Hismones 3/25/26

"This too shall pass." "Action cures fear." I cannot describe or explain how tired I felt getting up this morning. Normal overnight schedule, but I found myself wanting to sleep more, sore to walk, and wanting to have nothing to do with morning exercise. By the time I had been through the make coffee/bathroom/taking out trash and recycling/pulling the cars around to the front routine, I decided to drive to the "Y" and try my normal Wednesday routine workout. Unbelievably, I left an hour later having done my 30 min. cardio and all six of my oncology-recommended exercises. Then after breakfast on the patio, I mowed the back yard. Now, I'm about to clean up and go to a doctor appointment. Moral of the story, and the overarching title of this blog series: "Why Stop Now?" This doesn't mean to injure yourself through overwork, but it may mean that overcoming energy inertia is your biggest challenge today. As is sometimes said in Twelve Step, "Take the next right step." Your day may turn out okay, after all.

Hismones 3/20/26

Fun expression: "Auto-Correct is my worst enema." Four weeks/56 Sucralfate enemas completed, check! Any bleeding stopped, check! 3-5 frequent/urgent bowel movements daily, mostly unchanged. What's next? Waiting for a response from the gastroenterologist. On the Mayo Clinic Connect patient forum, someone mentioned getting considerable relief (from 8-9 urgent bowel movements daily down to 1-2 less urgent) from Mesalamine enemas. The drug is also available as a 1000mg suppository and is covered by our insurance whereas the Sucralfate was self-pay. It's typically used for ulterative colitis, but might be just the thing to heal what ails me. I have another couple of weeks of PT for torn hamstring (right hip) so my weekly exercise plan is Monday at home, Tuesday/Thursday PT, and Wednesday/Friday oncologist-recommended exercises at the Y, along with MWF cardio. I was blessed to have a track day with our daughter's Miata on Wednesday. The car is a lot of fun, but the fun was mitigated a bit by overheating during the first session. I could keep driving if I slowed down, which is sort of antithetical on a racetrack (Motor Sports Ranch in Cresson). I did what I could and have a couple of calls into some local Miata experts, so hopefully we'll be cruising rapidly by the next track events in May. Whether disease or mechanics, I cannot overemphasize the value of support/networking groups. I'm part of two correspondence support groups and two live online groups specific to prostate cancer. Their shared experiences and recommendations are invaluable, because medical specialists simply don't have the time...and may be treating a variety of cancers, so are challenged to keep entirely updated on each one. I'm typically bringing new information to my appointments. So... I hope the same will apply to my track fun machine, being part of two FB groups and in contact with two local shops. Oncologically, nothing new is planned until the next PSA blood test in May, but hopefully there'll be a gastroenterologist response and recommendation soon. Finishing spring break this week, I'll be back at school volunteering and looking forward to my favorite holiday, Easter. My faith is based first on Jesus' resurrection and then his words and lifestyle example. I really would be lost otherwise. I wholeheartedly recommend him!