Good news and bad hose

The news from our visit to the Mayo Clinic last week was very good, indeed. The myeloma is still present in measurable amounts, but it is not resurgent--all of the pertinent numbers are still stable, which means that I am still in remission. No further treatment--other than quarterly monitoring--is necessary at this time. The blood clot is gone, but best practice is to keep wearing those stylish support stockings, so I will continue to be a fashion plate (more like a platter) with those hose. I will continue to take coumadin indefinitely to keep the INR at targeted levels, and I will have to return to Mayo later this Fall to have the vena cava filter removed (since there is no longer a clot, there is no longer a need to have a last line of defense in case it breaks loose). Minor surgery, that. Actually, right now, my biggest medical problem is high cholesterol--which in the great scheme of things, doesn't seem so bad anymore. Oatmeal, anyone?

My friends, the old adage that "no news is good news" certainly holds true for me. I have been back at work (half time) since the first of June, and things have been going quite well. Other than the fact that my large bones have been permanently compromised (there goes any chance of winning Olympic Weightlifting gold) and muscles in my legs are still stiff (ditto my chance for Olympic gymnastic glory), I'm doing very well. Stamina is not quite what it used to be, but it is getting better. But I feel generally quite good, have (unfortunately) a strong appetite, and have pretty much gotten back into the rythm of my old life. Come mid-September, though, there will be the big hurdle. Florence and I return to the Mayo Clinic where I will undergo tests to determine whether I am still in remission--or if the myeloma is becoming resurgent. I feel so well that I can't imagine that we will get anything but good news. If the news is not so good, we'll learn what can be done to make it better, for the docs still have a lot of arrows in their quivers. So come September 13-15, say a little prayer for good outcomes--or a big one, if you like!