Should You Use Xarelto?

Xarelto users sued Johnson & Johnson, Janssen Pharmaceuticals and Bayer Corporation, claiming they suffered from internal bleeding, wound leakage and infections after taking the popular anti-clotting drug. The drug's makers won six trials but agreed to settle thousands of lawsuits for $775 million in March 2019.

Side Effects

• Back pain.
• bloody stools.
• bowel or bladder dysfunction.
• burning, crawling, itching, numbness, prickling, "pins and needles", or tingling feelings.
• coughing up blood.
• difficulty with breathing or swallowing.
• increased menstrual flow or vaginal bleeding.
• leg weakness.

With every cure there is a risk that something else might happen, but is that something else worse than what you are experiencing?

It is a difficult decision but it is a decision that MUST be made nonetheless which is why disease at a later age is better than at a young age because of your wisdom and the fact that you do not have to rely on someone else to make that decision for you.

Bruising and Bleeding

For several years I have taken only a baby aspirin to thin my blood because of a heart attack that I had 12+ year ago; consequently, I bruise and bleed easily and sometimes my arms look like I have dark tattoos on them.  Even though these bruise clear and disappear in a couple of weeks, they easily return.

My last visit to the Cardiologist resulted in him removing the baby aspirin from my list of meds and adding the blood thinner XARELTO because of my recent bout with SEPSIS which caused me to experience AFIB...  and, now I am predisposed to experience FIB but because I did not feel any of the symptoms of AFIB, it would be easy for me to have a STOKE because I did not feel the AFIB...

My health situation always seems to be deteriorating even though in some areas I have stabilized...  like the stints in my 3 heart arteries have been there for over 12 years have worked perfectly.  My hernia operation have given me no problems.  My cancers have stabilized and my thyroid is now functioning properly...

Off to the Clinic

I went to the clinic yesterday because my back was covered with elevated spots like insect bites that my wife thought was shingles since I had experienced shingles in that same location twice before and because of my recent hospitalization did not want to take any chances...  not knowing anything better to do, I followed her advice. 

The Nurse Practitioner said they were Sebaceous cysts and were the result of not washing my back which happens a lot to males who have hairy backs in the summer or after they sweat a lot.  Because of my hospitalization and my PICC line that needed to be wrapped when I showered, my showers for the last 6 weeks had been short.  Plus, I usually have night sweats from the medication and I have been getting into the hot tub again at night.

Sebaceous cysts are common noncancerous cysts of the skin. Cysts are abnormalities in the body that may contain liquid or semiliquid material. Sebaceous cysts are mostly found on the face, neck, or torso. They grow slowly and aren't life-threatening, but they may become uncomfortable if they go unchecked.

Please...

Visit to Cardiologist

Yesterday, I visited my Cardiologist and before I share the visit let me tell you this.  I make an appointment in the afternoon because there are usually no delays although I know there can be and because there is plenty of parking since most people try to go early.  However, going late puts one in afternoon traffic which can be a hassle sometimes.  Appointments with the Cardiologist usually take about 45 minutes from arrival in the lobby until checkout.

When I saw my Cardiologist, I was asked how I felt and I said better now which prompted him to ask me why I said that.   My Cardiologist had not been told by other departments at UT Medical Center that I had been hospitalized, that my blood pressure had dropped severely and that I had been in SEPSIS or with an infection that was causing organ failure.

I asked him just like I asked those doctors when I was hospitalized was I now predisposed to afib and the response was NO...  However my Cardiologist said that was not the case that I was now predisposed and put me on a blood thinner to keep me from having a stroke.  Even with my insurance that medicine is costing me a $1 a day.

More Appointments

Today, I see my Cardiologist...  my normal 6 months check-up but I suppose today, we will be talking about afib and heart failure that I experienced on July 12 that contributed to me being hospitalized.  I am sure that he will find nothing with the tests that he might want to perform and I will tell him that despite feeling a little fatigued from returning to my cancer meds/treatment, I feel fine and have returned to the gym for daily exercising.

But, since I don't know and this is all speculation, I will just have to attend my appointment and see what unfolds and let you know.

I Have SLL

CLL/SLL

An indolent (slow-growing) cancer in which immature lymphocytes (white blood cells) are found in the blood and bone marrow and/or in the lymph nodes. CLL (chronic lymphocytic leukemia) and SLL (small lymphocytic lymphoma) are the same disease, but in CLL cancer cells are found mostly in the blood and bone marrow. In SLL cancer cells are found mostly in the lymph nodes. CLL/SLL is a type of non-Hodgkin lymphoma. Also called chronic lymphocytic leukemia/small lymphocytic lymphoma.

What causes CLL SLL?

Doctors aren't certain what starts the process that causes chronic lymphocytic leukemia. What's known is that something happens to cause a genetic mutation in the DNA of blood-producing cells. This mutation causes the blood cells to produce abnormal, ineffective lymphocytes.

What is the best diet for CLL?

The Prudent diet focuses on a high intake of vegetables, fruits, low-fat dairy, whole grains, and juices. The Mediterranean diet includes a high intake of fish, fruits, vegetables, boiled potatoes, legumes, olives, and vegetable oils.

Insignificant

Coffee and Cancer

Researchers have been investigating the links between coffee and cancer for decades. But there is still a lot they don’t know. In 2016, an expert panel convened by the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) – the arm of the World Health Organization that is responsible for assessing whether certain substances cause cancer – could not conclude that drinking coffee is carcinogenic based on the current evidence available.

And now the coffee-cancer connection is in the news again. A California court ruling last week about a coffee warning related to a chemical formed during the roasting process (called acrylamide) has raised questions among consumers.

So, what do coffee drinkers need to know? In this interview, American Cancer Society researchers, Susan Gapstur, PhD, and Marjorie McCullough, ScD, provide insights into what studies to date really show when it comes to coffee and cancer, and discuss what other research is still needed.  SOURCE:  American Cancer Society

Personal Note:  I have consumed coffee all my life, starting in 1966 when I enrolled in college in NC and started meeting others who liked coffee and conversation.  My coffee was always black and my desire for coffee grew over the years.  Around the age of 50, I changed to decaf coffee (still black) but around the age of 60, I started adding Cappuccino Mix Powder which I am still doing.  However, I pretty much only drink coffee in the mornings and primarily this is done to stimulate the bowels and it works 99% of the time

Returning to the interview and cutting to the chase:

Q. What is the bottom line when it comes to coffee – should people be worried about drinking it?

A. Overall, it seems that there may be health benefits to coffee drinking, but the risks remain unclear. Further research is needed to more fully understand the biologic mechanisms underlying associations of coffee drinking, acrylamide exposure, and cancer risk.

Coffee Basics

Coffee Music

Don't Quit

A New Routine

Ever since I had to wake up at 7:00 am for an antibiotic infusion, I have been unable to sleep past 7:30 am and while my internal clock seems to have been changed from my previous awake time of 8:30 am, and been presented with both good and bad aspects resulting from this new behavior.

On the positive side, I am now consistently taking my thyroids medication between 7:00-7:30 am which I am told is good rather than taking at various times throughout the day.

On the negative side, I am putting myself in a position of eating more calories since I am awake longer, especially since the desire to eat is psychological and is enhanced when one does not keep busy.

Despite the fact that I am not always busy throughout the day, my desire to eat has been diminished because I had no appetite for about 35 days in a row and that loss of appetite seems to have remained at least for now.

My calorie intake seems to have stabilized at around 1800 calories each day.  Interestingly, it was very similar to what my intake was before I was hospitalized.  The difference before was the fact that I consciously tried to suppress my desire for food whereas I no longer (at least so far) have to try and suppress my appetite.

My weight, at this point-in-time seems to have leveled off at 224 pounds which is a loss of 26 pounds since January 2020 with most of the loss coming during the 34 days that I was sick.

My Greatest Fear Not Thought About

I am being treated for and therefore I suppose I am also fighting two different kinds of cancers:  Non Hodgkin's B Cell Lymphoma and Metastatic Melanoma because it has moved from my foot to my groin to my neck for 12 and 6 years respectively.  My condition(s) are further complicated by a serious heart attack that I had about 12 years ago that because of my healthy physical condition, I barely felt.  Three heart arteries were blocked 100%, 90% and 90% and while a triple bypass was the norm, I had my arteries cleaned out and 5 stints inserted, experiencing no problems since then.

Not realizing my health situation was as serious as it was, I left a bug bite or a spider bite unattended after scratching it and ended up in the hospital for 6 days with a staph infection in my blood and throughout my entire body and an antibiotic infusion protocol 3 times a day for 28 days after I was discharged.

I won't make that mistake again.  Hindsight is always the best.

BUT, I completely disregard and completely ignore the single most important aspect of my cancer odyssey and that is the fact that either or both cancers could suddenly not respond to treatment or become relentlessly aggressive...  in which case my life would be put in some serious jeopardy.

ALL CANCER PATIENTS live with this fear daily whether they think about it or not.

Physical Therapy Returns

On Monday, I can resume my last 5 sessions of physical therapy for my lower back which is no longer bothering me...  go figure... 

Each one of these sessions, in the past, has lasted about 90 minutes which is a little longer than other places that are usually 60 minutes in length...  go figure...

My present mindset is to complete these sessions with the focus in mind of getting me on machines so that when the therapy ends, I can continue with these machines to strengthen my lower back muscles and hopefully prevent future attacks.

Well...  this is the plan anywhere.  Fortunately, my Medicare Supplemental Insurances provides for a free gym membership at participating gyms...  and, this is why I picked this particular place to conduct my therapy.

My Recent Home Incarceration

I just got out of the shower where I spent 15-20 minutes washing my body, washing my hair, and shaving...  yes, shaving...

Those days in the hospital or those days at home where I was receiving antibiotic infusions through a PICC line, my showers had to be brief because I could not get my PICC line wet...  consequently, I had to shave in front of a sink using shaving cream which I had not used in 30 years.  Shaving in front of a sink obviously is possible but my facial conditions after the shave are uncomfortable because my skin has been bruised and chaffed and more often than not, there are places on my face where the razor cuts, leaving me with tiny cuts all over that sting.  The only way I can soften my skin is with a warm wash cloth.

But...  when I shave in the shower using soap, my face is exposed to hot water for several minutes, properly softening the skin so that when I use the razor, it glides effortlessly across my face...  the results are a perfect close shave with no bruising, chaffing, or cuts.

Shaving in the shower is one of the things I missed most during those 28 days.

Spoke Too Soon

This morning and for the first time since July 12, about mid morning I experienced diarrhea which was not as bad as it has been in the past, but I was able to make it to the bathroom without any accidents.  A few hours later, it happened again but less severe and once again after that and even less severe.  Obviously, I was a little concerned until I again shared my concerns with my wife and she reminded me that two years ago when I started taking IMBRUVICA, I got diarrhea.

I am hoping my diarrhea will not last that long...

Back to Normal

It has been almost a week since my PICC line was removed and I resumed my cancer treatments and my daily immunotherapy pills and while my body is still adjusting from one assault to another assault, I decided to resume my physical therapy on my lower back which would lead to me establishing a daily exercise routine.  If all goes well, I should be ready to go in about two and a half weeks from today.

My weight has stablized at right around 225/226 which means between counting calories and the staph infection, I have lost about 20+ pounds but not over 25 pounds which I think is a good start for me getting to a weight of 205 and then being able to maintain that weight.  I have also been drinking more water than before my hospitalization which is also good.

Before the end of the year, I should be back to normal.

Not Again!!!

Today's Plan

Of course, I had this plan for last Friday also but did not feel all that great and decided not to go so today will be my day to go to the gym and set dates to resume my physical therapy for my lower back and focus on what machines to use after the therapy ends...

It is kind of interesting how there was a transitional physical body low when I stopped the antibiotics and returned to my cancer infusions and cancer pills.  I was not warned by the doctors that this might happen so I did not expect it to happen...  however, it appears that it just lasted for a day or two...  so, I should be good to go today.

While my lower back no longer hurts, I want to continue my therapy and then continue going to the gym for exercises for several reasons:
First, I need my lower back strengthened
Second, physical exercise is good for my heart
Third, staying "fit" helps fight cancer

Body Assault Adjustment

After 30 days of not taking any meds for my Lymphoma and 60 days not taking any infusions for my Melanoma, I have once again returned to those daily pills and monthly infusions and my body (after being infused with antibiotics) now has to adjust to a new assault or actually return to a familiar assault on its well being.

I am once again experiencing nausea, indigestion, bloating, and fatigue but this time it is from a familiar friend and as I recall backwards in time, I do not believe I experienced any of this when I started...  but, my wife reminds me that I did.

It will take a few days perhaps 7-10 if I am lucky for my body to re-adjust to this assault of  toxins, especially since the antibiotics KILLED both the good and bad bacteria that was inside me roaming around in my bloodstream.

I remember my LOVE AFFAIR with ZOFRAN (a nausea med) but it has been a while since I had to take it, but after taking one last night...  in about 15 minutes a wave of serene calm relaxation swept over me, as the nausea simply disappeared as if it had never been there in the first place.

I suppose that these are the ups and downs, my new normal, for the diseases that are inside me...

Just Imagine Birds Flying In Front of You

Just Imagine Water Dripping Behind You

Going With The Flow

Affirmation

Feeling Stronger and Better

My antibiotic infusions stopped this past Tuesday, my PICC line was removed on Wednesday, yesterday I met with my Oncologist to resume my cancer treatments and medications, last night I was up until 8:00 pm (Wednesday 7:00 pm, Tuesday 6:00 pm), and today my body feels like it is getting stronger and my fatigue/malaise is disappearing more and more since Wednesday the day after my antibiotics stopped.

I was told that I would not return to normal for about 7-10 days but I think I am going to move faster than that and this afternoon, I will go to the gym to finalize my physical therapy on my lower back and ask that they put me in touch with those machines that will help me strengthen my back.

Lesson Learned:  take care of any bug or spider bite and cut on arms as it happens rather than waiting around for it to heal itself and possibly get infected.

Time to relax...

Absolutely Amazing (he said tongue-in-cheek)

Met with my Oncologist this morning after two months of not receiving any cancer treatments because my body was being filled with antibiotics, and during the visit was told that the Infectious Disease Dept at the hospital had put in my report (numerous times) to them that my port have been removed.  NOTHING COULD HAVE BEEN FARTHER FROM THE TRUTH...

While this error did not hurt my reality, what if they had put something down that was also completely FALSE that changed the way my Oncologist was planning to treat me.  When you think about from that standpoint...  it is a HUGE ERROR...  and, leaves me wondering who can you really trust.

The CT scan that was taken while in the hospital with my Staph Infection was sufficient to show my Oncologist that there was no new growth going on inside me...  so, suspending my treatments was done at a PERFECT TIME thankfully.

I had my Opdivo treatment for Melanoma while I was there and will start taking my IMBRUVICA pills tomorrow (so I can get back on a morning schedule) for my Lymphoma.  My Oncologist, because of my Staph Infection, is considering starting me back on IVIG treatment once a month and will let me know in 4 weeks at our next regularly schedule meeting/treatment day.

Nothing could be finer than to be in Carolina in the morning, except I am living in TN...  however, I am originally from THE TAR HEEL STATE.

Got A Minute?

I'm done... I'm done... with IV antibiotics...

F I N I S H E D at last

For over 30 days, I have been infused, via a PICC line, concentrated antibiotics by my wife three times a day, making sure that the infusion time is over 10 minutes to minimize nausea.  During those days, I may have experienced nausea maybe 6 times at the most.  My infusion schedule was every 8 hours and took place at:  11pm, 7am, 3pm, 11pm, 7am, 3pm, etc. etc. etc. Despite the fact that my sleeping habits were altered, the worst part of the whole ordeal was the overwhelming feeling of fatigue and malaise with an incredible need just to sit around and do very little.  I constantly felt like I had just gotten through having the flu for 7 days and was trying to feel better.

But, last night at 11:00 pm, I received my last infusion...

It would appear, according to my Infectious Disease Doctor, that my Staph Infection was more than likely the result of a bug or spider (brown recluse) bite that was scratched, not cleaned, and got infected.  There is also conflicting data that I had a UTI because when the ER performed addition blood work on me, they found no evidence of a UTI.

This makes me wonder how reliable our local family physician's clinic is.

During this process (July 12 to the present), I have lost 25 pounds and while my appetite is gradually coming back, I am hopeful and confident that I can keep my weight at 225 with continuing to count my calories and exercise.

My life, now has the ability to get me back to normal.

A Little Humor

From Wheel Chairs to Walking

Almost Done

After today, there are only 2 days left of taking antibiotics 3 times a day and I can go back to being normal once they remove the PICC line on Wednesday.

It might seem like an inappropriate complaint that I am tired of taking antibiotics 3 times a days especially since they are spaced 8 hours apart.  And yes, they are 8 hours apart but those 8 hours are not always conducive to getting sleep.

My treatments are:  11pm, 7am, 3pm

So, if I stay up for my 11pm infusion, it is difficult for me to awake at 7am for my next infusion...  so, I try to sleep a couple of hours before my 11pm infusion which is not always successful.

The other issue with these infusions are the 2 side effects:  nausea and fatigue, neither of which is enjoyable or desired.  The nausea disappears with a pill but the fatigue lingers and zapps one's energy as well as one's motivation to do anything.

Two more days is not a long time to wait.

CHILL Dude or Dudette

Showering With a PICC Line

If I recall correctly (and my memory is always in question) I took 2 showers during my 6 days in the hospital; but, being at home with a PICC line my showering has not improved.  The nurse has informed us that it is imperative that the bandage covering the PICC line does not get wet as it could contribute to causing the PICC line to become compromised while not necessarily infected, the compromise could cause a new PICC line to be insert, no doubt into my right arm which would then severely curtail my abilities and mobility at home since I am right handed.

We were given several options as to how to cover the PICC line before showering but the best approach, at for us (me) has been to wrap my arm several times in saran wrap and then tape the ends.  I have two ports that dangle down from the PICC line and extend below my elbow, so I curl those into the bend of my arm and make sure the saran wrap extends well below my elbow.  After both ends are wrapped tightly with tape, I  bend my arm several times to make sure my bend has now been restricted.

And, while I try to use my right hand to do most of the soaping up, there are times when I step out of the flow of water and use both arms; otherwise, my left arm extends out to the ceiling and is kept out of the flow of water as much as possible.  Once my shower is complete, I dry the saran wrapped arm first.  So, far, the patch covering the PICC line has never gotten wet.

I also keep my showering down to twice a week, Sundays and Wednesdays, which are the two days before my Hone Health Nurse visits.  If my night sweats are substantial, the I simply use a wash cloth and soap and clean my underarms.  Because of my inactivity, there are no other times during the day that I put myself in a position to sweat.

I have one more shower day (Sunday) before my PICC line is removed next Wednesday.

It's All Good

It is what it is...   so, since it is not worse...  it is all good.  What else can an individual or a family believe when something bad happens to them?  A positive attitude or a relatively positive attitude is going to take a person or family farther emotionally than adopting a negative one.  Supposedly, we all know this...  and, believe this, even though we don't always put into practice what we believe.

In 2007, I was diagnosed with non-Hodgkin's B cell Lymphoma and in 2008 started treated although the memory blurs when going back those 12/13 years.  Treatment started about 6 months after I was diagnosed and there is probably another 4-6 months of testing that needs to be taken into consideration as well.

In 2009/2010, I experienced a non-cancer related heart attack and over a period of  10-12 months, I had 3 heart surgeries where a total of 5 stints were inserted.  From that point-in-time until July 2020, I had no problems with my heart, but my Staph Infection caused it to experience afib and actually experienced heart failure while in the ER.

In 2012, Melanoma was discovered on my left foot and removed and in 2017 metastasized to the left side of my groin and in 2018 metastasized to the left side of my neck but when it was surgically removed, the Melanoma was dead so my treatment was working.

In 2020, my Oncologist discovered that my cancer treatments has screwed up my THYROID and once he put me on meds, not only did it start to immediately regulate my Thyroid but it made my entire body feel better.  What is interesting here is that I thought my cancer treatment were responsible for my fatigue and lousy feelings, but it was my THYROID.

A STAPH infection that got into my blood stream played hell with my body and put me in the hospital for 6 days with antibiotic infusions 3 times a day until 11Aug20.

HOWEVER, my body, the body that was given to me by GOD, has fought back and has successfully resisted all of these attacks...  and, when I was in the ER, my body began to immediately respond to the fluids they were pumping into me from 3 IV's.

In short, I am a tough old bastard.

Seven (7) Days Left

When I woke up this morning at 7:00 am to receive my morning infusion of antibiotics, I was smiling because I realized that I only had 7 days left to have antibiotics infused into my body via a PICC line in my upper left arm.

And, it is not that the PICC line is uncomfortable or causes me a little pain, it is the fact that I am DONE...  FINISHED... with making sure my body is Staph Infection Free.  In fact, this last week is being used as a redundant measure just to make sure.

I talked with my Home Health Nurse on Monday and asked her if she could arrange to remove my PICC line on Wednesday rather than Thursday because I am meeting with my Oncologist to be told when my Cancer treatment will return.

If I have an infusion on the 13th of August, it will be two months since I had my last one and while my CT scan done when I was hospitalized showed NO GROWTH, it was done without a contrast dye so it is possible it could have missed something.  And, since OPDIVO is used against Melanoma and Melanoma has invaded my body 3 times and has done so aggressively, I don't want to wait any longer than I absolutely have to.

On the positive side of my STAPH Infection, I have lost weight and instead of being 250 +/- ,  I am now 225 +/- which is better for my heart so I need to maintain this weight or loose a little more in that I would like to be at 205.

It Takes 3 Days For Every One

Once I left UTMC Hospital on Friday July 17, 2020, I immediately began to feel better however I was still experiencing fatigue and a BLAH feeling for most of the day.  On that following Monday, a spokesperson on behalf of UTMC called me as a courtesy follow-up and during the course of our conversation, she shared with me the statistics that it typically takes 3 days of being at home to compensate for every day one spends in the hospital.  For me that is 18 days and those 18 days ended today.

HOW DO I FEEL?

My fatigue is minimal and my BLAH feeling happens each day but does not last long.  My hunger has returned even though my appetite has not...   which is a good thing because my weight has reduced to 225 which is a good (but not a perfect weight) to carry.  The weight that I would really like to get to is 205.  And, while I feel pretty good when I am sitting...  I feel a little unstable and have to move slow when I am standing or walking.

Basically, feeling BLAH and having fatigue is not a good way to spend one's day and I was not like this before I went into the hospital because my THYROID meds had eliminated all of that.

One thing that I do know FOR SURE is that I will continue to count and record my daily intake of calories and eat under 2000 each day at least until the end of 2020 which is another 5 months.

Author's Note:  Years ago when people asked me how did I feel...   my response was always, "I feel with my fingers."

Eight Days After Today

I have discovered that there is a positive side to growing old and that is that each day does not seem to last very long and as they quickly pass, short term obligations seem to quickly pass as well...  what I am trying to say is that after today, my antibiotic infusions only have 8 more days to go since they are going to stop on 11 August 2020.

7:00 am...   each day I awake at this time and after peeing, get weighed, have my temp taken and then lay on the couch as my wife infuses my antibiotic over a 20 minute period of time.

3:00 pm...   another infusion of antibiotics

11:00 pm...  another infusion of antibiotics

My physical condition goes from feeling pretty good to feeling pretty lousy as if I had been sick for several days, with very little energy, hunger, or motivation to do anything.  This PICC line in my upper left arm is inconvenient when it comes time to take a shower and shave because it cannot get wet.

For the last few days, I have been sitting on the screened in back porch because it has not been too humid just to have a change of my visual environment and to get a little fresh air and sunshine.  Today, it is a little cool as the porch thermometer shows 80 degrees.

My weight fluctuates up and down even though I am not eating any more one day than I am on other days but overall, there has been a loss of about 12/13 pounds and I am currently 125 whereas before going into the hospital I was between 235 and 240 and in March I was 250.  My heart says that I should keep my weight where it is now or lower whereas my cancer says my weight should be closer to 250 in order to fight it properly.

Life above ground is always good.

I Must Be Getting Better

Yesterday afternoon, around 6 pm, I decided that I should try mowing the yard sitting on our riding lawn mower...   and, while I felt lousy (not because of my mowing) afterwards, I am still glad that I did it.  Since July 10, 2020 I have been laying around because of infections that started with a UTI and escalated into a staph infection that required hospitalization.  Laying around is not what I do, although at 72, I am not as active as I was 20 years ago.

It is important to note here that the MAIN REASON that I am tolerating my illnesses like I am and the fact that my body has always responded immediately to treatment is because I maintained EXCELLENT HEALTH all of my adult life which includes:

• eating healthy
• daily exercise
• proper sleep
• minimal alcohol
• stop smoking at 40

The only issue that I did not manage well was STRESS...

Eleven Days Left

There are 11 days left where my wife has to push Antibiotics into me via a PICC line in order to ensure that my Staph Infection has been successfully removed from my body.  Most of the day, I feel rather BLAH but there are days where I feel pretty good as if this is all behind me...  even though I know that it is not.

After 15 days of taking these antibiotics, I have lost 13 pounds and one begins to wonder if there is something else going on inside my body that is causing me to continue to lose weight other than me not eating as much as I did before.

I have STOPPED ALL CANCER TREATMENT since July 12 when I first entered the Hospital, so I have missed an OPDIVO infusion (to fight Melanoma) for almost 2 months and I have not taken Imbruvica (daily pills to fight Lymphoma) since July 13.  Yes...  I am concerned but relying on my Oncologist to guide me through this process.  I have an appointment with him on August 13, two days after my Antibiotic Infusions end, and I would suspect that I will be receiving my OPDIVO infusion on that day as well.  I am also assuming that he will tell me to start taking my Imbruvica again.

Life goes on...   and, I am fortunate that I am still above ground.