappear it is most likely to have shown up within the first year, which it hasn’t.

After that the odds of it coming back dramatically drop.  That doesn’t mean the danger is past, but it does mean things are looking very good.

I have been having challenges with acid reflux, which is basically really bad heart burn.  Actually it’s more complicated than that, but that gives you the general idea.  This is something I’m going to be coping with for the rest of my life.

Managing acid reflux is basically a balancing act.

I need to eat many small meals, that are evenly spaced throughout the day, that don’t include too many foods that are hard on my stomach.  What is hard on my stomach can change from day to day or hour to hour.  Which makes it a challenge.

I also am trying to stabilize my stomach by taking digestive enzymes, probiotics, and various other over the counter medications that keep my tummy from tumbling into terrible trouble.  Also known as the 4 T’s.

Keeping this all in balance is something I will master over time, but at the moment it is a struggle.

As I’d mentioned in a previous post, I’ve been having trouble withdrawing from the medication Lorazapam.  I’ve been cutting back the dose very gradually and am now down to 1/4 of a milligram per day.  The gradual withdrawal is working.  I’m confident I can kick this drug without too much trouble.

Unfortunately, I am now addicted to butter rum flavored life savers, which I now buy in bulk.

Thanks a lot Carl.