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Blog Archive 2012 Mar

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Thu 3/1 - As I typically do, I over did it yesterday evening and my
Pharyngitis
sore throat
got worse so I spent most of today taking it easy and resting. I did some testing of the ammeter for my van's
LiFeMnPO
Lithium/Iron/Manganese/Phosphate/Oxygen
 battery and determined that I need some more guidence from George, the technician at Circuit Specialists.
- I read a little about
HoLEP
Holmium laser enucleation of the prostate
which is an alternative for
PVP
Greenlight Photo-selective Vaporization of the Prostate with a potassium titanyl phosphate (KTP) laser
and
TURP
transurethral resection of the prostate
, the old surgical gold standard that can result in problems. HERE is excellent information about the prostate, problems, PVP (which I have chosen), and recovery.

Fri 3/2 - Took a bath this morning and then headed to Dr. Brian Schneider, my oral surgeon, for him to replace the healing stud with the permanent abutment on my implant. The abutment will be the foundation for the crown that will fill the space where my baby tooth used to be. Since my spring/summer trip will be delayed by my
PVP
Greenlight Photo-selective Vaporization of the Prostate with a potassium titanyl phosphate (KTP) laser
surgery, we decided to give the implant an additional week to heal and bond to my jaw bone. Of course this will guarantee a late departure because after the abutment, my dentist has to make an impression and then wait two weeks for the crown to arrive. We're talking of the crown's insulation April third.
- Still trying to nurse my
Pharyngitis
sore throat
, I took a van nap after the dental appointment, then bought a couple of sale items at Sprouts Farmers Market, six dwarf myoporum at Summer Winds Nursery and headed for home for a late lunch and another nap.
- Before supper I planted all six of the dwarf myoporums in an hour. That's 10 minutes each. Hope they grow. The nursery tells me that now is the ideal time to plant them.

Sat 3/3 - Thank goodness for backups. All the kite trip photos and videos were missing from my computer. All I can think of is that I might have accidentally trashed them when I was cleaning up my D: drive. I recovered them easily from the 2-Terabytes USB hard drive I keep in my library closet.
- Good grilled chicken salad at the Chicago Hamburger Company with the ham radio operators. We had a neat visit, since I had been away for about six weeks kiteboarding etc.

Sun 3/4 - Today I finally finished putting away the last of the stuff from my trip. The stuff included putting the kites in their respective bags, stowing ancillary equipment, the equipment bags, paperwork, toiletries, first aid stuff, suitcase and back pack.
- I have been reading the instruction manual (PDF version, of course) for the new Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ150 camera which I have on order. Also I researched and considered buying the Velo Wireless ShutterBoss remote control to use with the camera.

Mon 3/5 - I ordered the Velo Wireless ShutterBoss remote control for my new camera. It is sort of pricey, but is really versatile and can easily be adapted to many cameras, which means it will probably work with my next camera. However, I do not anticipate getting another camera soon.
- This morning I phoned my insurance company regarding the Feb 22 accident. I also got my schedule rearranged around my Thursday morning
PVP
Photo-selective Vaporization of the Prostate with a potassium titanyl phosphate (KTP) laser
surgery.
- I spent almost three hours applying Thompson Water Seal to my front-yard bridge (top and bottom) and my side gate to the back yard. I learned my lesson: Next time I'll use a sprayer rather than a brush!
- My new camera arrived, just as I was finishing up the bridge.

Tue 3/6 - Swept and mopped the kitchen floor so my house will be nice and clean when I return from my
PVP
Greenlight Photo-selective Vaporization of the Prostate with a potassium titanyl phosphate (KTP) laser
surgery Thursday; called Amica, my insurance company about the Feb 22 accident.

Wed 3/7 - In preparation for tomorrow's
PVP
Greenlight Photo-selective Vaporization of the Prostate with a potassium titanyl phosphate (KTP) laser
SURGERY, I ate four meals before the 9pm cut-off time for eating anything; talked to Linda, of Amica claims here in Phoenix; had the four or so sutures removed from my right foot; charged all three battery packs for my new
camera
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ150
; picked up my zipper-repaired green over-weight luggage contingency duffel bag from the shoe shop; had a light full-body workout at 24 Hour Sport Fitness in Chandler; went to Gangplank where I updated this blog and did the monthly rollover, which separated Feb from March (the latest).
- To bed early!!

Thu 3/8 - Up at 4:00 this morning; my friend, Tim DePriest, took me to the John C Lincoln Hospital in Sunny Slope where I checked in and went under the general anesthetic at about 8am and woke up in my recovery room with a catheter in my penis so they could keep me flat on my back for 22 hours. They were serious about that and even had me use a bedpan for my BM. The night was a typical hospital night (I guess) with waking up for vitals every few hours.

Fri 3/9 - This morning the nurse removed the catheter (ouch!) and, a little later, I was able to stand beside my bed and pee into a urine container. Of course they measured it all. I got some blood at the first and last of each void, which was mostly gone after a couple of days. They switched me from the IV version to the oral (pill) version of Cipro. I'll be on this antibiotic for 12 days.
- Around noon Dr Hurm, my urologist, showed up and released me after cautioning me to rest up and not go to the gym. The hospital staff were fantastic and helped me to enjoy (enjoy may be an overstatement) my stay. Particularly good were nurses Candice and Fred. About 2pm Tim DePriest picked me up and brought me home. I had a 12-hour night with six trips to the bathroom to pee.
- How is PVP done and what does it look like? Here are two 8-minute videos. The FIRST VIDEO, done by Dr Daniel Williams, has subtitles and the SECOND VIDEO, done by Dr Gomez Shana, is narrated by the doctor, himself.
- Courtesy of UPS, the Vello wireless remote control for my camera from B&H Photo was on my back patio when I arrived home. B&H is a cool company. They included this note:
Enjoy your camera
Here's your neat remote control.
Sorry you couldn't find an instruction manual online
Hope your surgery went well
Enjoy your trip to Hatteras
Regards - one of your biggest fans

Sat 3/10 - Still resting a lot, I got my kitchen counter and desk mostly cleared off.
George
younger brother who lives in Mesa
came over to keep me company for a while. We had a good brotherly visit - maybe the first in years. Typically when we get together there so much going on with grandkids and others that we don't have time to... just talk.
- My night was 10 1/2 hours with only three trips to the bathroom - definitely an improvement

Sun 3/11 - I took both morning and afternoon naps today and between them got a lot done - non-physical stuff. Most significant was organizing the three-week countdown (if my doctor OKs it) to my next kiteboarding trip. The countdown starts tomorrow.
- Tonight I have a headache, as I did last night so am turning in at 9:30.

Mon 3/12 - Dr.
Hurm
my urologist
phoned to check up on me and to inform me that all the biopsies they took Thursday were cancer free. I dropped the
physical damage
collision and comprehensive
insurance from my van at the suggestion of
AMICA
My insurance company - top rated
. I spent the rest of the day mostly sitting and laying around the house, as I plan to do for the next week, recovering from my
PVP
Greenlight Photo-selective Vaporization of the Prostate with a potassium titanyl phosphate (KTP) laser
.

Tue 3/13 - Taking-it-easy projects today included telephoning into the national Clark Howard Show about the advisability of dropping auto physical damage insurance with high deductible, getting a splinter in my right index finger while handling and measuring a new one-inch hemp rope for my front yard bridge, going to Fabric Depot where Sam helped me select carpet padding to use under the new, improved Prickle Mat I keep on the floor in front of my kitchen sink, reprogramming my drips (trying to establish the new myoporum and testing the ammeter for my van's
LiFeMnPO
Lithium/Iron/Manganese/Phosphate/Oxygen
 battery. It is giving incorrect readings.

Wed 3/14 - Resolving my checking account was unusually difficult, crosschecking receipts and bank drafts in from my Philippine trip. The challenge was the various exchange rates during the trip.
- PE HOSPITALIZATION: This evening I noticed a little pain in my lower right ribs when I took a deep breath. There was no trauma or other reason for this pain.

Thu 3/15 - TO EMERGENCY ROOM: The rib pain worsened and by late afternoon was excruciating, even with small breaths and spread to my neck. I was in bed really early, deciding the best plan was to sleep it off. I got out of bed at 7:30 and did something that seemed stupid but evidently turned out to be smart. In fact they say it may have saved my life. I phoned
Dr Hurm
my urologist
about the pain and he told me to go to the
JCL
John C Lincoln Hospital North Mountain, in Sunny Slope
Emergency Room (ER). They ended up admitting me to the hospital with a
pulmonary embolism
blood clot in the lungs
. They put me on an IV of Heparin and moved me to the second floor of the hospital - the cardiac floor. I learned that:
Any time you go to the ER or hospital, you should take the things you need for spending several days away from home. For me that should have included:

Fri 3/16 - IN HOSPITAL: The only thing I had with me to do while laying in the hospital bed was in my cell phone. Fortunately I had put in it, the 208-page instruction manual for my new camera, which I needed to read anyway. Nurse Donna and I just clicked. She was exceptionally helpful. In fact, all the staff here is excellent

Sat 3/17 - IN HOSPITAL: They took me off the Heparin, transfered me to Lovenox (abdomen-injected blood thinner) and started me on Coumadin, an oral anticoagulant. They will keep me on the self-inflicted Lovenox injections until the Coumadin concentration reaches a therapeutic level - probably over a week. Today I started seeing significant blood in my urine. This would be due to the blood thinners. The bad news, the healing of my PVP will be retarded. The good news, I'm not dead from a blood clot. You have to keep your priorities, ya know.
- I used my cell phone to retrieve important phone numbers I might need while here in the hospital and read my camera manual on the phone until its battery ran down.
-
Shane
my nephew who lives in Mesa
went out of his way to do me a big favor. He stopped by my house on his way back home from Disneyland to pick up some of the above-listed things that I needed here in the hospital. He is a good egg!

Sun 3/18 - IN HOSPITAL: Rested lots; Updated the Blog on my website; blood tests and lots of measuring my vitals (all very good); I've had to spend time on the phone juggling my appointments for the next few days; nurses taught me how to give myself injections of the blood thinner, Lovenox.

Mon 3/19 - IN HOSPITAL UNTIL EVENING: Dr Khaled Saleh, pulmonologist, showed me my CT Angiogram x-rays and told me the blood clot wasn't too big, so hopefully I will not have to go the entire 6 months on blood thinners and no kiteboarding. I was discharged from the hospital about 7:30 pm. The hospital staff was excellent, helpful and thorough. It surely is good to get back home with my healthful diet instead of the hospital food which included pancakes, bacon, sausage and greasy fried chicken.
- The night was not too good. I got up about 6 times to pee with only partial voids and lots of blood clots in my urine.

Tue 3/20 - Resting up today and settling into the routine of my medications of pills and self-inflicted injections. Each urination was sort of an ordeal with bright red urine punctuated with blood clots that were like soft bright-red gummy bears.
- During the night I was approaching total urinary retention (blood clots evidently blocking the flow) so I set everything out to head for the emergency room in case things did not clear up. Fortunately, they did clear up enough that I could pee enough to stay home. I was up 10 times, drinking water each time so I would have enough to expel the clots.

Wed 3/21 - Today I spent about eight hours out of the house, but not gallivanting around. I left home in my van a little after eight for my Doctor's office for an evaluation of how the blood thinners are coming along which included an INR blood test. The appointment took half the morning with the results and all. I spent a couple of hours in my van, as an office, making phone calls related to the health and insurance issues, and then took a long nap with my van in the sleeping mode. Then I had to go back into the doctors' office to take care of insurance arrangements. I didn't drive out of the parking until about 1:00pm.
- I stopped by Fry's Food Store for lunch at the deli and to stock up on things I would need for the next days when I am homebound. I never spent $108 on grocery-type items before.


- I finally had a good night's sleep, only getting up twice to pee - and those had less blood and almost no clots. I had changed my approach, drinking only small amounts of water after noon. I was so determined to stay in bed, and this is really humbling, I bought Depends-like inserts to wear at night. It turns out I did not use the pads but DID get a good night's sleep!

Thu 3/22 - I learned, today, to watch things more closely, as my Capital One Master Card due date came and went while I was in the hospital. I phoned Capital One. Nancy was helpful by reversing the late fee when she heard my excuse (embarrassing) and I immediately paid the full current balance online.
- I laid out some possible PLAN B trips for June - not including kiteboarding, of course.

Fri 3/23 - This morning I sprayed preemergence on my front and back yard. Not strenuous, just walking around the yard. Without it, the weeds will take over my granite.
- Got a blood draw for
INR
PT (Prothrombin Time)/International Normalized Ratio - a measurement of the anti clotting properties of a blood sample
and Warfarin (Coumadin) monitoring. I found that the result would not be in until tomorrow, so canceled my 3:30 pm doctor's appointment. Later I learned, that was a big mistake.

Sat 3/24 - What a frustrating day! I started out in the morning trying to find my INR and whether I should adjust my Coumadin dosage and whether I should continue with my Lovenox injections. I would run out of injections this evening and would need to get a new prescription if I need to continue. At 5:30pm I found out that I needed to continue the injections and immediately started trying to get a prescription for them so I could take my morning injection tomorrow. I finally got the prescription at 9:40 tonight. What did I learn? How to fit into the system better.

Sun 3/25 - Started on my income taxes by sorting the end-of-the-year 1099's and other forms I have received in the mail, on my completely cleared-off kitchen island counter. A little later I scattered and shuffled everything with the downwash from flying my little helicopter over the counter.
- You're probably as tired hearing about my medical escapades as I am telling about them, so I'll try to not bore you with more extended daily reports. Suffice it to say that I will be on a reduced activity level each day for the next four to six months as I try to walk a fine line: hopefully getting enough
Coumadin
high powered anticoagulant originally developed as a rat poison
to take care of the
pulmonary embolism
blood clot in the lungs
, but not enough to retard the healing of my
PVP
Greenlight Photo-selective Vaporization of the Prostate with a potassium titanyl phosphate (KTP) laser
surgery. A significant activity will be figuring out and coordinating my medical insurance coverages.

Mon 3/26 - Saw
Dr Dwivedi
my Primary Care Physician, Dr Gargi Dwivedi (female)
. A blood test showed my
INR
PT (Prothrombin Time)/International Normalized Ratio - a measurement of the anti clotting properties of a blood sample
was 1.9. We are heading in the right direction, shooting for 2.5 to 3.0.
- Later in the day I saw
Dr Hurm
Raymond Hurm, my urologist
to monitor my
PVP
Greenlight Photo-selective Vaporization of the Prostate with a potassium titanyl phosphate (KTP) laser
recovery. For proper healing, he would like to see my
INR
PT (Prothrombin Time)/International Normalized Ratio - a measurement of the anti clotting properties of a blood sample
between 2.0 and 2.5. It will be interesting how the doctors manage it all!

Tue 3/27 - Today I replaced the hall bathroom toilet tank valve seal. Fortunately I had a spare on on hand. I got my 522 GPS waypoints updated to include kiteboarding locations in the Philippines.

Wed 3/28 - Today, on Locations I put my updated GPS waypoints, which includes my kiteboarding in the Philippines. If you download the GPX file and then drag it onto your Google Earth map, you'll be able to see the 212 kiteboarding locations, plus 28 waypoints for kite shops etc.
- Had my first LA Fitness workout in 3 weeks - very light full-body workout of 30 minutes.

Thu 3/29 - I found and printed pictures of the five front Republican Presidential contenders so I can become a more knowledgeable voter.
-
Dr Schneider
Dr. Brian Schneider, my oral surgeon
installed the abutment on my dental implant. The implant has bonded well to my jaw bone, as I felt almost nothing when he torqued down the abutment. I started icing/heating my right ankle, since I am experiencing a little pain, especially if I turn with weight on it.
- I chose TaxACT online for doing my 2011 income taxes after reading reviews etc. The conclusion: no tax software is ideal (thank you, congress, for making our tax laws so complicated), but I hope it will be less frustrating to use than TurboTax, which I have used for a long time. I hit a wall trying to figure the gross profit percentage for the desert land I sold 12/29/10, so quit.

Fri 3/30 - Up early and to LabCorp at Bell Rd and 40 St for an
INR
PT (Prothrombin Time)/International Normalized Ratio - a measurement of the anti clotting properties of a blood sample
blood draw; then this afternoon, an appointment with
Dr Dwivedi
my Primary Care Physician, Dr Gargi Dwivedi (female)
. who told me my INR was 1.8, took me off the Lovenox injections (thank goodness) and upped my daily
Coumadin
high powered anticoagulant originally developed as a rat poison
dosage to 7 mg. She explained that my time on the Lovenox had prevented additional blood clots from forming and the continuing Coumadin would allow any remaining blood clot to dissolve.
- I punched through the gross profit percentage wall today and continued working on my taxes.

Sat 3/31 - Had a scare this morning. About 3am I had a pain in my mid back on the right side which was not reduced by icing. Since my last similar pain was the result of a
pulmonary embolism
blood clot in the lungs
that they said could have killed me, I drove down to the
JCL
John C Lincoln Hospital North Mountain, in Sunny Slope
emergency room to be checked out. The CT Angiogram x-rays showed no new clot and that the old clot was completely dissolved (yea!). The blood tests showed that I had a urinary tract infection, so I am back on the Cipro antibiotic. Things could be a lot worse.

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