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86<br />
Flam. It was not all useless venting. I learned that they can see me at 7:30 AM, get my<br />
labs done, and start the chemo, and then get me to my Radiation treatment <strong>with</strong> the<br />
chemo running. If I wasn't so "Type A", I would never have learned about this.<br />
Next Wednesday, I will be there at 7:30.<br />
Why would Blue Cross deny payment for Carafate? Do they think it would be cheaper<br />
than treating me for esophageal perforation? I will try to contact them tomorrow to find the<br />
answer to this question.<br />
I am wondering about the plan to have chemo <strong>with</strong> radiation to enhance the effect of<br />
radiation. Is it worth it? Is it going to be any different than if I had radiation alone? If Dr.<br />
Nghiem had not endorsed this plan, I think I would quit the chemo. I will talk about this<br />
<strong>with</strong> Dr. John tomorrow morning.<br />
Real Estate Discussion (Off Topic)<br />
We are hoping to move from our large 2 story home into a smaller house on one level<br />
<strong>with</strong> no pool. We have found 2 different homes which were suitable and made offers at<br />
what we thought were reasonable amounts. Surprisingly, other buyers came in at higher<br />
offers and we did not get the properties. There is an interesting trend in housing here. I<br />
called it a "Squeeze". Smaller homes are selling rapidly and values are going up. Larger<br />
homes are not selling and values are going down. For those trying to downsize, this is not<br />
a good trend. Perhaps the reason is the fear of rising interest rates, either from the<br />
stalemate on the government debt ceiling, of from the government printing money<br />
causing inflation.<br />
Posted by David Shuster at 05:51PM (-07:00)<br />
Not Feeling Well<br />
Saturday, July 23, 2011<br />
This has been a difficult week. I have been uncomfortable, probably due to the injections<br />
of Leukine. The constipation has disappeared and I am dealing <strong>with</strong> the opposite problem<br />
and <strong>with</strong> accompanying cramps. Last night I had shaking chills, and about 4:00 AM, the<br />
cramps woke me up and my nightshirt was drenched. <strong>My</strong> appetite and sense of taste are<br />
gone. I have to force myself to eat. I discussed the need for further chemo <strong>with</strong> Dr. John<br />
and he encouraged me to stay the course. I am not really convinced that the chemo is<br />
useful at this stage, but I plan to stick it out.<br />
Today is my Granddaughter, Bel's second birthday party. I will make a brief appearance.<br />
As to a replacement for Carofate, the generic that CVS found is $300, compared to $60.<br />
<strong>My</strong> insurance does not cover that brand and I can't blame them. They have another<br />
supplier which I think will be approved.<br />
Thanks Patty at Dr. Flam's office for your help <strong>with</strong> this.<br />
Posted by David Shuster at 03:58PM (-07:00)<br />
Closing In On The Mid Point Of <strong>My</strong> Radiation<br />
Treatment<br />
Wednesday, July 27, 2011<br />
I have to say that at the end of last weekend I was getting very discouraged. I was taking<br />
daily shots of Leukine because my WBC's were down to 3100. I had a reaction of chills,<br />
and probably fever once. I was having nausea and almost constant diarrhea. <strong>My</strong> weight<br />
<strong>My</strong> <strong>Battle</strong> <strong>with</strong> <strong>Merkel</strong> <strong>Cell</strong> <strong>Cancer</strong>
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