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112<br />
years. These stents are placed across the stricture and hold it open for 6-10 weeks<br />
before degrading and being absorbed by the body. Most patients get long term relief, but<br />
many need restenting. There are few complications.<br />
In the meanwhile, I hope to go to the Bridge Club tomorrow and to work Tuesday morning<br />
at Kaiser.<br />
Go 49ers<br />
Posted by David Shuster at 12:48PM (-08:00)<br />
Steps in the Right Direction<br />
Monday, January 23, 2012<br />
While I slept very well Friday and Saturday nights, but not so well last night as phlegm<br />
was coming into my mouth all night. But it was not enough to have to spit it out. I continue<br />
to lose weight, down to 147.5 lbs. However I am getting down more nourishment. 3<br />
bottles of Boost+, ice cream, mushroom soup after it was put in the blender and<br />
chocolate pudding so far today. I was able to down a 20 mg Prilosec pill. There has been<br />
some discomfort, but it is not unbearable. In spite of the lack of sleep, I played Bridge<br />
<strong>with</strong> Bert today and we had the second best score of 25 pairs. I then briefly visited my 2<br />
younger granddaughters. On Sunday afternoon, I got to spend time <strong>with</strong> Eva.<br />
I will see Dr. Lewis tomorrow morning at 10:30. I moved up my appointment <strong>with</strong> Dr. Flam<br />
to Wednesday morning. I am scheduled to work at Kaiser tomorrow morning, and will do<br />
2 hours early and then return after my appointment for another 2 hours.<br />
Good news. <strong>My</strong> son had a negative cystoscopy today. <strong>My</strong> son Brian just arrived today for<br />
his appointment tomorrow <strong>with</strong> Dr. Lewis.<br />
I asked an Interventional Radiologist who used to be an associate of mine, Dr. Marty<br />
Rindahl who was too busy climbing Mt. Everest to put in my Mediport about esophageal<br />
stents but he has little recent experience <strong>with</strong> them. He defers that to the<br />
gastroenterologists.<br />
Posted by David Shuster at 08:32PM (-08:00)<br />
Esophageal Dilatation #3 (or is it #2?) Tomorrow<br />
Wednesday, January 25, 2012<br />
Yesterday was my appointment <strong>with</strong> Dr. Lewis. It turns out that my last endoscopy<br />
showed food wedged in the lower esophagus. I saw a picture. It looked like nothing I ever<br />
ate, but I guess the main component was egg. After that was removed, Dr. Cano felt it<br />
was too inflamed to dilate significantly.<br />
Dr. Lewis is confident that my ability to eat can be restored <strong>with</strong> dilatations. He does have<br />
experience <strong>with</strong> removable stents if needed. It is still a struggle to get even liquids down,<br />
and I get little sleep because of fluid in the esophagus coming back to my mouth at night<br />
and making me cough. Last night, I slept in the bed and not in the recliner. It was a little<br />
better. The head of the bed was elevated by cushions under the mattress.<br />
Tomorrow, I go for another dilatation. In the meanwhile, I have been living on Boost+, 4<br />
bottles today, 360 calories per bottle.<br />
Today, I saw Dr. Flam this morning. He is very optimistic. He feels that this is benign<br />
disease, and doesn't even want to do a follow-up PET/CT for another two months.<br />
However, he did suggest that I would benefit from hyperalimentation if I lose another 5<br />
lbs.<br />
I am told I look good. <strong>My</strong> hair has come back, although the baldness has also come back.<br />
I look slim as if I am getting lots of exercise. <strong>My</strong> response is "I am half way between<br />
<strong>My</strong> <strong>Battle</strong> <strong>with</strong> <strong>Merkel</strong> <strong>Cell</strong> <strong>Cancer</strong>
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