Crumbly Acres Nursery

💉Joe had his quarterly Lupron injection Thursday. He has his PSA test next week. It was interesting hearing the information (ignorance and misinformation) about Joe Biden's Stage IV prostate cancer diagnosis. People have confused the Stages of Cancer (from I - IV) and the Gleason score (9), specific to prostate cancer. These are two separate things. 

Joe's has had a cancer diagnosis since 2013. His Gleason score was 8/10. It metastasized, as the 2014 surgery didn't get all the cancer cells. The Lupron drug has robbed the cancer cells of testosterone. They have stopped growing. This is a good thing. We wait anxiously every three months for these results. 

We take such joy in watching our critters. Squirrel #75 is still sticking to his tree. The 🐣  PHOEBE eggs should hatch May 28th. No robins this year, which is sad. We have had them nest near the Phoebe nest for many, many years. 

🐀 I grabbed a video of Fred whistling! They are also called Whistle Pigs. I had a video of this before and accidentally deleted it. duH 

I peeked out back, there was Fred, on her hind legs doing 'bear,' keeping watch on a turkey.

Fred hightailed it back to her burrow, as the turkey seemed oblivious of Fred. All she did was whistle and the kits dove for cover in the burrow.

Turkey didn't care. I am keeping the big camera out back. Better to watch them. Fred was vigilant.

Having stormed back to her burrow hole, she was on guard. 

 Little heads peek out, danger over.

I had to leave the house for a last-minute massage. My massage therapist had a cancellation. I've been sore from some of my yard work! When I came back home, feeling less achy, Joe was hopping with excitement. Not only did he spot some more groundhog kits, but he managed to use the camera with the zoom lens. Count 'em! FOUR!

It appears that there are 4 kits! Happily, they are solitary critters, and will find their own homes anon. In the meantime, we all cope with the cold May temperatures, and endless rain. 

PART CX: Treating prostate cancer

 Miracle of miracles. Thanks to COVID, having an appointment with our Ottawa urologist is much easier these days. COVID seemed to make a difference to these issues. This, from Ontario Health Insurance Plan (OHIP):

Effective December 1, 2022, the Schedule of Benefits (the Schedule) has been amended to reflect the new virtual care funding framework, as set out in the PSA and communicated in INFOBulletin 221002.

At the beginning, our Ottawa urologist switched over to treatments (the Lupron injection) three times a year in Perth, and once a year in Ottawa. Then, things changed. No more phone consults as OHIP's remuneration went from $37 to ↓$15 payments per phone 'visit'). Something changed again. 

 There is a new schedule of fees: Virtual Care 1: Comprehensive and Limited Virtual Care Services. 

They offered us the annual check in on Zoom. What's not to love? Our Perth GP has been great having their office monitor the PSA, and the upcoming bone density scan. He is the quarterback.

Virtual Visit

The trick is that they ask you to sign in 30 minutes prior to the meeting. On we went at 3:15.  Joseph Brian had to use my computer, as we had issues with his iPad. He played cards while I watched a TV Christmas movie!

This is so much simpler, rather than a 90-minute drive into Ottawa, not to mention having to work in meals. Dr. C. connected by 4:13, which isn't too bad! Then we found we were muted, and the camera was off. Familiar tale! All fixed, there he was!

During the Zoom call, he asked about JB's symptoms, but there are no changes in symptoms, which is good.  

Last year's bone density test (Dec. 2022) shows low bone mass fracture risk is low, though. Dr. C asked if he is still taking calcium and Vit. D supplements, as well as Alendronate once a week. It won't improve his bone density, but it does slow the deterioration. It is a drug meant for osteoporosis.

Will have a follow-up, another Zoom in 6 months. 

The cancer is well-controlled, at this point. Has to see Dr. C once every two years, according to OHIP rules.

Joseph Brian walks daily for about an hour, most days. It is an excellent workout.

walking from Jennifer Jilks on Vimeo.

Happy birthday!

Well this is Joseph Brian's actual birthday. It began well, with a glorious sunrise. 

I put up a banner in the dark. It says, 'Happy Birthday!' Trust me. The big party was two weekends ago [A birthday party]! 

We both have our creaks and chronic pains. This we can live with. It makes me grateful that we are at this stage in life. Every day you don't see you name in the obits is a bonus! 

I washed sheets and banged my hand on the end of the bed remaking it. duH! I usually take photos of owies for posterity. That way you can tell if it is getting better or worse. It is a serious bruise. I've been icing it.

He had his Lupron injection Tuesday. We'll hope for another 3 months, for another PSA test and another injection, if all goes well. I caught him on the trailcam. He walks almost every morning. 

Joseph will begin the day with apple pie for breakfast. His favourite. He bought it frozen and baked it himself on Tuesday. Of course, we had some for dessert on Tuesday.

His hearing aids are working well. We looked at them in 2013, but were told they wouldn't make a difference. I was happy when he went back this year and they said they could help him.

 This is what we looked at in 2013.

hearinglife.ca

They are very sophisticated, and compact. I don't notice them. Today we pay for them, after a month of trying them. I am pleased with them, as I do have a vested interest! We get $1000 back from the government. Bonus!

We have forest friends.

coyote from Jennifer Jilks on Vimeo.

buck from Jennifer Jilks on Vimeo.

Gramma Camp – Week 28.3

 Thursday

Sleepy girls! It's been a long haul. Last night, two showers, and we're good to go today.

Yesterday, Isabelle stated that she has had enough of chicken noodle soup! She made herself a traditional sandwich, Grampa bought her some sliced Black Forest ham, slice of cheese and a sliced dill pickle.

This was a mnemonic device for something. I forget what. My brain is fudge!

I helped with some assignments. Poor Izzy was a tad bored, as they were explaining how to do an assignment she'd already handed in. The teacher puts a series of slides into their folder, and the kids type in the answers. 

The daffodils Isabelle helped me plant. Still thriving in our rains. 

"I've never sat on this chair before!" I usually have decorative pieces on it!

Down she runs to The Chair.

I've lost the R??!! Today, it reads GNIPS. They always liked to rearrange them!

COVID shopping...

I went walkies by myself. The girls were working, cats and JB sleeping.

This may seem a silly photo, but you can see the leaves beginning to flush out! Yay spring.

Tree fungus and green grass. OK, weeds. Can you see the heart shape in the tree trunk?

You cannot see them yet, but the aspen grove is ready to burst into leaf.

The tree house, before and after. The railings were gone, as the tree keeps growing!

We brought in dinner, Take Out from Kothu Lab. Sri Lankan, Kothu means a chopped meal. It's all made fresh, and each meal made to order: mild, medium (white man spicy!), and spicy, with a variety of spices: jafna, kerala, jerk, tandoori, thai. These girls traveled in Asia, have varied tastes, and are proficient with chopsticks. The take out boxes are recyclable cardboard. 

Isabelle pretended to lose her bean. A long story, but that's what my Dad did, while he was suffering from his brain tumour, and it was a joke. My Mom nearly had a heart attack, as Dad laid there with his head on the table, looking for a lost piece of veggie. Isabelle loves to re-enact the tale.

March 25 -  wood ducks  down at the dock

Healthcare

In the meantime, JB had a phone appointment with our GP. He was out walking when Dr. Dan phoned earlier than the planned 10:30 appointment. Dr. Dan was happy he was out walking. He phoned back later, and indicated that the recent bone scan showed calcium deposits, and bone disintegration, which explains JB's neck issues, but doesn't help. He's taking Advil, will keep on with physio to strengthen the neck muscles to support the neck. He's pleased we're working on ergonomic work systems (the new standing/sitting table), pillow supports. It's not a soft tissue issue, as there would be reticular symptoms, weakness radiating down his arm. JB is in to see him in June for his next cancer treatment.

Good news: both working-from-home parents have had their vaccines at a pharmacy in Ottawa, yesterday. They are giving 40-somethings vaccines in Ottawa. I told Isabelle and she hooted with joy!

Prostate cancer in a time of COVID–19

OK, let me vent, as I am wont to do! This is our life. Last month JB had a COVID–19 test. It was quite the deal. (BTW – I worked 20 minutes on this post at 6 a.m., and 'New Blogger' wouldn't save it. Ticked me off, I tell you.) This month he needed a PSA test.

This has been our quarterly adventure, for several years:

a) book a PSA test (mid-June)

b) check the PSA test results online (a day or so later)

c) if all is well: order the injection from our pharmacy (10 days before the injection date)

c) arrange for the injection either at the GPs office or our local ER (July).

It has to be this order of operations. If anything has changed, indicated by the PSA test results, then it is possibly an appointment in Ottawa, and an examination of the treatment plan. These are the test results so far. I graphed them. It begins at 0 where JB had surgery. His PSA should have been zero, but they didn't get it all with the robotic surgery. After his PSA tests rose enough, we began a course of quarterly Lupron injections. His PSA tests dropped dramatically to >0.008.

The Winter injection was done in the GP's parking lot, full PPE gear, in a snowstorm. This one won't be so bad!

PSA Test

The spring project is to get hubby's quarterly PSA test, prior to his quarterly injection/cancer treatment, an injection. I tried online. It did NOT go well. I tried 5 times. I could not book an appointment online.

 

JB phoned, and there was a message, "Due to extreme volumes we are not answering phones at this time."  He decided to just show up and hope for the best.

PSA Test June 16 

Now, we don't pay anything for tests that are on the OHIP list. Yet, LifeLabs is a for-profit company, collecting our tax dollars, to provide these services. They were woefully understaffed, with only two women. They said it was due to COVID–19. Presumably, staff have it, as well. 

9:15 a.m. – He left to try a line up. There were about 6 people inside the Lab with 9:30 appointments. The process is slow. Most of the customers had masks on, and were seniors. There was a 45 min wait, with 10 people outside lined up in the sun. JB made the suggestion to move the line up to shade! All followed. (He used to be a manager!)

What irks us is that they haven't even hired a receptionist, to relieve the pressure on the two nurses. Only two of them dealing with 15 - 20 patients an hour.

They closed up at 11 a.m. for lunch, taking in the one person left who'd had an appointment. By then, there were more people in line. 

In the meantime, I managed two phone calls demanding I pay up, or I will be prosecuted. Thankfully, we pay all our charge cards every month. I knew it was a scam. The second robo call voice finished with, "Have a blessed day." I sat and snorted, while Josee sniggered, as well. 

[spam call #1 if you are curious!]

By 11:15 the test was done and he was home. Both arms, he has small veins.

Phase one is complete. We now wait to see the results online. In the meantime, we put it out of our minds until the next step.

UPDATE: This morning we checked online, and his PSA is stable at >0.008. This means that the Lupron is still working, keeping the prostate cancer at bay. We are good.

Next stage: Lupron injection.