Mark Twain

"Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn't do than by the ones you did do ...
Explore. Dream. Discover." Mark Twain

Wednesday, August 27, 2025

Health Updates

Finally - movement in the right direction!!!

My husband’s EGD and the biopsy results came back negative for cancer.  But cancer cells are small little devils that can be missed in that sampling.  So another test was ordered called Guardiant360 which is a liquid biopsy blood test for cancer DNA circulating in the blood.  That test also came back negative!!  All  the news is very encouraging.   He is officially in remission and scheduled for his first surveillance PET scan in September.  Routine surveillance testing will be in his life for some time.  Hopefully that will give us a jump on any further problems if they develop.  He still has low blood counts but, at present, they want to just watch that problem.

This "win” for him is a window for me.  Knee replacement - here I come.  It has been scheduled for September 12!  I am in the middle of many many to-dos in preparation for this surgery.   Get clearance from my various specialists. (So far all my specialists say I am “good to go.” Thank God.  I couldn’t take another delay.) Make home arrangements and transportation arrangements.  Schedule PT appointments.  While some reports indicate that this surgery recovery can long and difficult, just taking one positive step forward to fix this knee has lifted my spirits.

Meanwhile I am struggling with fatigue. And after more than a year of reduced activity and increasing pain not to mention the low blood counts I have had since my kidney surgery in 2023 - the whole of my life has taken a significant hit!  I am forced to avoid walking for exercise as it does nothing but aggravate my knee. I even avoid extra steps in the house.  And so much time spent on a walker has messed with my balance.  If I focus on something intently while standing (like grapes in a grocery store - normal stuff) - I can find my self tilting left or right or backwards.  I am aware of it fairly quickly and adjust but it is disturbing.  

September 12th can’t get here fast enough. Physical therapy and I have a lot to correct post surgery. 


1 comment:

Marie Smith said...

Yay for your husband’s remission. Wonderful news! Now it is your turn, my friend. Just a few weeks to relief. Hang in there as you prepare for surgery and blessed relief.