Another shot

Another Lupron shot, this time the big mother. It will last for 3 months. Status quo this week. I ordered some roomier pants for Jack. He needs to have a rotation of clothes for his daily outings for radiation in November. No constriction, no metal parts, comfort.

Throw in a Kidney Stone!

Oh, why not? Yes, last week had a new twist. It was apparently a small stone, just enough to cause bleeding, and with an elevated INR (coumadin blood thinner a little too high), lots of bleeding, resulting in a clot in the ureter, which then goes into spasm, causing all the same symptoms as a larger kidney stone. At lease he was spared the excruciating pain of a larger stone scraping its way from the kitney to the bladder. It was painful enough to cause cold sweats and nausea and a trip to the Sequoia Hospital ER, since it was on our way home. Six hours later, painkillers and a urinary strainer in tow, Jack was back in bed. Now, for the cancer treatment. More hot flashes.

Fever?

I came home Friday night to a worried Jack. "Feel my forehead. I think I have a fever." Aha! I think you are finally having a hot flash! And it subsided after a while. Because Jack takes niacin supplements to increase HDL cholesterol, he's familiar with occasional niacin flushes, which can last for at least 2 hours. So hot flashes seem easy by comparison. Throw off the covers, grab a fan. Welcome to Menopause.

This is a "side effect?"

For a chronic insomniac, the warning label "May cause drowsiness" is a welcomed sight. Jack is sleeping in 5-hour stretches. Unheard of.....