What did the CT show?
As my friend and colleague, Diane, mentioned in the comments to last nights post: Pain is not good; unexplained pain is REALLY not good. When I called today, I was told that the CT scan was consistent with the x-rays: the scan did not show any reason why I would be experiencing pain and discomfort. The doctors are at a loss to explain what’s going on.
I guess, in the end, I am glad that the CT scan didn’t show anything. I think I was experiencing a fair amount of stress, wondering whether the sudden onset of pain was associated with some unforseen complication with my surgery / cancer (e.g., an internal suture ripped or another tumor had developed). The pain is still there and I am managing it (mostly) with the higher strength oxycodone. I was able to upgrade my flight to San Juan tomorrow, so I’ll not be crammed in like a sardine (and, if I’m offered an adult beverage to help take my mind off the pain in my abdomen, who am I to say no?)
I cannot remember if I ever mentioned it previously, but early on in my journey, I took it upon myself to purchase purple wristbands that say “Hamburger Helpers.” For those of you new to the blog, purple is the color for pancreas cancer and Marina, a friend from church, had attributed the moniker “Hamburger Helpers” to the group of people who had offered to provide support to me and my family. Over time, I gave out these wristbands to folks who either in body or spirit were there for me, MaryBeth, and our kids, either to provide food, help around the house, services (e.g., mowing the lawn), and so on.
A friend once said to me (before I had decided to buy the wristbands as a gift of thanks to the people who have been so helpful) that she was “wristband-ed” out. She went on to say that she was tired of all the different ‘bling’ (my word) representing a person’s support of one cause or another. I get that. I understand that while people appreciated getting a wristband from me, after a while, it losses it’s meaning / importance. I get it so much that I continue to be appreciative when I run across a colleague or a friend who still wears theirs. I was sitting in a branch meeting today and noticed several of my colleagues who are still wearing my wristband; that just made me feel good. (And, BTW, I hold no ill will toward those folks who have stopped wearing my wristband — I know that whether they wear it or not, my friends, family, and colleagues continue to support me.)
I want to thank the folks who have already started sending me recipes. While I couched the request in terms of my international visitors, I want to make sure that my domestic readers can also provide international recipes. Perhaps your parents or grandparents passed on an old family recipe from the old country. If so, please take a moment to write it down and send it to do@merlehamburger.net.
Finally, I want to remind you all that next weekend (not this Saturday, but the Saturday after) is the PANCAN Atlanta 5k PurpleStride run/walk. I will be there early (like 6a) to help with the setup and I would like to invite any of you in the Atlanta area to come and help with the walk and participate. You can find information about registration at the Atlanta Purple Stride website. I already have several people who are coming to walk with Team INDY, but I hope you will consider coming out and walking with my family and me.
Tomorrow from Puerto Rico.
Merle