Friday, October 31, 2008

Friday 31st October

Things are still going very well I'm pleased to be able to say. Feeling good. Even cautiously letting the cranial weeds grow just to see what happens! They say when hair regrows after chemo it can be quite different than previously. I may yet become a curly 'Ginga' - who knows! I have been running the electric shaver up and over every few days, and I have to say it feels really good! Still, I think I'd still rather have something growing up there if possible.

I'm continuing with the IV (intra venous) high-dose Vitamin C twice a week along with 4000mg orally each day. Since the chemo the IV dosage has been increased. Anyone who wants info/details, just drop me an email and I'll happily comply.

My 'medico' neighbours Stu and Linda reckoned they spotted a slight limp when I popped over to admire their handiwork over Labour Weekend. I was completely unaware of favouring my right leg, but as they rightly pointed out, that would explain why I've have a little bit of discomfort (certainly not what I'd call pain) in my left hip.

I/they/we/and my Haemotologist don't think it is anything to worry about. I still have a slight tingle/numbness around the top of the right shin. Apparently this is consistent with the healing process and bone regeneration in that area. All good.

We're getting pretty excited about escaping to Fiji for 10 days at the end of next week (as previously advised). The first 3 days we'll be staying at Kathryn and Warren's amazing looking waterside Villa next to their home at Denerau Cove see http://covevilla.spaces.live.com/default.aspx which will be lovely. Then we're doing a 7 night cruise (see http://www.bluelagooncruises.com/itineraries/Historical_Cultural_7-6.aspx ) which gets out to Vanua Levu and the less touristy parts, returning via the Yasawas. We're really looking forward to it.

Should people in New Zealand and Australia call the rest of the world 'up over'?

Do Roman paramedics refer to IV's as "4's"?

Do Scottish Terriers get Scotch Tape worms?

Do stars clean themselves with meteor showers?

Do steam rollers really roll steam?

Cheers
Bruce
bbremner@ihug.co.nz

Wednesday, October 22, 2008

Wednesday 22nd October

I'm pleased to say everything is looking good. The results of the last CT scan look very good - much the same as the previous one. That is apparently a good sign - ah, consistency! It shows that neither one is showing a better or worse scenario due to technical reasons as opposed to reflecting the true state of affairs. Apparently things were looking very good at the end of round #4 of the chemo, with the last two rounds being given effectively to consolodate that further.

My Haemotologist wants to have a further look at the top of the right tibia bone via an MRI scan, which will give better detail than the last X-Ray. She's not expecting any surprises but just wants to cover everything thoroughly. That scan will be in the next month after which I'll have another appointment with her to discuss. She said it may possibly be worth doing a little radio therapy on that part of the leg.

I'm continuing to feel fit and healthy and very thankful for the way the last few months has gone - both the results and the process itself.

Where are the germs that cause 'good' breath?

Where did Webster look up the definitions when he wrote the dictionary?

Where do they get Spring water in the other 3 seasons?

Where does the fire go when the fire goes out?

Where does the white go when the snow melts?

Where does your lap go when you stand up?

Is that enough ponderous questions? Yup!

Cheers
Bruce
bbremner@ihug.co.nz

Thursday, October 16, 2008

Thursday 16th

Not a whole lot to report health-wise since last week. All continues to go very well. No that the chemo is finished, my intra venous vitamin C doses have been increased. I'm doing that twice a week.

We're really lloking forward to the Fiji sojourn. I think we're both ready for it!

Do hummingbirds hum because they don't know the words?
Before they invented drawing boards, what did they go back to?
Can you buy an entire chess set in a pawnshop?
Do pilots take crash-courses?

Enough already!

Cheers
Bruce
bbremner@ihug.co.nz

Thursday, October 9, 2008

Thursday 9th October

Had my CT scan yesterday. All pretty routine now, having now had four of them. I'll get the results on Oct 22 when I next meet with the Haemotologist. The nearest thing to any 'excitement' was having my arm leak blood a few minutes after they took out the IV lure they use for administering the 'contrast' stuff which helps you glow in the dark for the scan! With the high number of IV proceedures I've had over the last 6 months or so, not to mention all the blood tests etc., this is the first time I've sprung a leak afterwards.

Everything has been going fine healthwise with the minor exception of having had an annoying mouth ulcer for about a week which is only now starting to improve. I was told to expect a lot more of these during the chemo cycles, so I have indeed got off pretty lightly!

I'm continuing to really enjoy getting back into more music making/recording over the last month or two. I'm feeling a lot more fluent on ProTools and gradually getting back up to speed in the finger department too! I even bought a nice bass, having not had one for many years. (Any cronies who want to know what and why - feel free to email me!).

Jeanette & I have now booked to go to Fiji for 10 days in Novemeber, having toyed with the idea for a while. We were finally galvanised into action by a very kind offer of a few days accomodation in a superb Villa right on the water's edge in Denarau Cove area (see pictures at http://covevilla.spaces.live.com/default.aspx).

From there we're also going to do one of the Blue Lagoon Cruises. The normal cruise routes are in and around the Yasawa Island group. The one we're going on (only available 4 times per year) is a circumnavigation of Fiji's northern Vanua Levu Island and then back via the Yasawas. Apparently, the beaches, and reefs etc are fantastic, and the villages (and villagers) are much less touristed-out than those in the usual spots. All sounds pretty appealling. We're both feeling rather ready for a bit of a break, and are really looking forward to it.

I'd better get back to getting dinner on the table!

But first, some questions to ponder...

Are you breaking the law if you drive past those road signs that say "Do Not Pass"?

Day light savings time - why are they saving it and where do they keep it?

Did Noah keep his bees in archives?

Do blind dogs have seeing-eye humans?

Cheers
Bruce
bbremner@ihug.co.nz

Saturday, October 4, 2008

Saturday 4th September

Today was the funeral of our friend Ruth Penny. Although obviously a hard time for all, it was a wonderfully fitting send-off for a truly great lady. Lots of laughs, tears, music, memories, honoring, rememberances, and re-acquaintences with friends not seen for too long a time. It was a special day and a fitting tribute for one whose life whose life we all felt priveledged to have touched in various ways over the years.