I'm Back

Hello All!!!! I'm Back.

WARNING, this particular Blog entry will be long in order to catch y'all up on the events of the past month. In the future I will do entries every day or two and they will be short and sweet. Thanks for hanging with me. I really cherish your calls, thoughts and prayers. PD aka Bucky.

The whole Bucky Festoon thing is explained in an earlier blog post

Things have changed a bit as it pertains to my health. I figure this is the easiest way to communicate the information to the largest number of people without having to repeat it over and over. The number of phone calls, people who visited me in the hospital last week, Facebook posts (Sherry's, I'm still a holdout from all things Facebook)and the generally overwhelming show of love, support and prayers brings tears to my eyes. Thanks to everyone, you are all an incredible blessing!!!!!!!

Now onto the details. For those of you who are mostly up to date this will repeat quite a bit so bear with me. The last week of June I was on a business trip for four days. It is always a challenge for me when I'm away from home to eat properly and maintain the routine I follow when I'm home. 2 days into the trip I started feeling some stomach type problems, so I began avoiding the conference food and eating better and this passed. I got home Thursday night June 30, unpacked, repacked for a week in Indiana (at my brother and sister-in-laws) and left for an overnight in Rochester, MN at Sherry's parents (where we dropped off the dog). Friday morning at 3AM (because we are on vacation and have to get going early in order to savor every possible restful moment)we got up, got the car packed and headed to Bremen, IN where my brother Bruce and his wife Adelle live.

I continued eating the best I could and taking all of my supplements (about 100 pills throughout a day, in addition to homeopathics and other liquids)and felt fine through Sunday July 3rd. On Monday (the 4th)I started itching all over my body, like the worst case of poison ivy you can imagine or 10,000 strategically placed mosquito bites. The itching was so bothersome I just couldn't stop scratching and would scratch until I bled, then move to another spot and repeat. Some of this continues today although I have been taking medications to try to minimize it.

On Tuesday I was in the hot tub with Sherry and she said "are your eyes yellow?" I, in denial, said "of course not". Minutes later however I looked in the mirror and the whites of my eyes were indeed yellow, indicating early stages of jaundice. We stayed in Indiana through early Saturday morning, trying to control the itching with Benadryl, lotions and an occasional apple cider vinegar wipedown (I smelled like Olive Garden) but it wasn't working very well. By Saturday morning I also had a full blown gout attack in my right big toe. Because of the itching I hadn't had a good nights sleep in 4 or 5 days, so I was ready to head home to my own bed. Thankfully my brother had some gout medicine which enabled me to get through the next few incredibly painful days.

On Saturday (July 9) my appetite was non-existent which didn't help matters. I just wanted to get home. We got home, ordered pizza which I ate some of (even though I hadn't had any in several months)and I began my detox regimen* and juicing** (Gerson Therapy), but I had no energy and felt really lousy. I did not sleep well (a result of the itching and coffee enemas***) and at 3AM I lost my dinner, felt terrible but somehow managed to get a few hours sleep. On Sunday I really began pressing in with prayer and reading the Bible and in particular F.F. Bosworth's Book, Christ the Healer but I wasn't feeling any better. No energy, severe itching, gout hurting incredibly and very tired. This was probably my low point!!!
* detox regimen - a combination of coffee enemas***, ionic footbaths and lymph drainage using a special machine called a light beam generator.
** juicing - drinking raw, fresh, homemade organic juices (carrot, carrot/apple and green (using a specific mixture of green vegetables (a la Gerson Therapy))
*** coffee enemas - a technique which uses organic, caffeinated coffee for enemas which stimulates the liver to open up the bile ducts and release accumulated toxins into the intestinal tract.

I didn't feel well enough to go into work on Monday so I worked from home and hit the juicing and detox as hard as I could. Obviously it is impossible to follow the Gerson Therapy at work. By Monday night I was feeling much better so Tuesday I went into work. I didn't scare anybody too badly with my yellow tinted skin (think really bad spray tan) and yellow eyes but by the end of the day after not detoxing and juicing all day I was exhausted and could barely drive home. Wednesday morning I called into work and asked if I could work from home through Friday (July 15)in order to continue working the Gerson Therapy which was having some success (although when I laid down the itching intensified and the gout was really flaring up and hurt like crazy). In addition Sherry and I agreed that if I wasn't feeling (and looking) better by Friday we'd go to the doctor.

On Wednesday morning at 3 AM (between naps) I was reading Christ the Healer and I had a spiritual revelation (which seems foolishly simple as I write this). It was as if a switch was flipped inside of me or a bomb went off in my spirit. All of a sudden I realized that "I WAS HEALED", 2000 years ago. It didn't matter what color I was (yellow), how much I itched, how much my toe hurt, etc., etc., etc. I had been healed. Not, I am presently being healed or I will be healed at some time in the future, I WAS HEALED!!!!! It was incredible. I realized everything our five senses pick up in the natural was first birthed (or came into existence) in the spirit world. The realm of the unseen. "Now faith is the assurance (the confirmation, the title deed)of the things [we] hope for, being the proof of things [we] do not see and the conviction of their reality [faith perceiving as real fact what is not revealed by the senses]. (Hebrews 11:1 AMP)

On Friday, although I felt much better, had a great deal more energy, etc. I didn't look any better, nevertheless, we agreed to give it a few extra days and see a Dr. if things didn't change by Monday. By Monday I continued to gain strength and generally felt better and the gout pain was slowly subsiding, but I still had the jaundice and itching so in the afternoon we prepared to go to the hospital to have blood work done and get a medical opinion. At 3PM I got a call from the Naturopathic Dr. I had been working with and she indicated that she could order whatever blood work we wanted and wouldn't have the expense of the hospital. So we switched gears, headed to the lab got the blood drawn and Sherry and I went out for a nice organic dinner.

Tuesday morning, first thing, I got a call from the Naturopath saying my blood numbers were all out of whack (the lab has to call the Dr. when results are this dramatic so that they can act immediately)and I should head to the hospital ASAP. I gave her the hospital fax number and asked her to fax the results to the ER. So, Sherry and I and Pastor Tim (who had stopped by the house to pray with me) jumped in our cars and headed to Burnsville (Fairview Ridges Hospital ER). On the way the naturopath called me to report that my PSA (prostate specific antigen, a possible measure of prostate cancer probability) was 8,279 (normal range is 0.0-4.9). I replied that "this is a new personal best!" she didn't think it was funny. My feeling is that you have to laugh when you can. After all "a merry heart doeth good like a medicine". It took the better part of an hour to get me into an ER room, then they wouldn't really start anything until a payment counselor made sure my insurance was good, verified the coverage(s) and demanded payment for about 15% of the high-deductible for the policy we have. Once that was taken care of, well, let the billing begin. That even allowed them to turn on the TV in the ER. My how far we've come, I can't wait to see the improvements in the system once Obamacare kicks in!!!

In the ER they drew lots of blood (to compare with the faxed-in results), sent me for an ultrasound of the abdomen and pelvis and sent me for a CT scan of the chest, abdomen and pelvis (for anyone that cares they couldn't use contrast since I had compromised kidney function). The blood work showed some improvement, the ultrasound showed normal gallbladder (no stones), normal liver, spleen was unremarkable, the pancreas and other organs couldn't be seen because they were obscured by several enlarged (up to 6" x 4.5") lymph nodes. They felt that the partial blockage of the bile duct and tubes running from the kidneys to the bladder was caused by the enlarged (cancerous) lymph nodes in the abdomen. The CT scan verified that the liver, spleen, pancreas, adrenals and kidneys are all good (unremarkable), but, again felt that the jaundice is caused by the enlarged lymph nodes pressing on the bile duct and the kidney drainage tubes. At this point they admitted me to the hospital, gave me the all-the-rides-you-can-take wristband and wheeled me up to my room.

Once I was in my room the hospital Dr. saw me and recommended a group of specialists be brought in to best facilitate diagnosis and treatment(GI, Urologist and Oncologist). I must say that the interaction(s) with this group was less than stellar during the 3-1/2 day stay. Communication was poor or nonexistent, solid diagnosis and a treatment plan still hasn't happened. There was early talk of using stints or shunts in order to provide for good kidney and bile duct drainage. It seems that the blood tests they ran were getting steadily better so they opted not to do the stints/shunts but no one communicated that to me. Because of the indecision (and the possibility of surgery) they had me on a complete fast (not even ice chips) for a good bit of the time, occasionally they'd lift that and allow me to eat a meal. By Thursday (July 21) I was frustrated to say the least. Despite numerous medications, preparations, lotions, potions, etc. I was still itching,not sleeping particularly well, not eating well (although I had a good appetite)was still yellow and their team didn't seem to have any sense of urgency regarding diagnosis and treatment. So on Wednesday night I suggested that they do a biopsy of the enlarged lymph nodes and maybe we could start there.

On Thursday morning they conducted the biopsy and said it would take 4-5 days to get the results. On Friday I suggested they release me from the hospital since they really didn't seem to have a clear solution to anything and I might as well itch, and not sleep well at home. So I was released Friday afternoon with a fistful of prescriptions and told to follow-up with the Dr.'s Monday (July 25). They gave me four prescriptions: an antihistamine for itching (which seems to have moderate to poor results); a well-known pain med, I suppose to keep the gout under control (since they didn't want to give me any other gout medications because of their effect on the liver), an anti-convulsant and neuropathic pain agent (again it must be for the gout). I haven't had a single seizure since I started the medication (of course I haven't ever had a seizure). Finally the coup de gras, a tricyclic antidepressant used to treat depression, which I have never had!!!! Go figure, its no wonder our medical system gets such a bad rap.

The weekend passed unremarkably. After 4 weeks of itching and yellow skin and eyes I am no closer to a solution. The gout seems to be under control. I feel as if some (perhaps all) of the medications are unnecessary. I don't really have a Dr. who will take charge, get a full diagnosis and help develop a solid treatment plan, but, I will continue to look for one until I find them. Other than the itching and jaundice I feel fine, no pain, urine and bowels are just fine (sorry for the graphic detail), appetite is great. In the last few months I am down to 177 lbs. probably a bit too skinny but it feels great.

I will pick up the next blog entry with Monday July 25, "looking for Dr. Goodguy", adventures in getting appointments with busy MD's at some of the midwests finer medical establishments. Or, does it really take 3 weeks to get an appointment with a Dr. or do they do that so that you think they are incredibly busy. Sorry if I offend any Dr.'s.

My heartfelt thanks and blessings to everyone who has been: praying for me and/or my family, thinking of me, visiting the hospital, calling my cell numerous times and still haven't heard back from me, hanging out with me, giving gifts, loving on me and/or Sherry. Thanks and Thanks again!!!!!

To Sherry, Braden, Brileigh, Breanna, Joe and family, Mom & Dad, Gil & Elaine, Bruce & Adelle & Family, Steve & Faith & Family, Doug & Pam & FAMILY, Tom & Leah & Family. God Bless You Every One. I am a blessed man!!!!! And a better man because you're in my life.

All Love,

Paul