Healthcare visit #63: naturopath

We had another healthcare appointment with Dr. Jenn, hubby's naturopath. Not to bore you, but it helps me to write it down, and organize it, and understand it all.

The purpose of this meeting was an update on recent tests (Bone scan, CT Scan, PSA, ultrasound), and anti-androgen intermittent therapy.

JB handed Dr. Jenn all the reports we had, a hard copy is a good thing. I heartily recommend you do this. She was impressed with his organization!

Since his surgery to remove the cancer cells (Jan., 2014), we've been watching and waiting. This included going to a naturopath, with the understanding that they didn't get all of the cells she's been giving him immunity boosters. Also, he has immunity boosters, and supplements to help his food intolerances (dairy, yeast, eggs), which is why we went to her in the first place!

Anti-hormone therapy began last Wednesday (Aug. 23), with pills. In a couple of weeks we'll go to the doctor, taking the medication we pick up at the pharmacy, and they'll do the deed, the injection. This will happen every three months.

(His treatment for mitigating cancer is based on excellent research, by Canadian researchers, who determine the course of action. It would be different if his cancer had progressed, as it often does, to bone cancer. This isn't the case. His cancer cells are limited to his lymph nodes in his groin, near the prostate site.)

Dr. Jenn

We went back to Dr. Jenn, and handed over report after report, she stapled them, taking notes on her laptop. The good news is, his cholesterol is down, he's reduced his meds for that. While the tests showed he has a small gallstone, Dr. Jenn said that probably with crappy diet he'd have pain. He doesn't!

Side effects of Treatment
Fatigue, lethargy, bone loss, calcium, anemia, weight gain less common. Hot flashes. Won't preclude activities, fully expect doing these (therapeutic riding volunteer, Meals on Wheels).

His weight is down 10 kg. through hard work and self-discipline. She asked which margarine he used. With his food intolerances, he's on a Non-dairy, vegan diet, with meat, no yeast. She suggested we keep hormone exposure minimal by eating organic meat.

The drive in was quite the thing. This trucker passing several vehicles on highway #15. I tweeted the photo to the company. This is scary.

There was a little girl with her mom in the grocery store parking lot, who looked a lot like our grandie in Vancouver! We stopped for some of hubby's favourite fake cheese in Carleton Place!

I redid his daily chart, with tweaking from Dr. Jenn's advice during this visit. "Mushrooms" are a mushroom complex, made from reishi, shiitake, maitake mushrooms, which mitigate side effects of the anti-hormone treatments. "Trident" is an Omega 3 supplement. Probiotics are ultra antioxidants. This is over and above his healthcare visits, which we get through Canadian universal healthcare. The medications we must pay for. The anti-hormone injection kits cost $1100 per dose. As a senior over age 65, he only pays $20 for this (Ontario Drug Benefit Program). There is much controversy in the US, where the government does not control drug prices. 
"In the U.S, the cost of insulin has dramatically increased. Prices for Humalog, a rapid-acting insulin, has grown 700 per cent since 1996, The Washington Post reported."

Crappy photos in the waiting room from the iPad, upon which I take notes. It's in a exercise facility! They usually have a pithy saying!

Heckuva time with electronics!

It's been a heckuva couple of weeks. Between electronics, appliances, car, and all.

1. The stove electronics locked the oven door shut last week. We replaced that.
2. Monday
 Hubby dropped the car off in Ottawa. The car is in the shop being straightened and repainted. We rented a car, which they delivered to the repair show. Only issue? The trunk is too low for hubby to pick up his Meals on Wheels out of without hurting his back. He can dispatch, but not deliver. Also, it has 4-season tires. Slippery on the end of the driveway.

3. Wednesday

Waiting room sillies

We had to go in to see the Urologist to check on hubby's cancer. The good news is that his PSA level has gone down slightly after going up in a steady upturn. It was 0.79 three months ago, and it was at 0.77 this month. With his prostate removed it should be 0. He's set for another PSA test in 3 months, as well as a colonoscopy. After this appointment at Ottawa Hospital, the plan was to pick up the finished car. Cannot do that. Their paint machine died and got the shop behind. We drove to our favourite restaurant, the Twisted Lizard, and it was closed. Forever! We went to another spot and drove home safely.

4. Wednesday night
The well pump wouldn't shut off. The tank in the house wasn't filling. We had to turn it off; I could hear it losing its prime. Not good. We phoned our company, and left a message.
Curtis phoned first thing 8:00 a.m., and promised he'd show up and help us out. "It won't be cheap," he said. "But, it's only money, and you can't take it with you!" I took photos to show the kids where our Line of Credit will be drawn on today!

Thursday

I worked on Josie's dress

They spent Thursday uninstalling the rusty machine and reinstalling a new one. Curtis, the new franchisee, turned out to be a distant sort of a cousin. A younger generation, of course. He brought 2 guys and another truck with him by the afternoon. All of Perth didn't have a replacement pump. He drove to Kanata.
Hubby brought me home a Subway for lunch. Having spent a day without water, I was ready to get it back. Do you know how many times you go to the tap in a day? And then how many times I did it anyway, and suddenly remembered, there was no use!
There was a hole created by rust, in the intake in the bottom of the well. No wonder we lost prime. It was getting darker, the snow started to fall. They had to chop off the top of the fake well cover. It was so sad! You should have heard the cheer when the dang tank finally decided that they had primed it enough. We paid the bill, while his peeps packed up the two trucks!



5. Friday
It took me 45 minutes with the snowblower on the 100m driveway and we made it out of the driveway. The lousy tires on our little rental is terribly slippy in the snow and ice. We had about 10 cm (4") of snow last night. I knew we'd never get out of the driveway unless I cleared it. I began at 7:30, after only one coffee, and no breakfast, ran inside, got out of my sweaty clothes (no time for a shower) and into Carleton Place after a 45 minute drive.
Our naturopath, Dr. Jenn, was waiting for us. We were a half hour late. There were OPP with flashing lights and an ambulance, slipping on the fudgy snow in the intersection at highway #7 and Carleton Place. Pretty scary.

Towers of power

Dr. Jen has great nails!

The supplements seem to
be holding the PSA at bay.

Next, off to the physiotherapist to work on my Achilles tendon. Steve worked on my ankle, which is improving!

Then, brunch at Moxie's next door. The server didn't seem real keen on serving us. Slow, not so eager. We were disappointed, but the meal was good and hot. I think the cute young men at another table were claiming her attention!

On the way home I spotted a Snowy owl. Poor hubby turned the car around, despite the crummy snowy shoulder and back I went. It was freezing, with a bitter wind, but we did it!

Home, and I tackled the front step, ignored in the rush to get out the door. The overnight Trailcam did not reveal anything other than falling snow and morose-looking deer trudging across the wetland!
Dishes are done, and I should wash sheets. It's wonderful having water again.