Off to the Apple update June 3 2009

I'm on a flight to the Big Apple tomorrow morning. It's been touch and go because I'm still dealing with a crohn's flareup which is both painful and embarrassing. I have to go up on prednisone in order to deal with it, which has its own side effects. I don't feel too bad at the moment, but when I do feel bad it's bad. Hopefully the prednisone will work and I can enjoy myself without worrying about being sick.

I plan to update the blog while I'm there and also post pictures if I take them. 

Update May 26 2009

It's been a while since last I updated...

I've been dealing with a flair up of crohn's disease which hit me fairly hard Saturday night. I'm feeling much better now and while this flair up sucked it was not the worse one I've had. Hopefully it has run its course and I will be back to normal, whatever that means.

Really not much is going on. Got a few doctors appointments this week and next and then it's on to the Big Apple, which I'm very much looking forward to, in case you couldn't tell :)

Hope all is well with you. 

Post Dodger Game Update May 19th 2009

Two posts in one day?!? The world must be coming to an end...

Went to the Dodger game, which they won. A very enjoyable game, for many reasons. Very entertaining, well played baseball, for one. A Dodger victory, for another. Entertaining people behind us, lawyers, apparently, from Toronto, from what I could surmise from their conversation as well as their Maple Leafs gear. Amazing how people can appear to be empathetic one second and amazingly self centered the next. They also spilled peanut shells all over my seat. Oh well. Great company in the form of my Dad. Probably the best time I've had at a ballgame; I was completely in the moment and relaxed. That I think says something about my overall state of mind.

Lawrence, if you're reading this, hope all is well. Sorry you couldn't make it; we'll do it again I'm sure. 

Time for an update update May 19th 2009

Hello all.

Physically, feeling very good. Still have some slight stomach pain which when it occurs is quite excruciating but fortunately goes away quickly. The GI doctor (gastrointerologist, for those of you not in the know) says this is normal and to expect it for a while. Still no answer on if/when I will start remicade. Probably not till I get back from the Big Apple, if then.

I am trying to resolve my Social Security disability situation and it is extremely frustrating. The good folks on the SSA phone line have no idea what they are doing and I am not at all confident that any information or status update they give me is in fact correct. Also, apparently I owe them some $13k for an overpayment; don't ask me how that happened. They sent me a waver form which is over 20 pages and which I have to return by June 12th. I only glanced at it; I just can't deal with that right now. Thank goodness I have a lawyer in the family. :)

Going to the Dodger game tonight. It's Jewish Community Night, which I imagine means they will only serve kosher Dodger dogs and Joe Torre and Tommy Lasorda will dovet at home plate. When anyone makes an error, Vin Scully will refer to it as "a farstinkener play". 

Expressing my gratitude Update May 14 2009

Woke up this morning feeling amazingly good. It's a beautiful day, I have Bob Marley playing, and it seems all is right with the world. I have been feeling like this more and more recently and it's certainly a welcome thing. I am not sure what to attribute this to but everything seems to be moving in the right direction. I'm gonna get out today and see what's what. Hope you are all feeling well!

Much gratitude and props to my HP for allowing me to wake up feeling good with a blank canvas on which to create the day ahead.

As always gratitude to amazing friends and family. 

General Update May 13 2009

Hello All :)

I went in to see my oncologist and have treatment yesterday. The treatment went well, although I got a bit sick from the sandostatin when I got home. It is an order of magnitude less then my previous treatments, however. I am feeling much better today, compared to previous treatments where it took me five to seven days to recover. 

David (my brother) came along to meet with the oncologist. The plan is to continue with the present regime of shots (standostatin) and pills (Xeloda) along with treatment for my bones (Zometa) and crohn's disease (Remicade, possibly; or something similar). When I get back from New York, I'll have another CAT scan and see where things are. If they are stable, we'll continue on this regime, and if not, there is a new drug recently approved (RADD-1) which the oncologist is very enthused about. Most likely I'll also go back on Avastin when I get back. Things are looking good and I am feeling very good.

Mother's Day May 10th 2009

Recently I cooked lunch for Mom. I consider myself to be a decent cook, but I don't think Mom realized I could cook, so it was quite a pleasant surprise for her. She encouraged me to cook more, to explore this part of my creative side. She asked me to make a Mother's Day brunch for her, which I did. On her request, here is the menu:

MOTHER'S DAY BRUNCH

MAY 10, 2009

CHEF BENJAMIN LEVINSON

APPITIZERS:

FRESH FRUIT

STRAWBERRIES, MELLONS

GRILLED PEACHES

VANILLIA BEAN PORT SAUCE

MAIN COURSES:

OLIVE OIL PANCAKES

CADBURY DARK CHOCOLATE

LEMON ZEST SYRUP

OMLETTES

ASSORTED CHEESES, MUSHROOMS, ROASTED GARLIC SALSA, BACON

VANILLA BEAN WHOLE ROASTED COFFEE

ORANGE JUICE, TOMATO JUICE

CHAMPAGNE

I am very happy with how things came out. Both Mom and Dad thought everything was delicious. Personally, I'm not sure what I'm impressed with most - that I made the meal as I envisioned it, or that I managed to clean everything up afterwards. Making this put me very much at the edge of my comfort zone; I've never cooked with port before and my pancake making skills need work. But I did it and I am so FREAKING proud of myself that I did!