Lethal Injection

I have a question that's been bugging me for a while:

Why is it that in order to execute someone we need to give them a lethal injection? I understand that's the way the law is written to insure a humane execution (not even gonna talk about those who say it's anything but humane), but why does it have to be done that way at all?

Simply poke the same type of IV you would have used for the lethal drug cocktail (which is apparently expensive, hmm), but instead of injecting the drugs, just run the IV tube into a drain or some biohazard collection thing for safety and let them bleed out. As far as I know, opening your veins has been used as a method of dying for millenia. It's essentially painless and nearly free. All you gotta pay for is a needle and a nurse.

Signs and Wonders

 

Still more uncertainty.

My oncologist's office called today. That's my chemotherapy oncologist. She wants to schedule a PETscan this week. My surgical oncologist had said that it was too soon since my last scan and that "if he were an insurance company, he'd deny it." I don't know how to take that. I don't know if he's saying he'd deny it because it's frivolous or he'd deny it solely out of keeping costs down. I know I'm going to need one sooner or later. Numerous ones.

So they want me to get another scan in before their contract with my insurance is done, which happens to be the 19th. I still have no idea if that means I'm done with Ironwood or not. I also don't know if they want me to have the scan because they feel it's important to have it under their care till the end, concern for my well-being and all, or if they want to get one more expensive insurance charge in before I'm no longer their patient. The equipment is in their facility, after all.

So now I don't know what to do. I really don't want more radiation if I can help it, especially if it's just to line someone else's wallet, but I don't want to pass up a scan because of penny-pinching either.

The Building Blocks of Life

I've seen Jurassic Park at least 50 times and I never noticed the bloodsucking lawyer is wearing shorts. A suit with shorts.

I had re-scheduled my Dr appt for before the cutoff date United Healthcare gave me. Every appt with Dr Szewczyck is to be preceded by a blood draw, so I took the order and had blood drawn today. I had Syed again. That man is the best Phlebotomist I've ever been to. That's someone who gets paid to draw blood. The first time I went to him it was like he did some sleight of hand and the needle went in like air over a marshmallow. Today was less than smooth but still cake.

The lab's office is across the street from Ironwood so I figured I'd go over there in person and change my appt with Dr Woo as well since I hadn't been able to over the phone. I explain to the guy behind the desk and he says he doesn't understand why people have gotten those notices, they're still taking United Healthcare and are still negotiating and expect to close the deal successfully. Who knows what the hell is going on...

Huzzah!

There are always grey areas, but according to my oncologist, Dr. Szewczyk, my PET scans look very good. The material injected into me lights up when there is above normal metabolic activity. There were some areas that were lit up on the side I didn't have cancer on, basically lymph nodes that have had some metabolic activity but weren't enlarged. She said it is most likely nothing to be concerned about (famous last words), but Dr. Rothman will probably want to do an endoscopy to get a better look. Which probably means another trip to the hospital. Which sucks.

But yeah, good news.

Screw Your Weak Sugar

Tomorrow I get my pet scanned again. You know, that whole - inject radioactive sugar in your veins so you can pick up cars like Doc Oc - thing. All the kids are doin it. I don't get the results till next Monday.

I've been eating like a fiend. Still can't taste most sweet things. Fruits and ice creams are pretty boring. Vinegary and other tangy/spicy foods work well.

Completely different:

Flaming Lips have issued a six hour song

"I am in fact, a hobbit in all but size"

Dramatic improvement in the last couple of days. I have been craving pancakes for some reason. I don't even really like pancakes all that much, but the thought of them has been growing in my brain for days. I finally decided that I'd deal with it, so I tasted the syrup we have in the fridge and I could taste it! No more reason not to head out and get some.



As it was 9pm and dinnertime, we all piled in Kev's truck for Mr. Toad's Wild Ride to the nearest Denny's.  I ordered the Build Your Own Slam - 2 pancakes, 2 eggs, hashbrowns and sausages and a glass of strawberry lemonade. I should have ordered the eggs over medium, because over easy was too runny. I couldn't really taste it anyway. Shoulda got them scrambled so I could dowse em in ketchup as I did the hashbrowns. Those were good. The sausages were not. Old and chewy.

The pancakes, for which I'd craved, were light and fluffy, but the syrup was obviously imitation maple because, unlike the real maple syrup I tried at home, I couldn't taste a thing. This and the cakey quality of the pancakes made eating them a futile effort. Irony, that.

Regardless of the small disappointments, the overall mission was a success. My first real meal in 2 months and I could taste most of it, though, admittedly it was the ketchup that saved the meal. I ate everything except the sausages and half the pancakes. A little return to reality afterwards. I was fairly worn out by the time we got home, but still happy to be making improvements.

I have an appointment with Dr. Woo on Wednesday. I think he might take out my feeding tube. I have a long list of questions for him. I'd read a bit about lymphadema. Basically, since Dr. Rothman removed 27 lymph nodes from my neck, the lymphatic fluid that they usually carry away can build up and cause problems. Most of the stuff I've read pertains to breast cancer patients and I need to find out how it affects head and neck cancer patients. Breast cancer patients tend to have 2 or 3 nodes removed. Common problems are swelling in the arm on the side operated on, which is painful and is treated with tightly wrapped bandages that must be worn for weeks. From what I've read, it's not pleasant at all. I doubt this treatment can be adapted to my issues. Can't wrap my neck in tight bandages.

One of the therapies used to treat lymphadema is gentle, specific massage. The fingertips are lightly pressed to the area and moved very slightly down and towards the torso. The other thing I'd read concerned flying after node-related surgery. I'd only seen a couple of things related to this and need to ask if it's true.

I also have to ask when the PET scan will be and how long till the results are back. My dad wants to fly out for it if the time between the scan and the results isn't too long. The last thing I need to ask concerns my lack of saliva. The radiation and chemo pretty much killed those glands. They'll come back, but haven't so far. There's a product that's called Biotene, I think, a spray that acts like synthetic saliva. Part of the problem I have eating certain foods is this lack of saliva. Too dry and I can't swallow. Meats are the biggest issues in this regard.

Anyway, time for my second breakfast!

Can't Stand Up For Falling Down

Saw Dr. Szewczyk today. She said my blood work looked great. Looked in my mouth and complimented me on how clean it was compared to many of her patients. Brushing is rough but there's no way I'm going to let my teeth go bad too. She didn't really have anything more to offer for the mouth issues except try Claritin instead of Zyrtec. Gave me an antibiotic prescription for a possible sinus infection.

The bad news is that Dr. Woo was a little optimistic. I guess he's just thinking radiation, but whatever. According to Dr. Scewczyk I have about another month before I start to really recover. Right about the time I'm due for my PET scan in the beginning of October. So...no real sleep for another month...

Blood Work #4,983,222

Back to Sonora Quest Labs for blood work in advance of my appointment with Dr. Scewzyck on Monday. Not the last by any measure, I'm sure.

Still not feeling any better since the last treatment. Wednesday will be 2 weeks. Hopefully the doc was right and I'll see some improvement soon. Very tired.